Garland County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Garland 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 Augustus H. Garland, Governor of Arkansas, United States Senator and Grover Cleveland's Attorney General. The County Seat is Hot Springs and was founded April 5, 1873. It is located in the central of the state.

County Courthouse
Garland County Courthouse 501 Ouachita Avenue Hot Springs, AR 71901 Phone: 501.622.3610 Garland County Website County Clerk has marriage and probate records. Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, court and land 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 Garland County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * 1682-1762 - France claimed all of Arkansas.
 * 1762 - France ceded Louisiana (including the area that became Garland County) to Spain.
 * 1803 April 30 - Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and U.S. President Thomas Jefferson agreed on the Louisiana Purchase. For about three cents an acre, the future Garland County became part of a U.S. territory.
 * 1818 August 24 - The Quapaw ceded the land around Hot Springs to the United States.
 * 1860-1865 - The county was never occupied by Union troops, but almost the entire population fled to Texas and Louisiana. The citizens feared not only the soldiers but the renegade bands that would terrorize and destroy much of the county.
 * 1873-1900 - Tremendous change occurred in the county.

Church Records
Episcopal


 * 1878-1942 - St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Hot Spring, Baptism Index 1878-1942. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1878-1895 - St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Hot Spring, Marriage Index 1878-1895. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Methodist


 * 1874-1887 - First Methodist Church Baptism Index 1874-1887. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1876-1884 - First Methodist Church Marriage Index 1876-1884. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland, and Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas. Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1889. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * Family Maps of Garland County, Arkansas Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War

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

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 1877-1927 Garland County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-19799 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Probate records 1877-1890; Wills 1890-1927.

Vital Records
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1874 - 1931 - Garland County Marriage Books A, C, I-K, M-Z, 2-4, 28-61 Index 1874-1931 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1874 - 1921 - Garland County Marriage Books A-C, I-K, M-Z, 2-4 Index 1874-1921 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

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. 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