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Arkansas County
Clark County, Arkansas
Arkadelphia's two universities and the Ouachita River valley - from Arkadelphia's remarkable distinction as a city of two universities (Henderson State University - a public liberal arts university enrollment ~3,000 - and Ouachita Baptist University - a Baptist liberal arts university enrollment ~1,500 - both occupy the same small city, giving Arkadelphia a university presence that dwarfs its population of 10,000 and makes it one of the most education-dense small cities in Arkansas) to the Ouachita River valley's scenic south-central Arkansas corridor.
County SeatArkadelphia
Population21,446
Founded1818
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Office: Clark County Office of Emergency Management
Address: 401 Clay St, Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Phone: (870) 246-4491
Alert System: AR Alert; CodeRed; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Contact county OEM; Arkadelphia community facilities
FEMA Region: Region 6
Notes: Southwest-central Arkansas Ouachita region; Arkadelphia is county seat; Ouachita River and Caddo River watershed; tornado corridor; flash flooding; Arkadelphia was significantly impacted by the March 1, 1997 tornado outbreak that killed dozens in central Arkansas; Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University are in Arkadelphia (two universities in a small city)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Clark County Road Department – (870) 246-4491
Public Transit: Limited; demand-response; Arkadelphia Transit Service
Road Conditions: ARDOT – idrivearkansas.com
Notes: I-30 runs through Arkadelphia (exits 73 and 78) – connecting Little Rock and Texarkana; US-67 and AZ-8; Arkadelphia is a college town on I-30; twin universities generate significant traffic and economic activity
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Clark County – (870) 246-4491
Services: Building permits; Arkadelphia and other towns separate
Notes: University-related development (Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist); I-30 commercial corridor development; moderate growth for an Arkansas small city
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Clark County Veterans Service Office – (870) 246-4491
VA Medical: Central Arkansas VA (Little Rock) – approximately 1 hour via I-30
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment; Ouachita Baptist University has veterans programs
Notes: I-30 access makes Little Rock VA relatively accessible; OBU and Henderson State veteran student programs; active American Legion post
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Clark County Library – (870) 246-2693 | clarkcountylibrary.org
Address: 609 Caddo St, Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Arkansas collection, genealogy, children’s programs; Henderson State and OBU libraries supplement community access
Notes: Well-supported library for county its size; university community enhances library culture; Henderson State University Reynolds Library and OBU Riley-Hickingbotham Library both accessible to community
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: DeGray Lake Resort State Park – arkansasstateparks.com | (501) 865-2801 (Arkansas’s only resort state park; DeGray Lake – 13,800 acres; outstanding fishing; golf; marina; lodge; one of Arkansas’s finest parks); Caddo River (excellent canoe float – one of Arkansas’s most popular float streams); Lake Catherine (nearby – Hot Spring County); Ouachita National Forest access; Henderson State and OBU athletics
Notes: DeGray Lake Resort State Park is Arkansas’s crown jewel state park – the only resort state park in the state with a lodge, golf course, and full marina on one of Arkansas’s finest recreational lakes; DeGray Lake largemouth bass fishing is outstanding; the Caddo River float from Caddo Gap to Glenwood is one of Arkansas’s most beloved canoeing trips; Clark County’s outdoor recreation is exceptional for its size
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Clark County GIS – clarkcountyar.gov; Arkansas GIS
Notes: County GIS; DeGray Lake and Ouachita River mapping through Army Corps; Caddo River recreation mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Clark County Animal Control – (870) 246-4491; Arkadelphia Humane Society
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, animal control
Notes: Active humane society reflecting educated university community; university population creates student pet issues each semester
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Clark County – (870) 246-4491; Arkadelphia city sanitation
Environmental: Arkansas DEQ; Ouachita National Forest (USFS); DeGray Lake water quality (Army Corps managed); Caddo River watershed; I-30 corridor stormwater
Notes: DeGray Lake water quality is a priority – the lake is a drinking water source and major recreation asset; Army Corps of Engineers manages DeGray Lake; Caddo River water quality protection important for the float tourism economy; Ouachita National Forest management includes watershed protection for numerous streams flowing through Clark County
About Clark County
Clark County is south-central Arkansas’s twin university county – Arkadelphia’s Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist universities give a city of 10,000 a higher education density found in few small American communities.
