Administrative Structure of Arkansas
Arkansas, located in the Southern United States, is composed of 75 counties. Admitted to the Union as the 25th state in 1836, Arkansas is known for its diverse geography, rich history, and natural beauty. This guide provides a detailed look at Arkansas’s county and city structure, from the Ozark Mountains to the Mississippi Delta.
✅Arkansas County Map
PDF: ARKANSAS County Map
✅Complete List of All 75 Counties in Arkansas with County Seat, Major Cities, Incorporation Dates, and Area
| County | County Seat | Incorporation Date | Area (sq mi) | Major Cities / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas County | DeWitt / Stuttgart | December 13, 1813 | 1,034 | Oldest county; rich farmland. |
| Ashley County | Hamburg | November 30, 1848 | 940 | Forestry and agriculture. |
| Baxter County | Mountain Home | March 24, 1873 | 586 | Tourism, fishing, outdoor recreation. |
| Benton County | Bentonville | September 30, 1836 | 884 | Home of Walmart HQ. |
| Boone County | Harrison | April 9, 1869 | 602 | Tourism and Ozark Mountains. |
| Bradley County | Warren | December 18, 1840 | 653 | Known for tomato farming. |
| Calhoun County | Hampton | December 6, 1850 | 632 | Small population; timber industry. |
| Carroll County | Berryville / Eureka Springs | November 1, 1833 | 639 | Tourism hub, Ozark region. |
| Chicot County | Lake Village | October 25, 1823 | 691 | Located on Mississippi River. |
| Clark County | Arkadelphia | December 15, 1818 | 882 | Colleges and timber. |
| Clay County | Piggott / Corning | March 24, 1873 | 641 | Known for agriculture. |
| Cleburne County | Heber Springs | February 20, 1883 | 561 | Greers Ferry Lake tourism. |
| Cleveland County | Rison | April 17, 1873 | 599 | Timber and farming. |
| Columbia County | Magnolia | December 17, 1852 | 767 | Southern Arkansas University. |
| Conway County | Morrilton | October 20, 1825 | 567 | Arkansas River valley. |
| Craighead County | Jonesboro / Lake City | February 19, 1859 | 713 | Arkansas State University. |
| Crawford County | Van Buren | October 18, 1820 | 604 | Border with Oklahoma. |
| Crittenden County | Marion | October 22, 1825 | 636 | Part of Memphis metro area. |
| Cross County | Wynne | November 15, 1862 | 622 | Delta region farming. |
| Dallas County | Fordyce | January 1, 1845 | 668 | Timber and agriculture. |
| Desha County | Arkansas City | December 12, 1838 | 820 | Mississippi Delta farmland. |
| Drew County | Monticello | November 26, 1846 | 835 | University of Arkansas at Monticello. |
| Faulkner County | Conway | April 12, 1873 | 664 | Growing suburban county. |
| Franklin County | Ozark / Charleston | December 19, 1837 | 620 | Arkansas River valley. |
| Fulton County | Salem | December 21, 1842 | 620 | Rural Ozark county. |
| Garland County | Hot Springs | April 5, 1873 | 678 | Hot Springs National Park. |
| Grant County | Sheridan | February 4, 1869 | 633 | Timber industry. |
| Greene County | Paragould | November 5, 1833 | 578 | Located in NE Arkansas. |
| Hempstead County | Hope | December 15, 1818 | 741 | Birthplace of Bill Clinton. |
| Hot Spring County | Malvern | November 2, 1829 | 622 | Known for brick production. |
| Howard County | Nashville | April 17, 1873 | 595 | Fruit and poultry farming. |
| Independence County | Batesville | October 20, 1820 | 772 | White River region. |
| Izard County | Melbourne | October 27, 1825 | 584 | Ozark foothills. |
| Jackson County | Newport | November 5, 1829 | 642 | Rice farming. |
| Jefferson County | Pine Bluff | November 2, 1829 | 914 | Arkansas River port city. |
| Johnson County | Clarksville | November 16, 1833 | 660 | Ozark National Forest. |
| Lafayette County | Lewisville | October 15, 1827 | 545 | Southwest Arkansas. |
| Lawrence County | Walnut Ridge | January 15, 1815 | 592 | Historic early settlement. |
| Lee County | Marianna | April 17, 1873 | 603 | Mississippi Delta farmland. |
| Lincoln County | Star City | March 28, 1871 | 572 | Agriculture and rural. |
| Little River County | Ashdown | March 5, 1867 | 565 | Forestry and farming. |
