N-R
Nevada | Newton | Ouachita | Perry | Phillips | Pike |
Poinsett | Polk | Pope | Prairie | Pulaski | Randolph
Nevada
Established in 1871, this Nevada County is located in south central Arkansas. It was created from land in Columbia, Hempstead and Ouachita counties and named for the State of Nevada. Mount Moriah was the first county seat. In 1877, the county seat moved to Rosston and then Prescott. Communities of note include Rosston, Prescott, Bluff City, Emmet and Bodcaw.
Newton
Located in northwest Arkansas, Newton County was created in 1842 from land in Carroll County. It was named for Thomas W. Newton, a member of Congress in 1847. The county seat was located at Jasper, where it has remained. Boxley, Deer, Mount Judea and Jasper are its major communities.
Ouachita
Ouachita is located in southwest Arkansas and was created in 1842 from land in Union County. It is named for the river that flows through the area - the Ouachita. The county seat is at Camden, where it has been since the 1850s. The first white men to settle the area are believed to have been Frenchmen by the last name Fabre. Thus, the original name of Camden was Ecore a Fabre (Fabre's Bluff). Prior to that, the Quapaw were the original inhabitants. Bearden, Camden, Chidester, Stephens, Buena Vista, Eagle Mills, Sayre and Millville are major communities.
Perry
In 1840, Perry County was created from parts of Conway County in central Arkansas. It was named in honor of Commodore Oliver Perry, hero of a naval battle on Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Featuring mountains, wide valleys and fertile river bottomlands, this area is conducive to farming. Several small creeks like Fourche la Fave Creek (named for Peter Le Fevre, a French Canadian who came to the area around 1818) run through the area. The seat of government is at Perryville. Communities of note include Perryville, Bigelow, Houston, Adona, East End and Casa.
Phillips
In east Arkansas, Phillips is one of the oldest counties was established in 1820 and named after Sylvanus Phillips, an early settler who arrived in the late 1790s to settle the largest town in the county, Helena. The county is conducive to agricultural pursuits and activities related to the Mississippi River that runs along its eastern boundary. The seat of government is at Helena. Helena, West Helena, Marvell, Elaine, Barton, Poplar Grove and Lexa are its major communities.
Pike
Located in southwest Arkansas, Pike County was created in 1833 from Clark and Hempstead counties. It was named for Lt. Zebulon Pike, an explorer of the southwestern part of the United States in the early 1800s. Murfreesboro is the county seat. This county boasts Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas's only diamond mine. The park is visited by thousands of people annually. Murfreesboro, Glenwood, Pike City, Delight and Kirby are its major communities.
Poinsett
In 1838, Gov. James Conway created Poinsett County in northeast Arkansas from Greene and St. Francis counties. It was named after Joel R. Poinsett of South Carolina, then a U.S. secretary of war. Located in the Delta, its land is suited for agriculture. The county seat originated at Bolivar and was moved to Harrisburg in 1856. Communities of note include Harrisburg, Marked Tree, Trumann, Lepanto, Weiner, Tyronza and Waldenburg.
Polk
In 1844, James K. Polk was elected President of the United States. In that same year, Gov. Thomas Drew created Polk County in west Arkansas from Sevier County. Within its boundaries are the Arkansas National Forest, Queen Wilhemenia State Park and the Cossatot and Ouachita rivers. The first county seat was at a settlement called Panther before moving to Mena. Mena, Hatfield, Cove and Wickes are among its large communities.
Pope
In 1829, Pope County in western Arkansas was created from Crawford County and named after Gov. John Pope. The county seat was at Scotia in 1830, moved to Dwight Mission, then to Norristown on the Arkansas River (no longer exists), Dover in 1841, and finally Russellville in 1887, where it has remained. It lies in the heart of the Arkansas River Valley and its land is conducive to farming, the timber industry and river-related activities. Pottsville, Atkins, Russellville, Dardanelle and Hector are communities of note.
Prairie
In 1846, part of Pulaski County was cut off to create Prairie County in east central Arkansas. It is named for the physical description of the countryside - prairies. Agriculture is a main endeavor and the White River flows through part of the county. The county seat was originally located at Brownsville (present-day Lonoke County) and moved to DeVall's Bluff in 1873. Prairie County has two county seats - one at DeVall's Bluff in the south and Des Arc in the north. Des Arc, DeVall's Bluff, Biscoe, Hazen, Hickory Plains and Ulm are its important communities.
Pulaski
One of the original five counties, Pulaski was created in 1818 and named after Count Pulaski. Located in central Arkansas, one of its first settlements was at Crystal Hill on the north banks of the Arkansas River. Little Rock, the largest community in Arkansas is located in this county. The first settlers of this area were American Indian (Quapaw) and the town became the center for government in Arkansas in 1819. Little Rock, North Little Rock (Argenta), Jacksonville, Ferndale, Sherwood, Scott, Sweet Home, Woodson, Levy, Marche and Mabelvale are a few of its numerous communities.
Randolph
In 1835, Gov. William S. Fulton created Randolph County in northeast Arkansas from portions of Lawrence County. It was believed to have been named after John Randolph, a settler of the ill-fated Roanoke colony in Virginia. The first county seat was at Black Rock on the Black River before being moved to Bettis Bluff. In 1836, the seat was moved to Pocahantas, where it remains today. Frenchmen were trading with American Indians on the Black River in the late 1700s and the first permanent white settlers lived at Janes' Creek in 1809. The Spring and Black rivers run through the county. Pocahontas, Biggers, Maynard, O'Kean, Ravenden Springs and Reyno are communities in Randolph County.
Counties By Letter
A-C | D-J | L-M | N-R | S-Z
Back to Top
|