Arkadelphia (the county seat, population ~10,000) has two full liberal arts universities within a few blocks of each other – a public institution and a Baptist institution that together enroll nearly 5,000 students in a city of 10,000. The universities’ combined economic and cultural impact makes Arkadelphia significantly more vibrant than its population would suggest.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Local DHS office: Arkadelphia (confirm via dhs.arkansas.gov)
Recommended
Search Clark County public records for Arkadelphia, Gurdon, and Clark County residents.
Courts & Legal
Clark County Circuit Clerk at 401 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923, phone 870-246-4394, handles probate.
Senior Services
Area Agency on Aging: Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District (SWAPDD) — Area Agency on Aging
Meals on Wheels, transportation, senior centers, in-home services
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
401 Clay St., Arkadelphia, AR 71923
(870) 246-4431
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
401 Clay St., Arkadelphia, AR 71923
(870) 246-4281
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Clark County Circuit Clerk (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Clark County Historical Association, Box 516, Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Clark County Circuit Clerk – Probate Division 401 Clay Street, 2nd Floor, Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-4281 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Arkansas has one of the more generous small-estate thresholds in the country, so check this first.
Small Estate Affidavit – for estates where total property value (after debts, excluding the homestead and statutory spousal/minor-child allowances) is $100,000 or less. Available 45 days after the death. Filed using Form 23 (Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate by Distributee) under Ark. Code § 28-41-101 – no personal representative is appointed, and no full administration is needed.
Independent Administration – available when the will authorizes it, or when all heirs agree to it. The personal representative acts with minimal court oversight at each step.
Supervised Administration – the traditional, more heavily court-involved track; used for contested estates or when independent administration isn’t available or agreed to.
Administration with Will Annexed – used when a valid will doesn’t name an executor, or the named executor can’t or won’t serve.
If using the small estate affidavit
Wait at least 45 days after the death.
Confirm the estate’s total value (after debts, excluding homestead and statutory allowances) is $100,000 or less and there are no unresolved claims against the estate.
Complete Form 23, the Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate by Distributee, listing the property and heirs.
File it with the Probate Clerk, or present it with a certified death certificate directly to banks or other institutions holding the property.
If filing for independent or supervised administration
Gather the original will (if any), a certified death certificate, a list of assets/debts, and names of heirs.
File a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative (Form 3, if there’s a will) or a Petition for Appointment of Administrator/Administratrix (Form 2, if there isn’t) with the Probate Division. Filing fee is $165.
If there’s a will, the court formally admits it to probate; the court then issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The personal representative must file an inventory of estate assets within 2 months of appointment.
Creditor notice must be published in a local newspaper, plus direct notice to known creditors; creditors then have 6 months from the date of first publication to file claims.
If independent administration applies, the personal representative can act on most matters without seeking court approval at each step.
After debts are resolved, the personal representative files a final settlement with the court; once approved, the estate closes.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no separate court filing fee (a nominal recording fee may apply depending on what’s being transferred).
Formal probate filing fee: $165 (may vary somewhat by county).
Personal representative and attorney compensation: no fixed statutory rate – courts typically look to roughly 2–5% of the estate’s value as a reasonable baseline, subject to court approval as “just and reasonable.”
No state estate tax or inheritance tax in Arkansas.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
114 N. 5th St., Arkadelphia, AR 71923
(870) 246-2222
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Unit
(870) 246-9561
DHS / SNAP / Medicaid
(800) 482-8988
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Clark County Health Unit – (870) 246-5911
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Hospital: Baptist Health Medical Center – Arkadelphia | (870) 245-2622
Notes: Baptist Health Arkadelphia serves the county; university population adds younger demographic; I-30 access to Little Rock for specialty care
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