CHICOT COUNTY, AR HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Chicot County, Arkansas: A Genealogical Overview
Located in the extreme southeastern corner of Arkansas, Chicot county is the state’s easternmost county, defined by the Mississippi River and the fertile soil of the Arkansas Delta. Its history is deeply rooted in the cotton plantation economy, the legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction, and its unique position bordering two other states.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Chicot county’s territorial origins and the movement of its county seat is a crucial first step for any family historian researching this historically rich area.
- 1823: County Formed: Chicot county was established on October 25, 1823, by an act of the Arkansas Territorial Legislature.
- Parent County: It was created from the southern portion of Arkansas county.
- Name Origin: The county is named for Point Chicot on the Mississippi River. “Chicot” is a French word meaning “stumpy” or “snaggy,” referring to the many cypress stumps and knees visible along the riverbank.
- County Seat History: The first county seat was at the now-extinct town of Villemont. In 1838, the seat was moved to Columbia. After a fire destroyed Columbia, the county seat was moved to its present location in Lake Village in 1857.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The area was historically the home of the Quapaw, Tunica, and other Native American peoples who utilized the rich resources of the Mississippi River and its delta.
- Antebellum Period and Economy: Following the Louisiana Purchase, American settlers were drawn to the region’s exceptionally fertile delta soil. Chicot county quickly developed into a major center for cotton cultivation, with a society and economy dominated by large plantations that were entirely dependent on the labor of a large population of enslaved African Americans. By 1860, the enslaved population vastly outnumbered the white population.
- Reconstruction and Later History: The county was a site of significant conflict during the Reconstruction era, including the Chicot County Race War of 1871. After the Civil War, the plantation system was replaced by sharecropping and tenant farming. During World War II, the Jerome War Relocation Center, an internment camp for Japanese Americans, was located in the county, marking a significant chapter in its history.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Chicot county.
- Courthouse:
- Chicot County Courthouse: Located at 108 Main Street, Lake Village, AR 71653. In Arkansas, record-keeping duties are split. The Circuit Clerk holds land and court records, while the County Clerk holds marriage licenses and probate records (wills, estates, etc.). Researchers should be prepared to visit both offices.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Arkansas began in February 1914. These records are held by the Arkansas Department of Health. Some cities, including Lake Village, may have earlier records.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1823 to the present are held by the Chicot County Clerk. Statewide registration began in 1917.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Lake Village Public Library: Located at 213 South Cokley Street, Lake Village, AR 71653. The local library is the best starting point for published county histories, cemetery records, and newspaper archives on microfilm. It is part of the Southeast Arkansas Regional Library system.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Ashley county, AR
- Desha county, AR
- Drew county, AR
- Bolivar county, MS
- Washington county, MS
- East Carroll parish, LA
- West Carroll parish, LA