Arkansas

Arkansas Census Research

Arkansas was first included in the Federal census in 1830, and is included in all subsequent censuses. Territorial censuses taken in 1810 and 1820 are said to be lost, but the 1820 census has been reconstructed using tax returns and other sources. Sheriff’s censuses do exist for some areas, though are fragmented and in inconsistent formats. 

Arkansas Vital Records

Statewide registration of births and deaths in Arkansas began in February, 1914, but full compliance was not achieved for another thirty years.

• Arkansas Vital Records: Holds birth and death certificates from February 1, 1914, as well as some limited earlier records for Little Rock and Fort Smith; marriage records from January 1917; and divorce records from January 1923. Earlier records may be available from the clerk of the county where the event was recorded.

Arkansas Research Resources

The organizations listed below provide information about Arkansas history and genealogy. In addition to these state-level resources, many counties and towns maintain important genealogical collections in local libraries, genealogical societies, or historical societies, so check for a local resource when researching.

• Arkansas History Commission and State Archives: The extensive collections include census, military, land, newspaper, cemetery, and church records and a photograph collection. See the Research section for searchable indexes.
• Arkansas State Library: The library is home to publications about Arkansas, it's history and people.
• Arkansas Genealogical Society: Sponsors research trips and conferences, and publishes the quarterly journal The Arkansas Family Historian. The web site includes a useful set of links for researchers.
• Arkansas GenWeb: Includes links to Arkansas county genealogy web sites.
• RootsWeb Arkansas Resources: Contains links to Arizona genealogy resources, including state and county-level websites; societies and organizations; and personal and miscellaneous web sites related to Arkansas research.
• Arkansas Historical Association: Although their focus is on history, the Association maintains a list of web sites for Arkansas genealogical and historical societies.
• The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies – Genealogy page: Describes the resources available for family researchers at the archives in Little Rock.
• Arkansas Studies Institute (Little Rock)
• Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives
• Birmingham Public Library: The Library’s Genealogy page describes the resources available in the Southern History department, including local indexes and a list of surnames in the family files. The Library’s Digital Collections also contain information of interest to genealogists, including digitized newspapers, yearbooks, and maps.
• The National Archives at Fort Worth:  This NARA facility maintains records from Federal agencies and courts in Arkansas, including census, military, court, naturalization, and immigration records.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) General Land Office Records: The BLM administers Federal Land for public land states including Arkansas, and maintains records of land patents which granted land from the Federal Government to individuals. Use the Land Patent Search to locate land grants by name. Many record images are available on the web site. See the FAQ for more information on how to locate and use land patents.