Cleveland County Quick Facts

- Government Website: www.arcounties.org/
- Created Date / Origin: April 17, 1873 and was originally called Dorsey County, it was formed from Bradley County, Dallas County, Jefferson County and Lincoln County .
- County Seat: Rison. The first county seat was the residence of N.V. Barnett. In 1872 it moved to Toledo. In 1889, the seat moved to Rison.
- Named After: was first called Dorsey County in honor Stephen Dorsey, U.S. Senator from Arkansas. In 1885 the name was changed to honor Grover Cleveland (1837–1908), 22nd and 24th President of the United States
- Bordering Counties: Grant County (north), Jefferson County (north), Lincoln County (east), Drew County (southeast), Bradley County (south), Calhoun County (southwest), Dallas County (west).
- Cities & towns include: Kingsland, Rison
Cleveland County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Cleveland County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Arkansas Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Cleveland County Historical Society, P. O. Box 192, Rison, AR 71665; 870-325-6623
- Arkansas State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Cleveland County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net) read and post messages with other county genealogy researchers
- Cleveland County, Arkansas Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your county ancestors
- Cleveland County, Arkansas Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
Cleveland County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often overlook the importance of Cleveland County court, probate, and land records as a source of genealogy and family history information. Buried away in Arkansas courthouses and archives everywhere are the dreams and frustrations of many Arkansas citizens. The chances are great that your ancestors have left a detailed record of at least some aspects of their lives in the Cleveland County court records.
The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Cleveland county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for each county.
All County Offices Records are located in the Courthouse at #20 Magnolia Street, Rison 71665; 870-325-6214, unless otherwise noted. The records are incomplete and some are not in good condition. Several tax books, one marriage record, and one or more court records are missing.
- Cleveland County Clerk of Circuit Courtis the clerk of the circuit, chancery court, and juvenile court and usually acts as the ex-officio recorder of Cleveland 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 Cleveland County. They are also the ex-officio Cleveland county recorder; and is responsible for recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds, and many other orders and instruments which involve property within Cleveland county.
- Phone: (870) 325-6902
- Court Records: 1873
- Land Records: 1836
- 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)
- Cleveland 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 Cleveland county.
- Phone: (870) 325-6521
- Marriage Records: 1873
- Probate Records:1873
- Cleveland County Assessor’s Officemaintains County tax records. These records are usually arranged by legal description and are not indexed.
- Phone: (870) 325-6695
- 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 departmentin the State of Arkansas to obtain a Birth or Death certificates which can be issued while you wait.
- Address: Division of Vital Records, Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
- Phone: (501) 661-2174
- Ordering Vital Records: You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Arkansas Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate to mail.
Cleveland County Genealogy Links
The following are links to Genealogy, Records and Resources relating to Cleveland County. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some are have free access some require a payment. This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to submit your own favorite genealogy or family history related sites.
- Cleveland Co. AR Books, Newspapers & Publications
- See Also Statewide Newspapers, Books & Publications Links for Arkansas
- Historical Newspapers from Arkansas (1819 – 1999) (genealogybank.com) Has exclusive newspaper archive for family genealogy research provides information on millions of American families from 1690–today.
- Cleveland County, Arkansas Books (amazon.com)
- Arkansas newspapers (newspaperarchives.com)
- Cleveland Co. AR Birth, Marriage & Death Records
- See Also Statewide Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Arkansas
- Cleveland County Marriages Project (usgwarchives.net) provide actual transcriptions of Marriage Applications, and other Marriage Records, as found recorded in the county court house and state archives.
- Social Security Death Index (search.ancestry.com) Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research.
- Cleveland Co. AR Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
- See Also Arkansas Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records
- BLM Land Records (glorecords.blm.gov) covers the State of Arkansas. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.
- Cleveland Co. AR Census Records
- See Also Statewide Census Links for Arkansas
- Cleveland County, AR Census Records (census-online.com)
- Cleveland County, AR Census QuickFacts (quickfacts.census.gov)
- Cleveland County Census Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Cleveland County Census Records (search.ancestry.com)Learn where your ancestors lived, who lived in the household, ages, places of birth, occupation, actual images of the Federal Censusrs and more.
- Cleveland Co. AR Cemeteries & Graveyards
- See Also Statewide Cemetery Links for Arkansas
- Cleveland County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Cleveland Co., Arkansas Graves (findagrave.com)
- Cleveland Co., Arkansas Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Topographic Cemetery List and Map for Cleveland County, Arkansas (topozone.com)
- Cleveland Co., Arkansas Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Cleveland Co. AR Church & Bible Records
- See Also Statewide Church & Bible Links for Arkansas
- Topographic Church List and Map for Cleveland County, Arkansas (topozone.com)
- Cleveland County, Arkansas Church Books (amazon.com)
- Cleveland Co. AR Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Cleveland Co. AR General and History Websites
- Cleveland County Arkansas (genealogytrails.com)
- Cleveland County, Arkansas Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Cleveland Co. Arkansas Genealogy (argenweb.net)
- Cleveland Co. Arkansas Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org) has the largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records.
- Cleveland County History (usgwarchives.net
- Cleveland County, Arkansas (linkpendium.com) Family History & Genealogy, Census, Birth, Marriage, Death Vital Records & More
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Arkansas – Counties – Cleveland (cyndislist.com)
- Cleveland County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Cleveland Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
- Cleveland Co. AR Immigration & Naturalization
- Cleveland Co. AR Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Statewide Maps and Atlas Links for Arkansas
- Cleveland County D.O.T. MAP
- 1895 Cleveland County Map (livgenmi.com)
- Cleveland Co. AR Military Records
- See Also Statewide Military Links for Arkansas
- Arkansas Military Records (Fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the Arkansas men and women who served. Perfect for genealogists, researchers, historians and more.
- Cleveland Co., AR Schools & Directories
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