Randolph County, Arkansas Genealogy
Guide to Randolph County, Arkansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Randolph County was created 29 October 1835[2] and was named for John Randolph, a U.S. senator from Virginia influential in obtaining congressional approval of the Louisiana Purchase, which includes today's Randolph County. Its county seat is Pocahontas.[3] It is located in the northeastern area of the state.[4]
County Courthouse
Randolph County Courthouse
107 W Broadway
Pocahontas, AR 72455
Phone: 870-892-5822
Randolph County Website
County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1837.
Circuit Clerk has divorce, land, military, and court records 1836.[5]
Randolph County, Arkansas
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 | 1837 | 1914 | 1836 | 1836 | 1837 | 1830 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
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:[8]
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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History Timeline
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were taken from the Randolph County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. [9]
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 2,196 | — |
| 1850 | 3,275 | 49.1% |
| 1860 | 6,261 | 91.2% |
| 1870 | 7,466 | 19.2% |
| 1880 | 11,724 | 57.0% |
| 1890 | 14,485 | 23.5% |
| 1900 | 17,156 | 18.4% |
| 1910 | 18,987 | 10.7% |
| 1920 | 17,713 | −6.7% |
| 1930 | 16,871 | −4.8% |
| 1940 | 18,319 | 8.6% |
| 1950 | 15,982 | −12.8% |
| 1960 | 12,520 | −21.7% |
| 1970 | 12,645 | 1.0% |
| 1980 | 16,834 | 33.1% |
| 1990 | 16,558 | −1.6% |
| 2000 | 18,195 | 9.9% |
| 2010 | 17,969 | −1.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
- 1875-1899 Nebraska, Church Records, 1875-1899 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
- 1835-1999 Chancery Court Records, 1881-1955, Index, ca. 1835-1999(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1836-1880 Court Records, 1836-1880(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1837-1879 Circuit Court Record, 1837-1879(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1845-1880 Court Records, 1845-1880(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
- Hope Gardens Funeral Home in Pocahontas
- McNabb Funeral Homes in Pocahontas
Genealogies
Guardianship
- Probate Records 1836-1920 Randolph County portion of the collection: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images) - How to Use this Collection
- Includes Administration bonds and letters 1852-1903; Chancery Court records 1858-1880; County Court records 1836-1861; Dockets 1868-1904; Guardian bonds 1858-1887 and 1891; Probate record index 1867-1920; Probate records 1837-1890; Wills 1836-1918.
Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Randolph County. They may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more about local histories, see Arkansas Local Histories.
- History of Randolph County, Arkansas. By Lawrence Dalton. Little Rock, Arkansas : Democrat Print. and Lithographing. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Arkansas State Archives State Maps Collection at Arkansas Digital Archives
Migration
Military Records
Revolutionary War
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). 1967 reprint: FS Catalog Collection 973 X2pc 1840. See Arkansas, Randolph 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 ($). Includes veterans from this county; Arkansas section begins on page 439.
Civil War
- Men from this county served in the 7th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate).[10]
- Men from this county served in Captain Ballard's Company, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
- Men from Pocahantas, Randolph County served in Anderson's Unattached Battalion, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate) and Fagan's Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate)
- Men from this county served in the 45th Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry.[11]
- Men from this county served in the 38th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate).[12]
- Men from this county served in the 31st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Companies A and B.[13]
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1890-1963 Arkansas Confederate Soldier Home,1890-1963 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1891-1939 Arkansas Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1901-1929 Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Arkansas, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Finding More Arkansas Newspapers Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Randolph newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat
- FamilySearch. Do a Randolph County, Arkansas Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see, FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
- Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Fayetteville Daily Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Daily Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Northwest Arkansas Times at Ancestry.com ($)
- Courier Times at Ancestry.com ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1783-1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1817-1979 Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1836-1918 Will Record, 1836-1918(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1837-1890 Probate Court Records, 1837-1890(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1852-1903 Administrators Bonds and Letters, 1852-1903(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1858-1891 Guardian Bond Records, 1858-1887, 1891(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
Vital Records
Birth
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| Father's Occupation |
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In 1877, a few county and city clerks[14] 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
- 1779-1966 Arkansas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1800-Onward Arkansas Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1836-1951 Randolph County Marriage Books 1-42 Index 1836-1951 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.[15]
- 1837-1947 Arkansas County Marriage Books F-Z, A1-B1 Index 1882-1947 in Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1860-1976 Arkansas Church Marriages, 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index & images - How to Use this Collection
- 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
Death
- 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 ($)
Divorce
- 1923-1969 Arkansas, Divorces, 1923-1969 at Ancestry.com - index ($)
Voting Records
- 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
Archives
Listed below are archives in Randolph County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Arkansas Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
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
- Jonesboro Arkansas FamilySearch Center
- Greene County Historical & Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Randolph County. For state-wide library facilities, see Arkansas Archives and Libraries.
Randolph County Library
111 W Everett
Pocahontas, AR 72455-3316
Phone: 870-892-5617
Email: ranlib@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
Riley-Hickingbotham Library
Ouachita Baptist University
410 Ouachita St
P.O. Box 3742
Arkadelphia, AR 71998
Phone: 870-245-5120
Website
Facebook
Official depository for records of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Randolph County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Arkansas Societies.
Randolph County Historical and Genealogical Society
111 W Everett
Pocahontas, AR 72455
Phone: 870-892-5617
Email: randhistory@yahoo.com
Website
Websites
- 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
References
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Individual County Chronologies, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/AR_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Randolph County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randolph_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), Randolph County, Arkansas. Page 70 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), 67.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Randolph County, Arkansas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randolph_County,_Arkansas, accessed 26 September 2018.
- ↑ Derek Allen Clements, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, (http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=803&type=Category&item=Counties&parent=Counties%2c+Cities%2c+and+Towns&grandparent=+%3a+accessed+January+6%2c+2016)%2c : accessed January 15, 2016), “Randolph County.”
- ↑ Desmond Walls Allen, The Seventh Arkansas Confederate Infantry, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1988) FS Catalog book 976.7 M22adw
- ↑ Desmond Walls Allen, Forty-fifth Arkansas Confederate Calvary, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1988), p. 1. FS Catalog book 976.7 M2af
- ↑ Desmond Walls Allen, Thirty-eighth Arkansas Confederate Infantry, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1988), p. 1. FS Catalog book 976.7 M2at
- ↑ Ronald R. Bass, History of the Thirty-first Arkansas Confederate Infantry, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1996), p. 12 FS Catalog book 976.7 M2ba
- ↑ 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/d/d7/Arkansasnz.pdf.