Pope County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Pope County, Arkansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named for John Pope, the third governor of the Arkansas Territory. It is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Pope County Courthouse 100 W Main Street Russellville, AR 72801 Phone: 501.968.6064 Pope County Website County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1831, county court records from 1857, voter and divorce records from 1965; Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, land and military and court records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were taken from the Pope County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.
 * 1829-1830 -- A temporary county seat was established at the home of John Balinger on the Arkansas River.
 * 1830 -- The county seat was established at old Norristown. No county buildings were built there.
 * 1840 -- The first Courthouse was built in Dover. It was built of logs and lasted until it was burned with no loss of records during the Civil War.
 * 1840 -- After the log Courthouse burned, court was held in churches until a brick Courthouse was constructed on the Dover town square.
 * 1888, May 16 -- The county seat was moved to Russellville, and Russellville's first couthouse was built in 1888. The present Pope County Courthouse was built in 1931.

Genealogies

 * Family biographies from The History of Pope County, Arkansas (1891) published by Southern Publishing Company are available free on the My Genealogy Hound website.

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1830-1978 County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Executor bonds and letters 1870-1926; Guardian bonds and letters 1857-1882; Probate record index 1860-1900; Probate records 1844-1892; Will index 1830-1978.

Local Histories

 * Pope County Historical Association. History Book Committee. History of Pope County, Arkansas. Winston-Salem, North Carolina : Jostens, c1981-1999.
 * Online at FamilySearch Catalog (Free)
 * Lemley, J. B..Pope County historical articles. Russellville, Arkansas : J.B. Lemley, 198-?.
 * Online at FamilySearch Catalog (Free)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * Family Maps of Pope County, Arkansas Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Map of 1898 Pope County, Arkansas with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)

Civil War

 * - 1st Battalion, Arkansas Cavalry (Stirman's) (Confederate), Companies F and G
 * - 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate), Company B
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate), 1st Company E
 * - 31st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company E
 * - 35th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company H
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union), Companies A, B, D, H, I, and L

'''Online Records


 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1890-1963 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1891-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1901-1929 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records
 * 1783 – 1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1817 – 1979 at FamilySearch — images
 * Probate Records 1830-1978 County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Executor bonds and letters 1870-1926; Guardian bonds and letters 1857-1882; Probate record index 1860-1900; Probate records 1844-1892; Will index 1830-1978.

Vital Records
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1830 - 1952 - Pope County Marriage Books A-Z and AA Index 1830-1952 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1830 - 1922 - Pope County Marriage Books A-M Index 1830-1922 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Russellville Arkansas Family History Center

Societies
River Valley Genealogy Society Researchers interested in CONWAY, FAULKNER, PERRY, POPE, YELL AND VAN BUREN COUNTIES. Farm Bureau Building 201 E. Shady Lane Morrilton, Arkansas

Websites

 * ARGenWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * USGenWeb Archives. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * RootsWeb resources. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * Linkpendium. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
 * CyndisList. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
 * - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records