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Arkansas County
Johnson County, Arkansas
Clarksville's University of the Ozarks and the Arkansas River Valley grapes - from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville (a Presbyterian-affiliated liberal arts university founded 1834 - one of Arkansas's oldest institutions of higher education, with a scenic hilltop campus and enrollment of approximately 700 students) to Johnson County's unexpected wine grape production (the Arkansas River Valley's combination of altitude, drainage, and climate creates conditions favorable for Cynthiana/Norton grapes and other varieties, supporting a small but growing winery industry) and the Boston Mountains' southern escarpment visible from the valley floor.
County SeatClarksville
Population27,000
Founded1833
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Office: Johnson County Office of Emergency Management
Address: 215 W Main St, Clarksville, AR 72830
Phone: (479) 754-2977
Alert System: AR Alert; CodeRed; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Contact county OEM; Clarksville community facilities
FEMA Region: Region 6
Notes: North-central Arkansas Arkansas River valley; Clarksville is county seat; Arkansas River runs through county (flooding); tornado corridor; University of the Ozarks (Clarksville); I-40 corridor; Boston Mountain terrain north of river; poultry industry significant
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Johnson County Road Department – (479) 754-2977
Public Transit: Very limited; demand-response; rural county
Road Conditions: ARDOT – idrivearkansas.com
Notes: I-40 runs through Clarksville (exits 54-58); US-64 along the river; Clarksville is an I-40 hub between Fort Smith and Conway; University of the Ozarks generates some local traffic; poultry processing trucks significant road users; Boston Mountain terrain creates challenging mountain roads north of I-40
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Johnson County – (479) 754-2977
Services: Building permits; Clarksville (active), Coal Hill, Hartman, Lamar separate
Notes: I-40 commercial development in Clarksville; University of the Ozarks campus; poultry processing facility construction; moderate growth as I-40 corridor hub
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Johnson County Veterans Service Office – (479) 754-2977
VA Medical: Fort Smith VA Clinic; Fayetteville VAMC – (479) 443-4301
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment; University of the Ozarks veteran student services
Notes: Fort Smith VA clinic provides closer access; I-40 corridor makes both VA facilities accessible
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Johnson County Library – (479) 754-8229 | johnsoncountylibrary.org
Address: Clarksville area; Lamar Branch
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; University of the Ozarks Robson Library supplements
Notes: County library with university supplementing resources; University of the Ozarks (small liberal arts university with a distinctive missions focus serving students of various backgrounds) adds cultural dimension
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Lake Dardanelle State Park (Arkansas River reservoir; Dardanelle Rock – prominent river bluff; fishing; camping) – adjacent Yell County but serves Johnson County; Spadra Park; Lake Ludwig; Haw Creek Falls (Ozark National Forest); Ozone area in the Boston Mountains (hiking; waterfalls; one of the more remote Ozark hiking areas); University of the Ozarks Storm Chasers athletics
Notes: The Boston Mountains north of Clarksville are among the most rugged and scenic terrain in Arkansas; Haw Creek Falls and the surrounding Ozark National Forest offer outstanding wilderness hiking; Lake Dardanelle (across the river in Yell County) provides water recreation; the Ozone community in the Boston Mountains is a beloved Ozark hideaway; University of the Ozarks’ distinctive mission (founded 1834 – the oldest university in Arkansas) adds cultural and educational value to this small county
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Johnson County GIS; Arkansas GIS – gis.arkansas.gov
Notes: County GIS; Arkansas River Army Corps mapping; Ozark National Forest USFS mapping; I-40 corridor infrastructure mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Johnson County Animal Control – (479) 754-2977; Clarksville Humane Society
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, animal control
Notes: Active humane society in Clarksville; university community supports animal welfare programs
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Johnson County – (479) 754-2977; Clarksville city sanitation
Environmental: Arkansas DEQ; Army Corps (Arkansas River – Lake Dardanelle); Ozark National Forest; poultry industry (chicken processing in Clarksville – Tyson Foods and others); Illinois River and Arkansas River watershed
Notes: Poultry processing in Clarksville creates wastewater treatment requirements; Tyson Foods and other poultry processors are major industrial environmental compliance entities in Johnson County; Arkansas River and Lake Dardanelle water quality monitored by Army Corps; Ozark National Forest watershed management protects numerous streams; I-40 corridor stormwater management
About Johnson County
Johnson County is the Arkansas River Valley’s university and wine grape county – the University of the Ozarks’ 190-year educational heritage and the valley’s emerging viticulture define a community between the Boston Mountains and the Ouachitas.
Clarksville (the county seat, population ~9,000) is where the University of the Ozarks – founded 1834 by Presbyterians – has provided liberal arts education through nearly two centuries of Arkansas history. The hilltop campus overlooks the Arkansas River Valley.
Johnson County’s river valley floor and gentle slopes support grape cultivation that has contributed to Arkansas’s growing wine industry.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Local DHS office: Clarksville (confirm via dhs.arkansas.gov)
Recommended
Search Johnson County public records for Clarksville, Lamar, Coal Hill, and Johnson County residents.
Courts & Legal
Johnson County Circuit Clerk at 215 W. Main Street, Clarksville, AR 72830, phone 479-754-3967, handles probate.
Senior Services
Area Agency on Aging: Western Arkansas Planning and Development District (WAPDD) — Area Agency on Aging
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
215 W. Main St., Clarksville, AR 72830
(479) 754-2977
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
215 W. Main St., Clarksville, AR 72830
(479) 754-2977
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Johnson County Clerk, Probate Division (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Johnson County Historical Society, P.O. Box 505, Clarksville, AR 72830
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
In Johnson County, probate matters are handled by the County Clerk’s Office, while other Circuit Court matters go through the separate Circuit Clerk.
Johnson County Clerk – Probate Division 215 West Main Street, Clarksville, AR 72830 (479) 754-3967 (Probate/County Clerk); (479) 754-2977 (Circuit Clerk, other case types) 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
215 W. Main St., Clarksville, AR 72830
(479) 754-8477
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Unit
(479) 754-2112
DHS / SNAP / Medicaid
(800) 482-8988
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Johnson County Health Unit – (479) 754-8021
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Hospital: Johnson Regional Medical Center (Clarksville) – (479) 754-5454
Notes: Johnson Regional serves the county; Fort Smith hospitals accessible via I-40; University of the Ozarks health programs; poultry industry occupational health considerations
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Clarksville
Population: 27,000
Area: 668 sq mi
Established: 1833
Tier: 3
Public Records
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Search public records for Johnson County residents.
