Polk County, Arkansas Genealogy

∣ Societies and Family History Resources ∣ Government Records ∣ Genealogy Links ∣ Publications ∣ Census Records ∣
∣ Court, Probate, Land and Tax Records ∣ Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records ∣
∣ Cemeteries & Graveyards ∣ Church & Bible Records ∣ County History ∣ Military Records ∣ Schools & Directories ∣

Polk County, Arkansas genealogy and family history research page. Discover links to record collections, history, and genealogy information to help you you track your Polk Co., ancestors. Get going by putting together a Free Family Tree.

Polk County was created on November 30, 1844 and was formed from Sevier County. Parts of Polk County was used to form the following counties: Howard 1873, Sebastian 1851. Other county boundry changes occured when Line with Montgomery changed 7 February 1859, part of Sebastian annexed 1 June 1861, line with Pike defined 7 April 1873. This particular county was named in honor of James Knox Polk (1795–1849), the eleventh president of the United States.

Currently the Polk County Seat can be found in Mena (the first county seat was at a settlement called Panther before moving to Mena) and in addition the county government website is www.arcounties.org/

Areas next to Polk County happen to be Scott County (north), Montgomery County (east), Howard County (southeast), Sevier County (south), McCurtain County, Oklahoma (southwest), Le Flore County, Oklahoma (northwest).

Cities and towns located in Polk County consist of Cove, Grannis, Hatfield, Mena, Vandervoort, Wickes.

Polk County does have Federal Census Schedules to assist in finding out about your family tree. Government Population Schedules are present for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940. Polk Co. Slave Schedules can be acquired for 1850 & 1860. Polk Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Polk Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Polk Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be acquired for 1890. You'll find free online and also printable census forms to help with your research.

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Polk County Societies and Family History Resources

A list of Polk County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Arkansas Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.

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Polk County Courthouse and Government Records

Researchers typically forget the advantages of Polk County court, probate, and land files as a source of ancestry and genealogy information and facts. Hidden away in Arkansas courthouses and archives everywhere tend to be the desires and worries of the many Arkansas men and women. The possibilities are very good that your particular ancestors have left a in-depth record of at least quite a few elements of their lives in the Polk County court records. Even if your forebears is not discussed in a Court case, take into account all of the other methods which often can have lead to him or her showing up in court records.

I highly recommend you contact the clerk's office to identify hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of from time to time changing contact info. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The data files are readily available to interested parties, barring private issues. Many staff will assist people in locating the resources, however it's up to the man or women to perform the basic research.

The following details shows exactly what death, marriage, birth,, property, probate, and court records will be in Polk County. The years pointed out below tend to be the first recognized records data for this particular county.

All County Offices Records are located in the Courthouse at 507 Church Avenue, Mena 71953; 479-394-8130, unless otherwise noted. All records prior to 1883 destroyed in a courthouse fire except one probate record dating from Sept. 1876, one county court record dating from July 1876, and one circuit court record dating from Feb. 1877.

  • Polk County Clerk of Circuit Court is the clerk of the circuit, chancery court, and juvenile court and usually acts as the ex-officio recorder of Polk county. The duties of the clerk are to maintain a record of all proceedings of the circuit, chancery and juvenile courts and to prepare the dockets for courts in Polk County. They are also the ex-officio Polk county recorder; and is responsible for recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds, and many other orders and instruments which involve property within Polk county.
    • Phone: (479) 394-8100
    • Court Records: 1900
    • Land Records: 1885
    • Divorce Records: are maintained among the equity records (Divorces issued prior to 1950 are located here. Divorces issued after 1950 can be found  at the Arkansas Department of Public Health)
  • Polk County Clerk , as clerk to the probate court, the clerk files all instruments making them a matter of record in descendent estate cases, and swears in all witnesses in contested estates. The clerk, also in this capacity, maintains all records relative to adoptions and guardianship cases within Polk county.
    • Phone: (479) 394-8123
    • Marriage Records: 1881 
    • Probate Records: 1885
  • Polk County Assessor's Office maintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
    • Phone: (479) 394-8116
  • Arkansas Dept of Health has Birth & Death records since February 1, 1914, Marriage Records since January 1917 and Divorce Records since January 1923. You may go to any county health department in the State of Arkansas to obtain a Birth or Death certificates which can be issued while you wait.
Arkansas Historical Records - Databases include Arkansas Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Arkansas Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Arkansas Voter Lists & Census Records; Arkansas Immigration & Emigration Records; Arkansas Obituary Records; Arkansas Military Records; Arkansas Family Tree Records; Arkansas Pictures; Arkansas Stories, Memories & Histories; Arkansas Directories & Member Lists and much more....
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Polk County Genealogy Links

The following are web links to Genealogy and family history, Records and Resources associated to Polk County. A lot of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Professional Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is merely a list which has been compiled or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to submit your own preferred Polk County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.

Polk Co. AR Books, Newspapers & Publications

Polk Co. AR Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Polk Co. AR Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

Polk Co. AR Census Records

Polk Co. AR Cemeteries & Graveyards

Polk Co. AR Church & Bible Records

Polk Co. AR Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

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Polk Co. AR General and History Websites

Polk Co. AR Immigration & Naturalization

Polk Co. AR Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Polk Co. AR Military Records

Polk Co. AR Schools & Directories

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