Crawford County, Arkansas Genealogy
Guide to Crawford County, Arkansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Crawford County was created on 1 January 1821[2] and was named for William H. Crawford, United States Secretary of War in 1815.[3] Its county seat is Van Buren.[4] It is located in the northwestern area of the state.[5]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Crawford County Courthouse
300 Main Street
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phone: 501-474-1312
Crawford County Website
County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1877.
Clerk Circuit Court has court and land records from 1877 and divorce records.[6]
Crawford 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 | 1877 | 1914 | 1877 | 1877 | 1877 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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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:[9]
| 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 Crawford County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. [10]
- 1818-1828 - Much of the future county was within a Cherokee reservation and therefore unavailable to American settlers..
- 1820 October 18 - When originally created , Crawford County encompassed a large part of Indian Territory and all or part of five present-day counties—Scott, Sebastian, Franklin, Washington, and Pope.
- 1840 - Approximately 4,000 people had arrived, and settlements sprang up all over the mountains, valleys, and the river valley.
- 1850 - Iimmigrants and freight could enter the county by traveling the State Road (Wire Road) from the north, paralleling the western boundary, from Springfield, Missouri, to the Arkansas River.
- 1862 - The Civil War came early to Crawford County, as did great devastation, deprivation, pain, and suffering.
- 1874 - As the freed slaves migrated westward, a large population of African Americans settled in the Riverside community near Van Buren.
- 1870-1880 - Crawford County never experienced phenomenal growth at any one time, but with the advent of the railroads , there came a significant population increase.
Population Timeline
- 1850 7,960
- 1860 7,850
- 1870 8,957
- 1880 14,740
- 1890 21,714
- 1900 21,270
- 1910 23,942
- 1920 24,739
- 1930 22,549
- 1940 23,920
- 1950 22,727
- 1960 21,318
- 1970 25,677
- 1980 36,892
- 1990 42,493
- 2000 53,247
Data extracted from: Encyclopedia of Arkansas
Additional Information
- History of Crawford County at Ancestry ($)
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Biographies at My Genealogy Hound
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 2,440 | — |
| 1840 | 4,266 | 74.8% |
| 1850 | 7,960 | 86.6% |
| 1860 | 7,850 | −1.4% |
| 1870 | 8,957 | 14.1% |
| 1880 | 14,740 | 64.6% |
| 1890 | 21,714 | 47.3% |
| 1900 | 21,270 | −2.0% |
| 1910 | 23,942 | 12.6% |
| 1920 | 25,739 | 7.5% |
| 1930 | 22,549 | −12.4% |
| 1940 | 23,920 | 6.1% |
| 1950 | 22,727 | −5.0% |
| 1960 | 21,318 | −6.2% |
| 1970 | 25,677 | 20.4% |
| 1980 | 36,892 | 43.7% |
| 1990 | 42,493 | 15.2% |
| 2000 | 53,247 | 25.3% |
| 2010 | 61,948 | 16.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1830 Census - USGenWeb Archives
- US Federal Census Records - Crawford County ARGenWeb
- Census and Slave Schedules - Crawford County ARGenWeb
- Newton County 1900 Census at Ancestry ($)
Church Records[edit | edit source]
- 1875-1899 Nebraska, Church Records, 1875-1899 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
- Crawford County Church Index - Crawford County ARGenWeb
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1877-1905 Record, 1877-1880; Index to Record 1877-1905(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1877-1965 Record, 1877-1952; Separate Indexes, 1878-1965(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1881-1888 County Court Docket, 1881-1888(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Wills and Probate Index at Crawford County ARGenWeb
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home in Van Buren
- Ocker-Putman Funeral Home in Alma and Van Buren
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
[Dodd] Dodd Diggings, Vol. 3. By Conley, Avlyn Dodd. Glen Burnie, Maryland : Alvin Dodd Conley. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
- Probate Records 1874-1929 Crawford County portion of the collection: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)- [[
Arkansas Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
- Includes Administration bonds 1877-1909; Administration bonds 1877-1908; Minute index 1877-1929; Minutes 1877-1895; Wills 1874-1929.
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
The state of Arkansas began giving out land grants in Crawford County as early as 1840's, but land transactions as the county level are only microlfilmed and available after 1877.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Crawford County. They may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more about local histories, see Arkansas Local Histories.
- History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1889. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of Crawford County, Arkansas. By Clara B. Eno. Van Buren, Arkansas : Press-Argus, 1950. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
- Crawford County Map Index - Crawford Coiunty ARGenWeb
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Arkansas State Archives State Maps Collection at Arkansas Digital Archives
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
As a wildly rural western territory until the middle of the 19th century, Arkansas and her counties were not embroiled in military happenings until the Civil War. Military records for Crawford County are at state and federal levels.
