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13 December 1813 |
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Help Wanted | ||
Arkansas Trails has several counties and projects up for adoption. If you would be interested in adopting a county or project look at the Arkansas Trails County Page. If you find one that you would like to adopt e-mail the State Administrator State Administrator.[ Being a County or State Administrator is fun and rewarding. If you have an interest in the history of Arkansas and the genealogy of it's residents please consider it. If you think "there is no way I can do this" there are many people ready, willing and able to help you. It's not near as difficult as you might think. ] | History |
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The first of the state's 75 present-day counties to be created, Arkansas County was formed on 13 December 1813 and is named after the Arkansas Indian tribe. In 1686, Henri de Tonti established Arkansas Post at the Quapaw village of Osotouy. Over the years, the post relocated because of flooding from the Arkansas River, but its position was strategic for the French, Spanish, Union, and Confederate military. Spanish soldiers and British partisans clashed at the post in 1783 in Colbert�'s Raid, the only Revolutionary War action that occurred in Arkansas. Created by the Missouri Territory legislature in 1813, Arkansas County comprised about two-thirds of what is now Arkansas and part of eastern Oklahoma. More than half the state's counties were formed from this original county. In 1819, when Arkansas Territory was created, Arkansas Post became its capital. On November 20, 1819, at Arkansas Post, native New Yorker William Woodruff printed the first issue of the Arkansas Gazette. On April 1, 1820, the legislature appointed Woodruff public printer. He printed the newspaper at Arkansas Post until November 24, 1821. When the capital was moved to Little Rock (Pulaski County) in 1821, Woodruff moved his office there. In July 1855, the county clerk was ordered to move the records to DeWitt, the new county seat. The removal of the county seat from Arkansas Post to DeWitt, which was more centrally located, necessitated a new layout of land and new roads throughout the county. St. Charles was the location of a June 17, 1862, Civil War naval and land battle that disabled the Union USS Mound City; the shot that damaged the ship is considered one of the deadliest shots fired in the war. The most important event in the county during the Civil War was the January 9, 1863, capture of Fort Hindman at Arkansas Post by Union forces under General John McClernand. The number of Union troops in this engagement is unknown. | Links |
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Free Records Search at Familysearch Org | ||
Arkansas County Cemeteries on Arkansas Gravestones | ||
Arkansas County Cemeteries on Interment Net | ||
Arkansas County Cemetery Listing at Find A Grave | ||
Arkansas Dept of Health | ||
Arkansas Dept of Health Division of Vital Records, Slot 44 4815 West Markham Street Little Rock, AR 72205 (501) 661-2174 Fax: (501) 663-2832 |
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Arkansas State Archives | ||
Arkansas History Commission One Capitol Mall Little Rock, AR 72201 501.682.6900 [email protected] |
The History Commission, the official state archives, is a facility in which those interested in Arkansas history may engage in research. The staff does not undertake research requests from the public. The Research Room is open from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Saturday. It is closed on state holidays. If you are traveling long distances, please call to confirm hours/days of operation at 501.682.6900. | |
Arkansas Genealogical Society
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Court Clerk 101 Court Sq. Dewitt, AR 72042 Phone (870)946-4219 Fax (870)946-1394 | County Clerk 101 Court Sq. Dewitt, AR 72042 Phone (870)946-4349 Fax (870)946-4349 | Grand Prairie Historical Society PO Box 355 Gillett, AR 72055 |
Grand Prairie Genealogical Society c/o Stuttgart Public Library 2002 S. Buerkle St. Stuttgart, AR 72160 870-673-1966 | E-Mail Lists and Message Boards |
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Arkansas Mail List on Rootsweb | ||
Arkansas County Mail List on Rootsweb | ||
Arkansas County Message Board on Rootsweb | ||
Arkansas County Message Board on Genforum | Adjacent Counties |
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Prairie County |
Monroe County |
Phillips County |
Desha County |