WOODRUFF COUNTY, AR HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Woodruff County, Arkansas: A Genealogical Overview
Located in the Arkansas Delta, Woodruff county’s history is characterized by its formation during the Civil War, its complex system of multiple county seats, and an economy built on the rich soil of the Cache and White River basins. Genealogical research in this county requires careful attention to its five parent counties and shifting centers of government.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Woodruff county’s creation from five other counties and its unique history of multiple county seats are the most critical facts for any family historian to understand when searching for records.
- 1862: County Formed: Woodruff county was established on November 26, 1862, by an act of the state legislature, though its government was not fully organized until after the Civil War in 1865.
- Parent Counties: It was created from portions of five surrounding counties: Jackson, Phillips, Prairie, St. Francis, and White.
- Name Origin: The county was named for William E. Woodruff, the founder of the first newspaper in the state, the Arkansas Gazette.
- County Seat History: Woodruff county has one of the most complex county seat histories in Arkansas. The original seat was Augusta. For a time, the county had three seats: Augusta, McCrory, and Cotton Plant. Today, it operates with a dual-county seat system, also known as two districts. Augusta is the seat for the Northern District, and McCrory is the seat for the Southern District. Researchers must check records in both locations.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The land was originally the territory of the Quapaw people and other Native American groups who utilized the abundant resources of the rivers and forests.
- Settlement and Economy: Settlement of the area was slow due to dense swampland and hardwood forests. After the Civil War, the arrival of railroads spurred a massive timber boom, which cleared much of the land. Once cleared, the fertile Delta soil was ideal for agriculture, and the economy became dominated by the cultivation of cotton, and later rice and soybeans. This system relied heavily on sharecropping and tenant farming for labor through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The devastating Mississippi River Flood of 1927 had a major impact on the county.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Woodruff county.
- Courthouse:
- Woodruff County Courthouse (Northern District): Located at 500 North 3rd Street, Augusta, AR 72006.
- Woodruff County Courthouse (Southern District): Located at 320 Edmonds Avenue, McCrory, AR 72101. Both locations hold county records such as wills, probate and estate files, land records (deeds), and marriage licenses. It is essential to check both courthouses. For records prior to 1862, researchers must consult the records of the five parent counties.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Arkansas began in February 1914. Records are held by the Arkansas Department of Health.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from the county’s formation are held by the County Clerk at the respective district courthouse.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Augusta Public Library: Located at 201 South 2nd Street, Augusta, AR 72006. The Patterson-OCain Library, located at 107 South Fakes Avenue in McCrory, also has local history materials. The Woodruff County Historical Society in Augusta is a crucial resource for family researchers.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Cross county
- Jackson county
- Monroe county
- Prairie county
- St. Francis county
- White county