List of counties in Arkansas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Counties of Arkansas
BT CA BN MR BX FU IZ SH RH CL GN LW CG MS PS JK IN ST CB VB SR NE MA WA CF FK JN PO LG SB SC YL CW PY FA WH WD CR CD SF LE PH MO AR PR LO PU SA HS GD MN PK SV HO PI CK DA GR JE CV LN DE DR BR CN OU NV HE LR MI LF CO UN AS CH
Location	State of Arkansas
Number	75
Populations	4,641 (Calhoun) – 400,009 (Pulaski)
Areas	526 square miles (1,360 km²) (Lafayette) – 1,039 square miles (2,690 km²) (Union)
Government	County government
Subdivisions	cities, towns, townships, unincorporated communities, census designated place

Welcome to Arkansas! Did you know that the U.S. state of Arkansas has 75 different areas called counties? A county is like a smaller part of a state, with its own local government. Arkansas is special because it shares a record with Mississippi for having the most counties (10 of them!) that have two main towns, called county seats. These county seats are where the county government offices are located.

What is a County and Why Do We Have Them?
How Many Counties Does Arkansas Have?
Counties with Two County Seats
Former Counties in Arkansas
- Lovely County
- Miller County (Old)
Images for kids
See also

What is a County and Why Do We Have Them?

Counties are important parts of how a state is organized. They help manage local services like schools, roads, and law enforcement. Each county has a main town, or sometimes two, called a county seat. This is where the county's government buildings are, making it easy for people to access services.

How Many Counties Does Arkansas Have?

Arkansas has 75 counties. This number has grown over time as the state developed. The first counties were created way back in 1813!

Counties with Two County Seats

It's pretty unique for a county to have two county seats, but 10 counties in Arkansas do! This usually happened in the past to make it easier for people to get to the county government, especially when travel was harder.

Here are some examples of Arkansas counties and how they got their names:

Arkansas County: This was the very first county, created on December 13, 1813. It's named after the Arkansas River. It has two county seats: Stuttgart and DeWitt.
Ashley County: Formed on November 30, 1848, this county was named after Chester Ashley, who was a U.S. Senator from Arkansas. Its county seat is Hamburg.
Baxter County: Created on March 24, 1873, it honors Elisha Baxter, a former governor of Arkansas. Mountain Home is its county seat.
Benton County: Established on September 30, 1836, this county is named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. Senator from Missouri. Bentonville is its county seat.
Boone County: Formed on April 9, 1869, some historians believe it's named after the famous American frontiersman, Daniel Boone. Harrison is its county seat.
Bradley County: Created on December 18, 1840, it's named after Hugh Bradley, a soldier from the War of 1812 and an early settler in the area. Warren is its county seat.
Calhoun County: Established on December 6, 1850, this county was named after John C. Calhoun, who was the 7th Vice President of the United States. Hampton is its county seat.
Carroll County: Formed on November 1, 1833, it honors Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It has two county seats: Berryville and Eureka Springs.
Chicot County: Created on October 15, 1823, its name comes from Point Chicot on the Mississippi River. Lake Village is its county seat.
Clark County: Established on December 15, 1818, it's named after William Clark, a famous explorer and Governor of the Missouri Territory. Arkadelphia is its county seat.
Clay County: Formed on March 24, 1873, it was originally named Clayton. It was later shortened to Clay, possibly to avoid confusion with another politician. It has two county seats: Piggott and Corning.
Cleburne County: Created on February 20, 1883, it honors Patrick Cleburne, a Confederate General during the Civil War. Heber Springs is its county seat.
Cleveland County: Established on April 17, 1873, it was named after Grover Cleveland, who was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. Rison is its county seat.
Columbia County: Formed on December 17, 1852, its name comes from Columbia, a female symbol often used for the United States. Magnolia is its county seat.
Conway County: Created on October 20, 1825, it's named after Henry Wharton Conway, who represented the Arkansas Territory in the United States House of Representatives. Morrilton is its county seat.
Craighead County: Established on February 19, 1859, this county was named after Thomas Craighead, a state senator. It has two county seats: Jonesboro and Lake City.
Crawford County: Formed on October 18, 1820, it honors William H. Crawford, a politician who served as Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of War. Van Buren is its county seat.
Crittenden County: Created on October 22, 1825, it's named after Robert Crittenden, the first Secretary of the Arkansas Territory. Marion is its county seat.
Cross County: Established on November 15, 1862, it's named after David C. Cross, a Confederate soldier and local politician. Wynne is its county seat.
Dallas County: Formed on January 1, 1845, it honors George M. Dallas, who was the 11th Vice President of the United States. Fordyce is its county seat.
Desha County: Created on December 12, 1838, it's named after Benjamin Desha, a soldier from the War of 1812. Arkansas City is its county seat.
Drew County: Established on November 26, 1846, this county was named after Thomas S. Drew, the 3rd Governor of Arkansas. Monticello is its county seat.
Faulkner County: Formed on April 12, 1873, it honors Sandford C. Faulkner, a composer and fiddler famous for the song "Arkansas Traveler". Conway is its county seat.
Franklin County: Created on December 19, 1837, it's named after Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States. It has two county seats: Ozark and Charleston.
Fulton County: Established on December 21, 1842, it honors William S. Fulton, the last Governor of the Arkansas Territory before Arkansas became a state. Salem is its county seat.
Garland County: Formed on April 5, 1873, it's named after Augustus Hill Garland, a U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of Arkansas. Hot Springs is its county seat.
Grant County: Created on February 4, 1869, it honors Ulysses S. Grant, who was the 18th President of the United States. Sheridan is its county seat.
Greene County: Established on November 5, 1833, it's named after Nathanael Greene, a general from the Revolutionary War. Paragould is its county seat.
Hempstead County: Formed on December 15, 1818, it honors Edward Hempstead, a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Missouri Territory. Hope is its county seat.
Hot Spring County: Created on November 2, 1829, it's named after the naturally occurring hot springs found within the county. Malvern is its county seat.
Howard County: Established on April 17, 1873, it's named after James H. Howard, a state senator. Nashville is its county seat.
Independence County: Formed on October 20, 1820, its name comes from the Declaration of Independence. Batesville is its county seat.
Izard County: Created on October 27, 1825, it honors George Izard, who was the Governor of the Arkansas Territory and a general in the War of 1812. Melbourne is its county seat.
Jackson County: Established on November 5, 1829, it's named after Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States. Newport is its county seat.
Jefferson County: Formed on November 2, 1829, it honors Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States. Pine Bluff is its county seat.
Johnson County: Created on November 16, 1833, it's named after Benjamin Johnson, the first judge of the federal district court for Arkansas. Clarksville is its county seat.
Lafayette County: Established on October 15, 1827, it honors Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who helped during the Revolutionary War. Lewisville is its county seat.
Lawrence County: Formed on January 15, 1815, it's named after James Lawrence, an American naval officer from the War of 1812. Walnut Ridge is its county seat.
Lee County: Created on April 17, 1873, it honors Robert E. Lee, a Confederate general during the Civil War. Marianna is its county seat.
Lincoln County: Established on March 28, 1871, it's named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Star City is its county seat.