Revolutionary War[edit | edit source]
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). 1967 reprint: FS Catalog Collection 973 X2pc 1840. See Arkansas, Crawford County on page 191.
- Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." FS Catalog Collection 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans from this county; Arkansas section begins on page 439.
- Pension Rolls - Crawford County ARGenWeb
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Arkansas seceded from the Union on 6 May 1861. The Civil War brought destruction to Crawford County, as two early battles in 1862 ravaged the region. Though technically a Confederate state, many of the small farmer residents in Arkansas (especially in the north) were Union sympathizers. While there were 48 infantry regiments for the Confederate Army (plus considerable numbers of cavalry and artillery battery units), there were 11 Union infantry regiments, four cavalry regiments, and two artillery batteries.
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
- 1890-1963 Arkansas Confederate Soldier Home,1890-1963 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- Civil War Records for Arkansas are available on Fold3 ($).
- 1891-1939 Arkansas Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- 1901-1929 Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- United States Colored Troops of Crawford County, Arkansas this site gives history and information on burial and a Headstone Project.
Regiments. Men in Crawford County served in various regiments and companies. Those listed below were specifically formed in this county:
- - 19th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Dawson's) (Confederate)
- - 34th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company E
- - 35th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company G
- - Witherspoon's Battalion, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)
- Men from Crawford County served in the 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry (Union)[11]
- Men from Crawford County served in the 5th Regiment, Arkansas Militia (Confederate)[11]
- Men from this county served in the 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union)[12], Company E
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- 1800s-Current Arkansas, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Finding More Arkansas Newspapers Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Crawford newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat
- FamilySearch. Do a Crawford County, Arkansas Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see, FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
- Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Fayetteville Daily Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Daily Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Northwest Arkansas Times at Ancestry.com ($)
- Courier Times at Ancestry.com ($)
Submitted Crawford County Obituaries - USGenWeb Archives Project Newspaper Article Index - Crawford County ARGenWeb
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1783–1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
- 1817-1979 Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1874-1929 Probate Records (Crawford County, Arkansas), 1874-1929(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1877-1929 Probate Court Minutes, 1877-1895; Index to Probate Court Minutes, 1877-1929(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Tax Lists - Crawford County ARGenWeb
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Birth[edit | edit source]
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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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In 1877, a few county and city clerks[13] 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 $
- 1860-1976 Arkansas Church Marriages, 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- 1877-1921 Crawford County Marriage Books A-I Index 1877-1921 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.[14]
- 1877-1951 Crawford County Marriage Books A-Z, 1-7 Index 1877-1951 in Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1812-Onward Arkansas Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1914-1969 Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
- 1935-1961 Arkansas, Death Index, 1935-1961 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1923-1969 Arkansas, Divorces, 1923-1969 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
Voting Records[edit | edit source]
- 1700-Onward Arkansas Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1868-1910 Arkansas, County Voter Registration Records, 1868-1910 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Crawford County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Arkansas Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Clarksville Arkansas FamilySearch Center
- Fort Smith Arkansas FamilySearch Center
- Honey Grove Library and Learning Center - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Crawford County. For state-wide library facilities, see Arkansas Archives and Libraries.
Crawford County Library System
1409 Main Street
Van Buren, AR 72956
Phone: 479-471-3226
Website
Multiple locations
Alma Public Library
624 Fayetteville Avenue
Alma, AR 72921
Phone: 479-632-4140
- Library's holdings include donated collection from disbanded Crawford County Genealogical Society, Inc.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Crawford County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Arkansas Societies.
Crawford County Historical Society
929 E Main Street
Van Buren, AR 72956-4317
Websites[edit | edit source]
- ARGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives
- Linkpendium
- Cyndi's List
- 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]
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Arkansas: Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/AR_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Crawford County, Arkansas Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ark/crawford/
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Crawford County, Arkansas," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_County,_Arkansas (accessed August 25, 2023).
- ↑ 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), Crawford County, Arkansas. Page 67 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 65.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Crawford County, Arkansas" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_County,_Arkansas accessed 3 September 2018.
- ↑ Wanda M. Gray, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, (http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=761&type=Category&item=Counties&parent=Counties%2c+Cities%2c+and+Towns&grandparent=+%3a+accessed+January+6%2c+2016)%2c : accessed January 12, 2016), “Crawford County.”
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Arkansas. Adjutant General's Office. Report of the Adjutant General of Arkansas, for the period of the late rebellion, and to November 1, 1866, (Bethesda, Maryland: University Publications of America, c1990) FS Library fiche 6082312
- ↑ Desmond Walls Allen, Third Arkansas Union Cavalry, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1987), pp. 33-92.FS Catalog 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)
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/5/5c/Igiarkansasad.pdf.