D-J
Dallas | Desha | Drew | Faulkner | Franklin | Fulton | Garland | Grant | Greene |
Hempstead | Hot Spring | Howard | Independence | Izard | Jackson | Jefferson | Johnson
Dallas
Gov. Thomas Drew created Dallas County in 1845. It was named in honor of George Dallas, vice president of the United States in 1844. Princeton was the county seat until the Iron Mountain and St. Louis railroad diverted the population to Fordyce and Malvern. The seat was then moved to Fordyce, where it remains today. Dallas County is located in the south central part of the state. Tulip, Fordyce, Carthage, Holly Springs and Sparkman are its major communities.
Desha
In 1838, Desha County was created and named for Capt. Benjamin Desha, a War of 1812 veteran and resident of Arkansas. The town of Napoleon was the first county seat. Napoleon was an important community in the early development of the state. It was located along the Arkansas River and featured wharf landings, shipping points and a newspaper. During the Civil War, the Desha County records were sent from Napoleon to Texas for safekeeping and never returned. In the 1870s, the Arkansas River began to claim Napoleon and the county seat was moved to Watson. In 1879, it moved for a final time to Arkansas City. Dumas, Arkansas City and McGehee are its important towns.
Drew
Named after Arkansas's third governor, Thomas Drew, Drew County was created in 1846. Located in southeast Arkansas, its seat of government is at Monticello. The city also hosts the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Faulkner
Parts of Conway and Pulaski counties in central Arkansas were taken to create Faulkner County in 1873. It was named after Sandford C. Faulkner, the creator of the "Arkansas Traveler." The northern part of the county extends into the Ozark Mountains and the southern into the Arkansas River Valley. The first settlement in the area was Cadron in 1814. It is the home of the University of Central Arkansas and its county seat is in Conway. Other communities of note are Conway, Greenbrier, Damascus, Mayflower, Mount Vernon and Vilonia.
Franklin
Franklin County was established in the northwestern part of the state in 1837. It was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, inventor and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Its first settlers of the area were from Tennessee and they settled on Mulberry Creek. Ozark is the county seat in the northern part and Charleston is the county seat in the south. Major communities include Mulberry, Ozark, Pleasant View, Charleston, Webb City and White Rock.
Fulton
Fulton County is named for the last territorial governor of Arkansas, William S. Fulton. It was created in 1842. Located in the northern part of the state, Fulton County features the Spring River, a favorite tourist destination. The county seat is at Salem. Mammoth Spring, Salem and Viola are a few of its large communities.
Garland
In 1873, Garland County was created in the southwestern part of Arkansas. It was named for Augustus Garland, the governor of Arkansas and later, U.S. attorney general. The county seat is Hot Springs, a favorite tourist destination. Thousands attend horseracing activities at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs each racing season, enjoy hot baths at the Hot Springs National Park, or swim in the many lakes that surround the city. Fountain Lake, Jessieville, Lonsdale, Hot Springs Village and Pearcy are principle communities.
Grant
Gov. Powell Clayton created Grant County in 1869. It was named for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, president of the United States. Its seat of government is at Sheridan. Prior to 1840, trapping and hunting were primary occupations of those living in the area. In the late 1800s, the timber industry and railroad were popular and created income for the area. Poyen, Prattsville and Sheridan are communities of note.
Greene
In 1835, Gov. John Pope created Greene County from Lawrence County. It was supposedly named it after the Revolutionary War general, Nathaniel Greene. Agriculture and industry are its main sources of income. The seat of government is at Paragould. Communities of note include Marmaduke, Paragould, Spring Grove, Stanford and Delaplaine.
Hempstead
Hempstead is one of the original five counties created by the Missouri legislature. It was approved in 1818 and occupied fertile land used for agriculture and the timber industry. It was named for Edward Hempstead, the first delegate in the U.S. Congress from the Missouri Territory. The county seat originated at Washington until it moved to Hope. Communities include Hope, Spring Hill, Washington, Blevins, Saratoga and Ozan.
Hot Spring
Hot Spring was created in 1829 and named for the springs that were in its boundaries. The first county seat was at Rockport until 1879 when it moved to Malvern. The timber industry played a large part in Hot Spring County history. Malvern, Glen Rose, Bismark, Saginaw and Friendship are a few of the major communities.
Howard
Named for James Howard, a state representative, Howard County was created in 1873 and is situated in the southwest corner of Arkansas. Center Point was the first county seat until 1884 when it was moved to Nashville. Mineral Springs, Center Point, Nashville, Dierks and Saratoga are a few of its busiest towns.
Independence
Created in 1820, Independence County is located in northeast Arkansas. The Black and White rivers run through the county and create fertile bottomlands for agriculture. Batesville is the county seat and the oldest settlement. Cushman, Cord, Charlotte, Midland, Sulphur Rock, Batesville and Pleasant Plains are its major communities.
Izard
In 1825, Izard County was created out of Independence County and named for George Izard, Arkansas's second territorial governor. Located in the north central part of the state, it contains the White River within its boundaries. The seat of government in Izard County was originally located at Liberty, moved to Mount Olive in 1836, Mount Vernon in the 1940s, and finally settled at Melbourne in 1875. Mt. Pleasant, Calico Rock and Melbourne are towns of note in the county.
Jackson
Jackson County was created in 1829 from Independence County and named for President Andrew Jackson. Within its boundaries are the scenic White, Cache and Black Rivers. The first county seats were located at Elizabeth and Litchfield, Augusta (now part of Woodruff County), Jacksonport and finally at Newport when the Iron Mountain Railroad arrived. Newport, Jacksonport, Swifton and Tuckerman are several large communities in Jackson County
Jefferson
Lands taken from Pulaski and Arkansas counties were used to create Jefferson County in 1829. The county was named for Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, and contains very fertile agricultural lands. The French are believed to be the first white settlers of the area and they resided along side the American Indians in the area. The county seat is at Pine Bluff. Large communities include Althiemer, Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel, Redfield, White Hall and Wabbaseka.
Johnson
Created from Pope County, Johnson County originated in 1833 and was named for Benjamin Johnson, a territorial judge in the 1820s and a member of a politically prominent family. Located in the western part of the state, its landscape is diverse. Part of the county is in the Arkansas River Valley and the Ozark Mountains are in its northern borders. The county seat is at Clarksville. Montana, Spadra, Lamar, Oark, Westside, Hartman and Clarksville are communities of note within the county.
Counties By Letter
A-C | D-J | L-M | N-R | S-Z
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