Ashley County, Arkansas Records

Ashley County, Arkansas (Map It) was created on November 30, 1848 and was formed from Chicot County, Drew County and Union County.

Other county boundry changes occured when Line with Chicot County changed by Act of 19 January 1861, part annexed from Bradley County by Act of 21 January 1859.

Ashley County was named in honor of Chester Ashley (1791–1848), a U.S. Senator from Arkansas and land speculator.

Ashley County is bordered by Drew County (north), Chicot County (east), Morehouse Parish, Louisiana (south), Union Parish, Louisiana (southwest), Union County (west), Bradley County (northwest).

Ashley County Cities and Towns include Crossett, Fountain Hill, Hamburg, Montrose, North Crossett, Parkdale, Petersburg, Portland, West Crossett, Wilmer.

A Map of Ashley County, Arkansas contains detailed information about roads and boundaries, these maps may include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries.

There is a collection of old Arkansas maps at MapGeeks.org

Ashley County, Arkansas Courthouse Records

The Ashley County Courthouse is located in Hamburg, Arkansas. A courthouse fire in 1921 destroyed most of the county's records. Learn More About State of Arkansas Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

The Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research.

The following dates indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Ashley county. The date listed for each record is usually the earliest registration filed. The date does not indicate that there are alot records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually filed with the clerk.

• Ashley County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1848, Land Records from 1848 and 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. The 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 the 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. They are also the ex-officio county recorder; and is responsible for recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds, and many other orders and instruments which involve property within the county.
• Ashley County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1848 and has Probate Records from 1849. The 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.
• Ashley County Assessor's Office maintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
• Ashley County Health Department

Ashley County, Arkansas Census Records

• Learn More: State of Arkansas Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• U.S. Census Reconstructed Records: Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1819-1870
• State Population Schedules: None
• U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules: 1850 and 1860
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

Ashley County, Arkansas Vital Records

• Learn More: State of Arkansas Vital Records
• Birth and Death Records: from February 1, 1914 to present.
• Marriage Records: from January 1917 to present. 
• Divorce Records: from  January 1923 to present. Full certified copy may be obtained from the County Circuit or Chancery Clerk.
• Locations: Arkansas Office of Vital Records, 4815 W. Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205; (602) 364-1300, 501-661-2336, 800-637-9314
• Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail: Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications.

Ashley County, Arkansas Resources

• Ashley County, Arkansas Message Boards

Ashley County, Arkansas External Links

• Arkansas Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• Ashley County, Arkansas Books - Amazon
• Social Security Death Index
• Ashley Co., Arkansas - FindaGrave
• Arkansas Indexed Historical Records - Familysearch
• Ashley Co. ARGenweb
• Ashley County, Arkansas Links - Cyndi's List
• Historical Newspapers from Arkansas (1819 - 1999)
• Ashley County, Arkansas Ancestry Database Collections
• Ashley County, Arkansas Military Records