Little River County: Formed on March 5, 1867, it's named after the Little River, which flows into the Red River. Ashdown is its county seat.
Logan County: Created on March 22, 1871, it's named after James Logan, an early settler in western Arkansas. It has two county seats: Booneville and Paris.
Lonoke County: Established on April 16, 1873, its name comes from a large oak tree that stood where the county seat is now. Lonoke is its county seat.
Madison County: Formed on September 30, 1836, it's named after Madison County, Alabama, where some of the first settlers came from. Huntsville is its county seat.
Marion County: Created on November 3, 1835, it honors Francis Marion, an American general during the Revolutionary War. Yellville is its county seat.
Miller County: Established on December 22, 1874, it's named after the former Miller County, Arkansas Territory (1820-1838), which was named for James Miller, the first Governor of the Arkansas Territory. Texarkana is its county seat.
Mississippi County: Formed on November 1, 1833, it's named after the mighty Mississippi River. It has two county seats: Blytheville and Osceola.
Monroe County: Created on November 2, 1829, it honors James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States. Clarendon is its county seat.
Montgomery County: Established on December 9, 1842, it's named after Richard Montgomery, an American general during the Revolutionary War. Mount Ida is its county seat.
Nevada County: Formed on March 20, 1871, it's named after the state of Nevada because its shape on a map looked similar to the county's borders. Prescott is its county seat.
Newton County: Created on December 14, 1842, it honors Thomas W. Newton, a state senator and U.S. Representative from Arkansas. Jasper is its county seat.
Ouachita County: Established on November 29, 1842, it's named after the Ouachita River. Camden is its county seat.
Perry County: Formed on December 18, 1840, it honors Oliver Hazard Perry, a naval officer from the War of 1812. Perryville is its county seat.
Phillips County: Created on May 1, 1820, it's named after Sylvanus Phillips, who was a member of the territorial legislature. Helena is its county seat.
Pike County: Established on November 1, 1833, it's named after Zebulon Pike, a famous explorer who discovered Pikes Peak. Murfreesboro is its county seat.
Poinsett County: Formed on February 28, 1838, it honors Joel Poinsett, a United States Secretary of War and the person the poinsettia flower is named after. Harrisburg is its county seat.
Polk County: Created on November 30, 1844, it honors James K. Polk, the eleventh president of the United States. Mena is its county seat.
Pope County: Established on November 2, 1829, it's named after John Pope, a governor of the Arkansas Territory. Russellville is its county seat.
Prairie County: Formed on October 25, 1846, its name comes from the Grand Prairie area in eastern Arkansas. It has two county seats: Des Arc and DeValls Bluff.
Pulaski County: Created on December 15, 1818, it honors Casimir Pulaski, a Polish general who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Little Rock is its county seat.
Randolph County: Established on October 29, 1835, it's named after John Randolph of Roanoke, a U.S. congressman from Virginia. Pocahontas is its county seat.
St. Francis County: Formed on October 13, 1827, it's named after the St. Francis River, which flows into the Mississippi River. Forrest City is its county seat.
Saline County: Created on November 2, 1835, its name comes from the salt reserves found within its borders. Benton is its county seat.
Scott County: Established on November 5, 1833, it's named after Andrew Scott, a judge of the Arkansas Territory Supreme Court. Waldron is its county seat.
Searcy County: Formed on December 13, 1838, it's named after Richard Searcy, a judge from Lawrence County. Marshall is its county seat.
Sebastian County: Created on January 6, 1851, it honors William K. Sebastian, a U.S. Senator. It has two county seats: Fort Smith and Greenwood.
Sevier County: Established on October 17, 1828, it's named after Ambrose Hundley Sevier, a U.S. Senator. De Queen is its county seat.
Sharp County: Formed on July 18, 1868, it's named after Ephraim Sharp, an early settler and state lawmaker from the area. Ash Flat is its county seat.
Stone County: Created on April 21, 1873, its name comes from the rugged, rocky terrain of the area. Mountain View is its county seat.
Union County: Established on November 2, 1829, its name reflects the "Union and Unity" spirit of the citizens who asked for its creation. El Dorado is its county seat.
Van Buren County: Formed on November 11, 1833, it honors Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States. Clinton is its county seat.
Washington County: Created on October 17, 1828, it's named after George Washington, the first president of the United States. Fayetteville is its county seat.
White County: Established on October 23, 1835, it's named after Hugh L. White, a U.S. Senator from Tennessee. Searcy is its county seat.
Woodruff County: Formed on November 26, 1862, it honors William Woodruff, who started the first newspaper in Arkansas. Augusta is its county seat.
Yell County: Created on December 5, 1840, it's named after Archibald Yell, the second governor of Arkansas. It has two county seats: Dardanelle and Danville.

Former Counties in Arkansas

Sometimes, counties are created and then later changed or removed. Here are a couple of examples from Arkansas's history:

Lovely County

Lovely County was created on October 13, 1827. It was formed from parts of Crawford County. However, after a treaty in 1828, most of its land became part of what is now Indian Territory (which is now part of Oklahoma). So, Lovely County was removed on October 17, 1828, and the remaining part of its land became Washington County.

Miller County (Old)

The original Miller County was created from Hempstead County. A large part of it was in what is now the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma. The northern part of this old county was later dissolved into Sevier County in 1828. The southern part was in Texas and was officially dissolved into Lafayette County in 1838. The Miller County we know today was created much later, in 1874, from an area that was part of Lafayette County.

Images for kids

Map of Arkansas highlighting St. Francis County.