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.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Tax Records
- 2.27 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for John Pope, the third governor of the Arkansas Territory.[1] It is located in the central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
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. [3]
Pope County, Arkansas[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1914* | 1831 | 1965 | 1857 | 1828 | 1831 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating Arkansas county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arkansas County Boundary Maps" (1813-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
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. [7]
- 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.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 1,483 | — |
| 1840 | 2,850 | 92.2% |
| 1850 | 4,710 | 65.3% |
| 1860 | 7,883 | 67.4% |
| 1870 | 8,386 | 6.4% |
| 1880 | 14,322 | 70.8% |
| 1890 | 19,458 | 35.9% |
| 1900 | 21,715 | 11.6% |
| 1910 | 24,527 | 12.9% |
| 1920 | 27,153 | 10.7% |
| 1930 | 26,547 | −2.2% |
| 1940 | 25,682 | −3.3% |
| 1950 | 23,291 | −9.3% |
| 1960 | 21,177 | −9.1% |
| 1970 | 28,607 | 35.1% |
| 1980 | 29,021 | 1.4% |
| 1990 | 45,883 | 58.1% |
| 2000 | 54,469 | 18.7% |
| 2010 | 61,754 | 13.4% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records[edit | edit source]
- 1875-1899 - Nebraska, Church Records, 1875-1899 at FamilySearch — index
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
- Probate Records 1830-1978 County portion of the collection: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979: 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.
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for {{{1}}} County. They may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. Click for a brief Timeline History of the county. For more about local histories, see Arkansas 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[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
- Family Maps of Pope County, Arkansas Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
- Map of 1898 Pope County, Arkansas with numerous small settlements. (My Genealogy Hound)
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Men in Pope County served in various regiments and companies. Those listed below were specifically formed in this county:
- - 1st Battalion, Arkansas Cavalry (Stirman's) (Confederate), Companies F and G
- - 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate), Company B
- - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate), 1st Company E
- - 31st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company E [8]
- - 35th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company H
- - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union)[9], Companies A, B, D, H, I, and L
Online Records
- 1861-1865 - Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1890-1963 - Arkansas Confederate Soldier Home,1890-1963 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1891-1939 - Arkansas Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1901-1929 - Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Finding More Arkansas Newspapers Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Pope County, Arkansas Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat
- FamilySearch. Do a Pope County, Arkansas Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see, FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
- Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Fayetteville Daily Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Daily Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Northwest Arkansas Times at Ancestry.com ($)
- Courier Times at Ancestry.com ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Records
- 1783 – 1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1817 – 1979 Arkansas Probate Records 1817-1979 at FamilySearch — images
- Probate Records 1830-1978 County portion of the collection: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979: 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.
School Records[edit | edit source]
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records
Birth[edit | edit source]
| Y | M | |
| Name of Child | 
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| Birth Date and Place |
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| Parent's Names |
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| Mother's Maiden Name |
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| Parent's Ages |
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| Father's Occupation |
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| Current Residence |
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| Name of Doctor or Midwife |
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In 1877, a few county and city clerks[10] started keeping birth and death records.
In 1914, the state law required all county clerks to record births and forward them to the state.
- Arkansas Births and Christenings, 1812-1965 at FamilySearch. (Free, index only)
- Small file, but worth searching. Most entries were user-submitted.
See also: • Arkansas Online Genealogy Records, • How to Find Arkansas Birth Records and • Arkansas Vital Records—Birth.
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1830 - 1952 - Pope County Marriage Books A-Z and AA Index 1830-1952 in Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957 at FamilySearch - free.[11]
- 1830 - 1922 - Pope County Marriage Books A-M Index 1830-1922 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.[12]
- 1860 - 1976 - Arkansas Church Marriages, 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index and images
Death[edit | edit source]
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.
- For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 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 ($)
- CyndisList. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
- FamilySearch Catalog - 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
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Pope County, Arkansas Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ark/pope/
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Pope County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_County,_Arkansas
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pope County, Arkansas. Page 70 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 67.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Pope County, Arkansas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_County,_Arkansas, accessed 13 September 2018.
- ↑ Caty Henderson, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, (http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=801&type=Category&item=Counties&parent=Counties%2c+Cities%2c+and+Towns&grandparent=+%3a+accessed+January+6%2c+2016)%2c : accessed January 15, 2016), “Pope County.”
- ↑ Ronald R. Bass, History of the Thirty-first Arkansas Confederate Infantry, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1996), p. 12 FHL book 976.7 M2ba
- ↑ Desmond Walls Allen, Third Arkansas Union Cavalry, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1987), p. 33-92. FHL book 976.7 M28dc
- ↑ such as Sebastian County (Fort Smith) and Pulaski County (Little Rock) (No entry in FamilySearch Catalog found for Pulaski County nor for Little Rock, Aug 2014)
- ↑ FamilySearch Wiki contributors, "Arkansas County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records," in FamilySearch Wiki.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/d/d7/Arkansasnz.pdf.
