Clark County, Arkansas Genealogy

United States &gt; Arkansas &gt; Clark County

History
Clark County was created by the legislature of Missouri Territory, 15 December, 1818. It was named for the territorial governor, William Clark. At its creation it included most of the present counties of Clark, Hot Spring, Garland, Pike and Dallas.

The Caddo, Little Missouri and Ouachita rivers flow through the county. Clark County has hilly terrain in the north, and rolling, pine-covered hills in the south. DeGray Lake, located in the northern part of the county, along with DeGray State Park, attracts a half million visitors each year.

The county seat, Arkadelphia, is home to two universities, Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State.

Parent County

 * 1818--Clark County was created 15 December 1818 from Arkansas County. County seat: Arkadelphia

Boundary Changes

 * Boarder with Pulaski changed 30 October 1823
 * Union County created in 1829
 * Hot Spring County created in 1829
 * Pike County created in 1833
 * Dallas County created in 1845
 * Boarder with Hot Spring and Dallas changed 3 April 1868
 * Part of Clark added to Pike 22 April 1873
 * Boarder with Montgomery changed 24 April 1873
 * Boarder with Pike changed 8 March 1877

Communities

 * Gravel Junction
 * Midway

Neighboring Counties

 * Dallas
 * Hot Spring
 * Montgomery
 * Nevada
 * Ouachita
 * Pike

Census
Federal Census reports for Clark County are available for 1830-1930 including Industry and Agriculture Schedules 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880; Slave Schedules for 1850 &amp; 1860; and Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.


 * 1820 is missing
 * 1830 and 1840 Check the Arkansas Census page for availibility.
 * 1850 - 1920 Census Searchable index from FamilySearch

For more information about the using the census in Arkansas please refer to the Arkansas Census page.

Court
Clark County Court Clerk has court records beginning in 1838.

Land
Clark County Court Clerk has land records beginning in 1819. Remember that original land sales and grants were often with the US Gavernment and are part of the General Land Office Records not the local county records.

Maps
Clark County School Districts Map availalbe through Documenting Arkansas, an online digital archive.

Probate
The county clerk has probate records starting in 1840.

Vital Records
Clark County Court Clerk has marriage records beginning in 1821.

Statewide registration of births and deaths began 1 February 1914, and have a limited availability through the Arkansas Vital Records Departmentof the Arkansas Health Department. The Arkansas History Commission keeps an alphabetical listing of deaths in Arkansas dating from 1914 through 1949, but they do not have the actual death records.

Arkansas Vital Records also has marriage records dating from January 1917 and divorce records dating from January 1923.

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog