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Arkansas · Jonesboro · Arkansas Delta · #356
Craighead County, Arkansas
Jonesboro - Arkansas State University and the Red Wolves, the Arkansas Delta's most dynamic commercial hub, and the largest city in northeast Arkansas. A university city growing rapidly in an agricultural region of rice fields, soybean farms, and the flat delta landscape that stretches to the Mississippi. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Craighead County residents.
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Office: Craighead County Office of Emergency Management
Address: 511 S Main St, Jonesboro, AR 72401
Phone: (870) 933-4570
Alert System: AR Alert; CodeRed; NOAA Weather Radio; JonesboroAlert
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; Jonesboro community facilities; Arkansas State University facilities
FEMA Region: Region 6
Notes: Northeast Arkansas’s major urban hub; Jonesboro is county seat and Arkansas’s fourth-largest city; Arkansas State University (A-State – Division I) is the major anchor institution; New Madrid Seismic Zone (significant earthquake risk – one of the most active seismic zones in the eastern US; 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes were among the largest in recorded North American history); tornado corridor; flash flooding; manufacturing hub
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Craighead County Road Department – (870) 933-4570
Public Transit: Jonesboro City Transit (JCT) – (870) 935-7282; fixed-route bus in Jonesboro metro; ASU campus transit; DART (Disability services)
Road Conditions: ARDOT – idrivearkansas.com
Notes: US-49, US-63, and US-49B (Jonesboro Bypass) are main corridors; Jonesboro Regional Airport; railroad (important for manufacturing); ASU generates significant traffic; Jonesboro is NE Arkansas’s employment, healthcare, and retail center for a large regional population
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Craighead County Planning and Development – (870) 933-4570 | craigheadco.com
Services: Building permits for unincorporated county; Jonesboro (very active separate permit office), Brookland, Bay, Bono, Caraway, Lake City, Monette have separate permits
Notes: Jonesboro is one of Arkansas’s most active building markets; manufacturing facility construction (Hino Motors, Nestle Purina, Big River Steel, and others); ASU campus expansion; significant residential growth; retail corridor development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Craighead County Veterans Service Office – (870) 933-4570
VA Medical: Marion VA Clinic (nearby – Crittenden County – closer); Memphis VAMC – (901) 523-8990; Central Arkansas VA (Little Rock)
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment; ASU veteran student services
Notes: NE Arkansas location makes Memphis VA more accessible; Marion VA clinic provides local outpatient access; ASU has significant veteran student population; active VSO chapter community in Jonesboro
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Craighead County-Jonesboro Public Library – (870) 935-5133 | jcpl.net
Main: 315 W Oak Ave, Jonesboro, AR 72401
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy, maker space, children’s programs, business resources; ASU Dean B. Ellis Library supplements
Notes: Excellent public library for its size; ASU’s library provides additional academic and research resources; Jonesboro’s educated urban population drives strong library usage; maker space and business resources reflect the entrepreneurial/manufacturing economy
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Arkansas State University (Red Wolves athletics – Division I Sun Belt Conference; football, basketball; Centennial Bank Stadium); Craighead Forest Park (Jonesboro – 692-acre urban park with lake; fishing; trails; disc golf; one of Arkansas’s finest urban parks); MLK Park; Jonesboro Downtown Arts and Entertainment District; Paragould area (Crowley’s Ridge)
Notes: ASU sports are the dominant entertainment draw in NE Arkansas; Red Wolves football and basketball attract significant regional followings; Craighead Forest Park is a remarkable urban asset – 692 acres of forest with a beautiful lake within the city; Crowley’s Ridge (unique geological feature – loess hills rising from flat Delta terrain) runs through Jonesboro and is a distinctive landscape element; Jonesboro has a growing arts and restaurant scene
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Craighead County GIS – craigheadco.com/gis | (870) 933-4570
Parcel Search: Available through county GIS portal
Notes: Well-developed GIS reflecting urban county; New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake hazard mapping important; manufacturing district mapping; ASU campus GIS
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, owner surrenders, spay/neuter, microchipping, animal control
Notes: Jonesboro area has active humane community; manufacturing worker population creates diverse pet owner demographics; ASU veterinary technology program provides community animal health resources
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Craighead County – (870) 933-4570; City of Jonesboro Environmental Services – (870) 933-4570
Recycling: Jonesboro city recycling program; county drop-off; manufacturing waste management
Environmental: Arkansas DEQ; New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake preparedness (significant but often underprepared); Big River Steel (electric arc furnace – air emissions monitoring); manufacturing corridor environmental compliance; Cache River watershed
Notes: Craighead County’s most unusual environmental context is the New Madrid Seismic Zone – a major earthquake (magnitude 6.5+) along this fault system could be catastrophic for Jonesboro and the entire Delta region; infrastructure (bridges, buildings) earthquake resilience is a growing concern; Big River Steel (now Cleveland-Cliffs) steel mill and Hino Motors (Toyota truck manufacturing) are major industrial facilities requiring environmental compliance monitoring; agricultural drainage from Delta fields affects Cache River water quality
About Craighead County
– COUNTY NAMED FOR ITS OPPONENT — Senator Thomas B. Craighead opposed the county’s creation; Senator William A. Jones named it after him without his knowledge while Craighead was absent from the chamber; ironic naming story.