| Logan County | Paris / Booneville | March 22, 1871 | 732 | Mount Magazine State Park. |
| Lonoke County | Lonoke | April 16, 1873 | 802 | Rice and farming. |
| Madison County | Huntsville | September 30, 1836 | 837 | Ozark Mountains. |
| Marion County | Yellville | September 25, 1836 | 640 | Bull Shoals Lake tourism. |
| Miller County | Texarkana | April 1, 1820 | 637 | Border with Texas. |
| Mississippi County | Blytheville / Osceola | November 1, 1833 | 920 | Part of Delta region. |
| Monroe County | Clarendon | November 2, 1829 | 621 | White River wildlife refuge. |
| Montgomery County | Mount Ida | December 9, 1842 | 800 | Ouachita Mountains. |
| Nevada County | Prescott | March 20, 1871 | 621 | Rural timber industry. |
| Newton County | Jasper | December 14, 1842 | 835 | Buffalo National River. |
| Ouachita County | Camden | November 29, 1842 | 733 | Military and timber industry. |
| Perry County | Perryville | December 18, 1840 | 561 | Ouachita National Forest. |
| Phillips County | Helena-West Helena | May 1, 1820 | 727 | Blues music heritage. |
| Pike County | Murfreesboro | November 1, 1833 | 614 | Crater of Diamonds State Park. |
| Poinsett County | Harrisburg | February 28, 1838 | 763 | Delta farmland. |
| Polk County | Mena | November 30, 1844 | 862 | Ouachita Mountains. |
| Pope County | Russellville | November 2, 1829 | 830 | Arkansas Tech University. |
| Prairie County | Des Arc / DeValls Bluff | November 25, 1846 | 675 | Rice farming and wetlands. |
| Pulaski County | Little Rock | December 15, 1818 | 808 | Capital and largest city. |
| Randolph County | Pocahontas | October 29, 1835 | 656 | Historic settlements. |
| St. Francis County | Forrest City | October 13, 1827 | 639 | Delta farming area. |
| Saline County | Benton | November 2, 1835 | 730 | Growing suburban county. |
| Scott County | ||||
| Searcy County | Marshall | December 13, 1838 | 669 | Buffalo National River area. |
| Sebastian County | Fort Smith / Greenwood | January 6, 1851 | 546 | Large manufacturing hub. |
| Sevier County | De Queen | October 17, 1828 | 581 | Forestry and poultry. |
| Sharp County | Ash Flat | July 18, 1868 | 606 | Tourism and retirement communities. |
| Stone County | Mountain View | April 21, 1873 | 609 | Known for folk music. |
| Union County | El Dorado | November 2, 1829 | 1,055 | Oil and gas industry. |
| Van Buren County | Clinton | November 11, 1833 | 709 | Ozark foothills tourism. |
| Washington County | Fayetteville | October 17, 1828 | 952 | University of Arkansas. |
| White County | Searcy | October 23, 1835 | 1,042 | Home to Harding University. |
| Woodruff County | Augusta | November 26, 1862 | 587 | Delta farming. |
| Yell County | Dardanelle / Danville | December 5, 1840 | 949 | Arkansas River valley. |
Geographical and Cultural Diversity
Arkansas’s counties encompass a wide range of geographical features, from the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains in the west to the Mississippi Alluvial Plain in the east. The state is divided into six distinct regions: the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains, the Arkansas River Valley, the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, the West Gulf Coastal Plain, and Crowley’s Ridge.
Arkansas has a rich cultural heritage that includes Native American history, European settlement, and significant contributions to blues, jazz, and country music. The state is known for its natural beauty, with numerous state parks, hot springs, and the Buffalo National River.
Economy and Industry
Arkansas has a diverse economy with major sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and services. The state is a leading producer of rice, poultry, and cotton. Northwest Arkansas has developed into a major corporate center with Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services headquartered in the region.
Tourism is also an important industry, with attractions including Hot Springs National Park, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the Clinton Presidential Center drawing visitors from across the country.
