Miller County, Arkansas Genealogy
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Guide to Miller County, Arkansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biographies
- 2.3 Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census Records
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Directories
- 2.9 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.10 Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
- 2.11 Funeral Homes
- 2.12 Genealogies
- 2.13 Guardianship
- 2.14 Land and Property Records
- 2.15 Local Histories
- 2.16 Maps and Gazetteers
- 2.17 Migration
- 2.18 Military Records
- 2.19 Naturalization and Citizenship
- 2.20 Newspapers
- 2.21 Obituaries
- 2.22 Other Records
- 2.23 Periodicals
- 2.24 Probate Records
- 2.25 School Records
- 2.26 Tax Records
- 2.27 Vital Records
- 3 Research Facilities
- 4 Societies
- 5 Websites
- 6 Research Guides
- 7 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for James Miller, the first Governor of Arkansas Territory.[2] It is located in the southwest area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Miller County Courthouse
Vital Records
400 Laurel Street, Texarkana, AR 71854
Phone: 870-774-1501
Miller County Website
County Clerk has marriage, probate and land records from 1875;
Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records.[4]
Miller County, Arkansas[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1914* | 1875 | 1914* | 1874 | 1875 | 1875 | 1830 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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1828 Fire burned the courthouse.
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating Arkansas county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arkansas County Boundary Maps" (1813-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]
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| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Townships | ||
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were taken from the Miller County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. [8]
- 1778 - By this time, the Caddo Indians, who had inhabited the area, left their towns in the Great Bend region of southwest Arkansas.
- 1700s - This area was claimed by the Quapaw
- 1820 April 1 - The legislature established Miller County
- 1838 - the first Miller County was abolished
- 1850 - Interest in settling in this part of the state was slow to develop because the U.S. government had listed the area as “swamplands,” unfit for settlement, under the Swamp Lands Act of 1850.
- 1874 December 22 - Miller County was reestablished.
- 1874-1900 - The county’s population boomed, mainly in response to the railroad and the influx of immigrants and settlers.
- 1940s - World War II boosted Miller County’s economy with two manufacturing facilities just over the state line: the Red River Army Ammunition Plant and the Lone Star Army Ammunition Depot.
Additional Information
The City of Texarkana is located in two states. In the middle of the city is a street called State Line Road which separates the city between Bowie County, Texas and Miller County, Arkansas. Texarkana is the county seat for Miller County, Arkansas, and a marriage license purchased in Miller County, Arkansas is not valid in the State of Texas.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1880 | 9,919 | — |
| 1890 | 14,714 | 48.3% |
| 1900 | 17,558 | 19.3% |
| 1910 | 19,555 | 11.4% |
| 1920 | 24,021 | 22.8% |
| 1930 | 30,586 | 27.3% |
| 1940 | 31,874 | 4.2% |
| 1950 | 32,614 | 2.3% |
| 1960 | 31,686 | −2.8% |
| 1970 | 33,385 | 5.4% |
| 1980 | 37,766 | 13.1% |
| 1990 | 38,467 | 1.9% |
| 2000 | 40,443 | 5.1% |
| 2010 | 43,462 | 7.5% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
The 1840 - 1870 censuses do not include old Miller County, since the county was discontinued in 1836. Possibilities to check:
- 1840, 1850, 1860: Lafayette, Hempstead, Sevier
- 1870: Lafayette
- 1830 Census Index - USGenWeb Archives
- 1880 Census Sulphur Township - USGenWeb Archives
- 1880 Federal Census Images - USGenWeb Archives
Church Records[edit | edit source]
- 1875-1899 - Nebraska, Church Records, 1875-1899 at FamilySearch — index
- Church Records - partial listing - USGenWeb Archives
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
- Probate Records 1875-1931 Miller County portion of the collection: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
- Includes Administration records 1875-1918; Dockets 1883-1889; Executor records 1875-1918; Guardian records 1875-1918; Probate record index 1875; Probate records 1875-1893; Wills 1875-1931.
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
- Homestead and Cash Entry Patents Before 1908 - USGenWeb Archives
- Miller County Land Records 1890 - USGenWeb Archives
- Arkansas Land Records Interactive Search - Rootsweb
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for {{{1}}} County. They may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. Click for a brief Timeline History of the county. For more about local histories, see Arkansas Local Histories.