DRY COUNTY despite being one of Arkansas’s largest and fastest-growing counties; Jonesboro is Arkansas’s 4th largest city.
ART DECO COURTHOUSE (1934, NRHP 1998) — Jonesboro’s only significant Art Deco structure; Elmer A. Stuck architect; limestone trim; 1995 annex built on former Malone Theater site where a Civil War skirmish occurred.
COURTHOUSE FIRES — two historic fires (1860s–1870s) destroyed records; county records only continuous from March 28, 1878; significant gap in historical documentation.
Craighead County anchors northeast Arkansas with Jonesboro — the region’s largest city and home to Arkansas State University (A-State). St. Bernards Medical Center is one of the largest regional hospitals in Arkansas, making Jonesboro a healthcare destination for a wide swath of northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri. The county is a significant agricultural producer (rice, soybeans, cotton) and has grown substantially as a regional commercial and educational hub. Manufacturing (including several auto parts plants) has diversified the economy beyond agriculture.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Note: County is divided into Western District (Jonesboro) and Eastern District (Lake City) for law enforcement
Jail: Jonesboro area (confirm address — likely near 901 Willett Rd.)
Inmate Search: Via craigheadso.org
Civil Process: Contact Sheriff — (870) 933-4551
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
Phone: (870) 933-4510
Address: 511 S. Main St., Jonesboro, AR 72401
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Case Search: caseinfo.arcourts.gov
Senior Services
Area Agency on Aging: East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging (EAAAA) — serves Craighead County
Meals on Wheels, transportation, senior centers
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
511 S. Main St., Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 933-4520
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
511 S. Main St., Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 933-4510
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Craighead County Circuit/County Clerk, both districts (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Genealogy Society of Craighead County Arkansas, P.O. Box 844, Jonesboro, AR 72403, [email protected]
Craighead County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1011, Jonesboro, AR 72403
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
Craighead County has two districts, each with its own courthouse – file in whichever is more convenient. Probate matters specifically are handled by the County Clerk’s Office in the Jonesboro District.
Jonesboro District – 511 South Main Street, Room 202, Jonesboro, AR 72401. (870) 933-4520 (County Clerk/Probate); (870) 933-4530 (Circuit Clerk, other case types). Lake City District – 113 Cobean Blvd, Lake City, AR 72437. (870) 237-4342. Hours (both): 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
901 S. Main St., Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 933-4551
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Unit
(870) 972-2233
DHS / SNAP / Medicaid
(800) 482-8988
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Craighead County Health Unit – (870) 972-4300
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records, restaurant inspections; comprehensive services reflecting urban population
Hospital: St. Bernards Medical Center (Jonesboro) – (870) 972-4100 (major regional hospital; Level II trauma center; serves NE Arkansas and southeast Missouri); NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital – (870) 897-2000
Notes: St. Bernards is one of Arkansas’s finest hospitals and serves a large multi-county and cross-state region; ASU College of Nursing and Health Professions supplements local healthcare workforce; Jonesboro is NE Arkansas’s healthcare hub
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Jonesboro
Population: 111,231
Area: 710 mi²
Established: 1859
Tier: 3
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Craighead County facilities via Amazon.
