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Sebastian County, Arkansas

County Court, Probate, Land & Tax Records  •  County Census Records
County Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
County Cemeteries & Graveyards  •  County Church & Bible Records

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Sebastian County was created on 6 January 1851 and was formed from Scott, Polk and Crawford Counties. It was named after William K. Sebastian, a judge for the U.S. Circuit Court. The county seat was first located at Greenwood, then moved to the second-largest community in Arkansas, Fort Smith, before being relocated back to Greenwood in 1852. In 1861, it was decided that the county would have two seats of government; one at Fort Smith and the other at Greenwood. Fort Smith, originally Belle Point, was a U.S. military installation throughout the 1800s along the Arkansas River. The Hanging Judge, Isaac Parker, presided over its court system in the late 1800s.

Sebastian County is bordered by Crawford County (north), Franklin County (east), Logan County, Scott County (south), Le Flore County, OK (southwest), Sequoyah County, OK (northwest). Cities, Towns & Communities include Barling, Bonanza, Central City, Fort Smith, Greenwood, Hackett, Hartford, Huntington, Lavaca, Mansfield, Midland

The Official County Government Website is located at http://www.sebastiancountyonline.com/ .

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County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Arkansas Marriage Records, Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records

Sebastian County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1851 and Land Records from 1861 and is located at 35 South Sixth Street, Fort Smith, 72901; (479) 782-1046 .

Sebastian County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1865 and Probate Records from 1851 and is located at 35 South Sixth Street, Fort Smith, 72901; (479) 782-5065

Tax records are located in the county courthouse and the Arkansas History Commission.

Below is a list of online resources for Sebastian County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Sebastian County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Arkansas

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Arkansas Vital Records, 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205, Please allow up to approximately 4-6 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: Birth records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Vital Records does have a limited number of birth records prior to 1914. The birth records dated prior to 1914 were filed with Arkansas Vital Records after 1914. They have original copies of Little Rock and Fort Smith births dating from 1881.
    • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $12.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered of the same record at the same time. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $12.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Death Certificates: Death records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Arkansas Vital Records does have a limited number of deaths occurring prior to 1914 for Little Rock and Fort Smith dating from 1881. The Arkansas History Commission has a death index of deaths occurring in Arkansas from 1914 through 1949. This is only an alphabetical listing of deaths occurring in Arkansas. The History Commission does not have copies of the death records.
    • Cost: The cost of a certified death certificate is $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy issued at the same time for the same certificate. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1917. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any marriage records prior to 1917.
    Divorce records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1923. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any divorce records prior to 1923. Records of marriage & divorce proceedings are available from the Sebastian County clerk of Probate Court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates .
    • Cost: Arkansas Vital Records maintains a file of marriage and divorce coupons. These coupons are acceptable with organizations that require a certified record. The cost of a marriage or divorce coupon is $10.00 for each copy. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee.
  • Order In Person: The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office. If you want the copy the same day, our hours for same day service are 8:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Monday – Friday. The office is located at 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205.
  • Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address: Vital Records, PO Box 8184, Little Rock AR 72203-8184. Please include return address on envelope and application form. Processing Time takes 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you Order Online.
  • Ordering Vital Records - You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail.

Below is a list of online resources for Sebastian County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Sebastian County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Links for Arkansas

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Sebastian County, Arkansas are 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Sebastian County, Arkansas are Industry and Agriculture Schedules 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms

Below is a list of online resources for Sebastian County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Sebastian County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Arkansas

Below is a list of online resources for Sebastian County Maps. Email us with websites containing Sebastian County Maps by clicking the link below:

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County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Arkansas

Below is a list of online resources for Sebastian County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Sebastian County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Arkansas Genealogical Addresses

Below is a list of online resources for Sebastian County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Sebastian County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Submit a website for Sebastian Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Scott Sebastiona Regional Library, 18 North Adair Street, Greenwood AR 72936
  • Fort Smith Historical Society, Inc. publish "The Journal" twice a year in April and November.
    Subscriptions are $25 per year ($15 for senior citizens) / $200 for lifetime.
  • Frontier Researchers, A Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 2123, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72902-2123
    "Frontier Researchers" meet eleven times a year, on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Fort Smith Public Library. There is no meeting in December. Featured in these meetings are experts in ancestral research as well as local news and project of genealogical interest. Membership is open to all interested with dues of $15
    due annually. Included in the membership is a subscription to Frontier Research which is published semi-annually. Included in this publication is historical and genealogical information of local interest. Frontier Researchers has also established an elite organization known as "Frontier Families of the Western District of Arkansas." This was designed to preserve the family history of people who came into this area between March 3, 1851 and February 20, 1897. If a person can prove each generation of lineage back to an individual who was in the Western District of Arkansas during these dates then they are eligible for membership. The Western District covered 13 counties in Arkansas and about 1/2 of the Oklahoma Territory. The ancestors may be male or female. And the information collected will be archived at the Fort Smith National Historic Site where it will be available for researchers in the future. A beautiful certificate accompanies the membership and membership is a one time fee of $25. Any one interested and send their request for an application along with a Self Address Stamped Envelope to the above address. We have several books for sale of local interest also and can be obtain through the above address.
    Sebastian County, Arkansas Original Land Grants.......................$8.00
    Crawford County, Arkansas Original Land Grants..........................$8.00
    1890 Reconstructed Census of Sebastian County, Arkansas.........$20.00
    Master Index, Agent Funeral Home Records, Books 1-14, Sequoyah County,
    Oklahoma.............................................................................. $15.00
    Please add $2.00 per book for postage and handling.
  • The Fort Smith Historical Society, Inc. ,
    c/o Fort Smith Public Library , 61 South 8th Street , Fort Smith AR 72901
  • Arkansas History Commission, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201; 501.682.6900
  • Arkansas Genealogical Society, 1411 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box 908, Hot Springs, AR 71902-0908; Phone: 501-262-4513
  • Arkansas Historical Society, 422 South Sixth Street, Van Buren, AR 72201
  • Arkansas Family History Association, 609 Colynwood, Sherwood, Arkansas 72120; 501-835-7502
  • Arkansas Historical Association, 416 Old Main, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; 479-575-5884, 479-575-2775 FAX
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Arkansas Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for Arkansas

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Sebastian County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Sebastian County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Below is a list of online resources for Sebastian County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Sebastian County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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County Church & Bible Records

See Also Research In Church Records or Statewide Church & Bible Links for Arkansas

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Sebastian County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Sebastian County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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