White County, Arkansas Genealogy
Guide to White 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
White County was created 01 Dec 1835[2] and was named for Hugh Lawson White, a Whig candidate for President of the United States.[3] Its county seat is Searcy. It is located in the central area of the state.[4]
County Courthouse
White County Courthouse
300 N Spruce Street
Searcy, AR 72143
Phone: 501-279-6200
White County Website
County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court, land, tax and miscellaneous records.[5]
White 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 | 1836 | 1914 | 1836 | 1837 | 1848 | 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]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Townships | ||
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 White County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. [9]
Resources
Bible Records
- White County, Arkansas Vital Records, Information, and Related Items at ArGenWeb.net
- White County Bible Records at Arkansas Genealogy
- White County Bible Records at Arkansas USGenWeb Project Archives
Biographies
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas. Chicago, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1890. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 929 | — |
| 1850 | 2,619 | 181.9% |
| 1860 | 8,316 | 217.5% |
| 1870 | 10,347 | 24.4% |
| 1880 | 17,794 | 72.0% |
| 1890 | 22,946 | 29.0% |
| 1900 | 24,864 | 8.4% |
| 1910 | 28,574 | 14.9% |
| 1920 | 34,603 | 21.1% |
| 1930 | 38,269 | 10.6% |
| 1940 | 37,176 | −2.9% |
| 1950 | 38,040 | 2.3% |
| 1960 | 32,745 | −13.9% |
| 1970 | 39,253 | 19.9% |
| 1980 | 50,835 | 29.5% |
| 1990 | 54,676 | 7.6% |
| 2000 | 67,165 | 22.8% |
| 2010 | 77,076 | 14.8% |
| 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
- 1836-1877 County Court Record, 1836-1877(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1837-1892 Court Records, 1837-1892(*); Circuit and Justice of the Peace Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1845-1952 Court Records, 1845-1952, 1845-1952(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1868-1887 Index to Chancery and Circuit Court Papers, 1868-1887(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- White County Heritage (White County Historical Society), Vol. 2. 1964. White County Historical Society. Searcy, Arkansas : White County Historical Society. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Directories
{{AR Directo*1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
ries Intro|White}}
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
- Heavenly Rest Funeral Home in Searcy
- Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Bald Knob and Searcy
- Roller-Daniel Funeral Home in Searcy
- Searcy McEuen Funeral Home in Searcy
- Sullivan Funeral Care Memorial Chapel and Crematory in Kensett
Genealogies
Guardianship
- Probate Records 1835-1924 White 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 1857-1889; Dockets 1866-1871; Executor and guardian bonds and letters 1854-1940; Probate case files 1835-1920; Probate record index 1848-1866; Probate records 1848-1887; Wills 1853-1934.
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 White County. They may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more about local histories, see Arkansas Local Histories.
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas. Chicago, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1890. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers
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
Civil War
Regiments. Men in White County served in various regiments and companies. Those listed below were specifically formed in this county:
- - 1st Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate)[10], Company D
- - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate), 2nd Company E
- - 6th Battalion Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate), Company E
- - 7th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)[11]
- - 36th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Companies A, B, E and H
- - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union)[12], Company G
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 White newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat
- FamilySearch. Do a White 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
- 1835-1940 Probate Records (White County, Arkansas), 1835-1940(*); 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
| 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[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
- 1779-1966 Arkansas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1800-Onward Arkansas Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1836-2000 White County Marriage Books E-Z and 27-45 Index (1879-1953) and Index (1836-2000) in Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1859-1922 White County Marriage Books A-X Index 1859-1922 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.[14]
- 1860-1976 Arkansas Church Marriages, 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index & images- How to Use this Collection
- 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
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 White 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
- Quitman Arkansas FamilySearch Center
- White County Regional Library System - Searcy Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in White County. For state-wide library facilities, see Arkansas Archives and Libraries.
White County Regional Library System
113 E Pleasure Ave
Searcy, AR 72143
Phone: 501-268-2449, 501-279-2870
Email: wcrls@arkansas.gov
Website
Facebook
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in White County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Arkansas Societies.
White County Historical Society
P.O. Box 537
Searcy, AR 72145
Phone: 501-278-5010
Email: wchs1962@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
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
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “White County, Arkansas Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ark/white/
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "White County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_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), White County, Arkansas. Page 71 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, "White County, Arkansas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_County,_Arkansas, accessed 2 October 2018.
- ↑ Scott Akridge, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, (http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=814&type=Category&item=Counties&parent=Counties%2c+Cities%2c+and+Towns&grandparent=+%3a+accessed+January+6%2c+2016)%2c : accessed January 18, 2016), “White County.”
- ↑ Desmond Walls Allen, First Arkansas Confederate Mounted Rifles, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1988), p. 2. FS Catalog book 976.7 M2a
- ↑ Desmond Walls Allen, The Seventh Arkansas Confederate Infantry, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1988) FS Catalog book 976.7 M22adw
- ↑ Desmond Walls Allen, Third Arkansas Union Cavalry, (Conway, Arkansas: Arkansas Research, c1987), p. 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/d/d7/Arkansasnz.pdf.