LITTLE RIVER COUNTY, AR HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
History of Sevier & Little River County, Arkansas by Kansas City Southern Railway Co., (1910) – 14 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.03.26.1507.CD.AR
Little River County, Arkansas: A Genealogical Overview
Located in the southwestern corner of Arkansas, Little River county is a region defined by its three bordering states, its two major rivers, and a history rooted in the Caddo Nation and the cotton kingdom. Formed during the Reconstruction era, its genealogical research requires careful attention to its parent counties and the area’s earlier history as part of Old Miller County.
I. County Formation and Evolution
For genealogists, Little River county’s creation after the Civil War means that any records for ancestors living in the area before 1867 must be sought in the records of its parent counties.
- 1867: County Formed: Little River county was established on March 5, 1867, during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War.
- Parent Counties: It was created from portions of Hempstead and Sevier counties. For researchers tracing very early settlers (pre-1838), it is important to note that this area was once part of the much larger “Old Miller County,” Arkansas Territory.
- Name Origin: The county was named for the Little River, which forms its northern and eastern boundaries before flowing into the Red River, the county’s southern boundary.
- County Seat History: The first county seat was at Rocky Comfort. In 1880, the seat of government was moved to the growing railroad town of Ashdown, where it has remained.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The land was the historical home of the Caddo Nation, who had a major ceremonial center and numerous villages throughout the region. The area’s rivers made it a vital center for trade and travel.
- Settlement and Economy: American settlers were drawn to the fertile bottomlands of the Red River and Little River valleys. They established a cotton-based plantation economy that was dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans. After the Civil War, the timber industry grew to become a major economic force, with vast cypress and pine forests being harvested. The arrival of the Kansas City Southern Railway was instrumental in the growth of Ashdown and the county’s commerce.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Little River county.
- Courthouse:
- Little River County Clerk: Located at the Little River County Courthouse, 351 North 2nd Street, Ashdown, AR 71822. The County Clerk’s office is the primary repository for land records (deeds) and marriage licenses from 1867. The Circuit Clerk, in the same building, holds court and probate records (wills, estates). For records prior to 1867, researchers must consult the records of Hempstead and Sevier counties.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Arkansas began in February 1914. Records are held by the Arkansas Department of Health. Records of births and deaths prior to 1914 are generally not available, though some delayed birth certificates may exist at the courthouse.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1867 to the present are held by the Little River County Clerk.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Little River County Library: Located at 212 North 2nd Street, Ashdown, AR 71822. The library has a local history collection with resources for genealogical research, including newspapers on microfilm and local publications. The Little River County Historical Society is also a key resource for researchers.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Hempstead county, AR
- Howard county, AR
- Miller county, AR
- Sevier county, AR
- Bowie county, TX
- McCurtain county, OK