- Family Group Sheets - Miller County ARGenWeb
- Photo Album - Miller County ARGenWeb
- Miller County Surnames - Miller county ARGenWeb
- Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1890. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
for more resources
- Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
- Miller County Maps - Miller County ARGenWeb
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War[edit | edit source]
- Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." FHL Collection 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Arkansas section begins on page 439.]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
- 1861-1865 - Arkansas Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1890-1963 - Arkansas Confederate Soldier Home,1890-1963 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1891-1939 - Arkansas Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1901-1929 - Arkansas Confederate Pensions, 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1918 Military Dance Card - Miller County ARGenWeb
- World War I Monument - USGenWeb Archives
World War II[edit | edit source]
- World War II Casualties Miller County - Miller County ARGenWeb
Korean War[edit | edit source]
Vietnam War[edit | edit source]
- Texarkana Residents on Memorial Wall - Miller County ARGenWeb
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Finding More Arkansas Newspapers Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Miller County, Arkansas Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat
- FamilySearch. Do a Miller County, Arkansas Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see, FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
- Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Fayetteville Daily Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Daily Fayetteville Democrat at Ancestry.com ($)
- Northwest Arkansas Times at Ancestry.com ($)
- Courier Times at Ancestry.com ($)
- Newspapers Past and Present - Miller County ARGenWeb
- Texarkana Gazette
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Records
- 1783 – 1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1817 – 1979 Arkansas Probate Records 1817-1979 at FamilySearch — images
- Probate Records 1875-1931 Miller County portion of the collection: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979: Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
- Includes Administration records 1875-1918; Dockets 1883-1889; Executor records 1875-1918; Guardian records 1875-1918; Probate record index 1875; Probate records 1875-1893; Wills 1875-1931.
School Records[edit | edit source]
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records
Birth[edit | edit source]
| Y | M | |
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| Parent's Ages |
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| Father's Occupation |
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| Current Residence |
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In 1877, a few county and city clerks[9] started keeping birth and death records.
In 1914, the state law required all county clerks to record births and forward them to the state.
- Arkansas Births and Christenings, 1812-1965 at FamilySearch. (Free, index only)
- Small file, but worth searching. Most entries were user-submitted.
See also: • Arkansas Online Genealogy Records, • How to Find Arkansas Birth Records and • Arkansas Vital Records—Birth.
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1860 - 1976 - Arkansas Church Marriages, 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1875 - 1951 - Miller County Marriage Books A-Z, AA-ZZ, 1-33 Index 1875-1951 in Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957 at FamilySearch - free.[10]
- 1875 - 1921 - Miller County Marriage Books A-Z Index 1875-1921 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.[11]
Death[edit | edit source]
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
- Arkansas History Commission & State Archives
One Capitol Mall
Little Rock, AR 72201
Telephone: 501-682-6900
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.
- For current information about a center near you, go to the Family History Center Map
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Museums[edit | edit source]
- Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives
Old Washington Historical State Park
Box 134, Washington, AR 71862
Telephone: 870-983-2684 (Mon-Fri)
870-983-2733 (Sat-Sun)
Open 7 days a week 9:00a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Societies[edit | edit source]
- Miller County Genealogical Society:
Texarkana USA Genealogical Society
PO Box 2323, Texarkana, TX 75504-2323
gensoctx@hotmail.com - Arkansas Historical Association
History Department
Ozark Hall, 12, University of Arkansas
Old Main 416
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Telephone: 501-575-5884
Websites[edit | edit source]
- ARGenWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
- USGenWeb Archives. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
- RootsWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
- Linkpendium. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
- CyndisList. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
- FamilySearch Catalog - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Miller County, Arkansas Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ark/madison/
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Miller County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_County,_Arkansas
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Miller County, Arkansas. Page 69 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 66.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Miller County, Arkansas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_County,_Arkansas, accessed 5 September 2018.
- ↑ Beverly J. Rowe, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, (http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=790&type=Category&item=Counties&parent=Counties%2c+Cities%2c+and+Towns&grandparent= : accessed January 14, 2016), “Miller County.”
- ↑ such as Sebastian County (Fort Smith) and Pulaski County (Little Rock) (No entry in FamilySearch Catalog found for Pulaski County nor for Little Rock, Aug 2014)
- ↑ FamilySearch Wiki contributors, "Arkansas County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records," in FamilySearch Wiki.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/0/0d/Igiarkansasem.pdf.
