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Arkansas County
Madison County, Arkansas
Withrow Springs State Park and the War Eagle Mill - from Withrow Springs State Park (a scenic War Eagle Creek state park in the Boston Mountains providing camping, hiking, and swimming in one of northwest Arkansas's most beautiful creek valleys) to the War Eagle Mill (the restored 1832 grist mill on War Eagle Creek near Huntsville - still grinding grain with water power and hosting the annual War Eagle Fair, one of the most popular arts and crafts fairs in the South, drawing 150,000+ visitors each October to the creek-side setting).
County SeatHuntsville
Population16,521
Founded1836
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Office: Madison County Office of Emergency Management
Address: 201 W Main St, Huntsville, AR 72740
Phone: (479) 738-2747
Alert System: AR Alert; CodeRed; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Contact county OEM; Huntsville community facilities
FEMA Region: Region 6
Notes: Northwest Arkansas Ozark county; Huntsville is county seat; White River (upper reaches – War Eagle Creek and Kings River tributaries); tornado corridor; flash flooding in Ozark terrain; adjacent to Benton County (Walmart/NW Arkansas metro); poultry industry significant; some of Arkansas’s most dramatic Ozark scenery
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Madison County Road Department – (479) 738-2747
Public Transit: Very limited; demand-response; rural Ozark county adjacent to NW Arkansas metro
Road Conditions: ARDOT – idrivearkansas.com
Notes: US-412 runs east-west through Huntsville; US-62 north; Madison County has rugged Ozark terrain creating challenging road conditions; Huntsville is growing as a rural alternative for NW Arkansas workers; Boston Mountains and Ozark terrain
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Madison County – (479) 738-2747
Services: Building permits; Huntsville, Elkins, Witter, Kingston separate
Notes: NW Arkansas spillover growth driving some development; rural residential growth; poultry industry construction; Elkins is growing as Fayetteville suburb
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Madison County Veterans Service Office – (479) 738-2747
VA Medical: Fayetteville VAMC – (479) 443-4301; 30 miles west on US-62; very accessible for NW Arkansas area
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment
Notes: Fayetteville VA is quite accessible; NW Arkansas proximity means better VA access than most rural Arkansas counties
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Madison County Library – (479) 738-2434 | madisoncountylibrary.org
Address: Huntsville area; Elkins Branch
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; bilingual Spanish materials for poultry worker community
Notes: Library serves both traditional Ozark community and growing Hispanic poultry worker population; NW Arkansas proximity means access to Fayetteville/Springdale library systems
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: War Eagle Mill and War Eagle Cavern (War Eagle – historic 1873 grist mill still operating; War Eagle Cavern; War Eagle Creek; iconic Ozark destination); Kings River (National Wild and Scenic designation – world-class smallmouth bass stream; War Eagle and Kings River merge below War Eagle Mill); Boston Mountains; natural dam (natural rock dam across Kings River – unique geological feature); Boxley Valley elk viewing accessible from east; Ozark National Forest access
Notes: War Eagle Mill is one of Arkansas’s most iconic heritage sites – the 1873 grist mill (rebuilt after flood) still grinds cornmeal and is beautiful in its War Eagle Creek setting; War Eagle Fair (twice yearly – one of the region’s largest arts and crafts shows) draws tens of thousands; Kings River is one of the finest smallmouth bass streams in the mid-South; the War Eagle/Kings River confluence area is stunning Ozark scenery; Madison County’s rugged terrain is both its challenge and its greatest asset
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Madison County GIS; Arkansas GIS – gis.arkansas.gov
Notes: County GIS; Kings River Wild and Scenic River mapping (USFS); Ozark National Forest mapping; War Eagle Creek watershed mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Madison County Animal Control – (479) 738-2747; Huntsville area humane efforts
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, animal control
Notes: NW Arkansas humane community influences extend into Madison County; poultry worker community has diverse pet ownership
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Madison County – (479) 738-2747; Huntsville city sanitation
Environmental: Arkansas DEQ; Kings River Wild and Scenic River (USFS); War Eagle Creek watershed; Illinois River watershed (Kings River and War Eagle Creek are tributaries); poultry industry waste management (litter application, water quality)
Notes: Kings River and War Eagle Creek water quality is the paramount environmental concern in Madison County; these are important Illinois River tributaries and the Kings River’s Wild and Scenic designation reflects its ecological significance; poultry farming (chicken houses throughout Madison County) creates litter/phosphorus management challenges that directly affect water quality in the Kings River watershed – a key component of the broader Illinois River phosphorus pollution dispute between Arkansas and Oklahoma; ADEQ and USFS actively monitor Kings River water quality; War Eagle Creek’s health is also critical for the iconic War Eagle Mill tourism experience
About Madison County
Madison County is northwest Arkansas’s Boston Mountains and War Eagle Mill county – the restored 1832 grist mill’s annual War Eagle Fair draws 150,000+ visitors to one of the South’s most beloved arts and crafts gatherings.
War Eagle Mill – built 1832, rebuilt multiple times, now grinding grain with water power from War Eagle Creek – hosts the War Eagle Fair each October. The creek-side setting, fall foliage, and artisan vendors make it one of the largest and most beloved outdoor fairs in the mid-South.
Huntsville (the county seat, population ~2,500) serves the county’s governmental needs in the Boston Mountains foothills.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Local DHS office: Huntsville (confirm via dhs.arkansas.gov)
Juvenile Probation: 201 W. Main Street — (479) 738-5200
Recommended
Search Madison County public records for Huntsville, Hindsville, and Madison County residents.
Courts & Legal
Madison County Circuit Clerk at 201 W. Main Street, Huntsville, AR 72740, phone 479-738-2747, handles probate.
Senior Services
Area Agency on Aging: Northwest Arkansas Area Agency on Aging (NWAAA) — serves Madison 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
201 W. Main St., Huntsville, AR 72740
(479) 738-2747
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
201 W. Main St., Huntsville, AR 72740
(479) 738-2747
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Madison County Clerk, Probate Division (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Madison County Genealogical and Historical Society, P.O. Box 427, Huntsville, AR 72740
Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society, P.O. Box K, Rogers, AR 72757 – also covers Madison County.
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 Madison County, probate matters are handled by the County Clerk’s Office, while other Circuit Court matters go through the separate Circuit Clerk.
Madison County Clerk – Probate Division 201 W. Main Street, Huntsville, AR 72740 (479) 738-2747 (Probate/County Clerk); (479) 738-2215 (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
Huntsville, AR 72740
(479) 738-2911
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Unit
(479) 738-2135
DHS / SNAP / Medicaid
(800) 482-8988
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Madison County Health Unit – (479) 738-6116
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Hospital: Madison County Medical Center (Huntsville) – (479) 738-6711; primarily uses Fayetteville/NW Arkansas hospitals
Notes: Small hospital in Huntsville; Fayetteville/Springdale hospital systems (Washington Regional, Mercy, Baptist Health) accessible; poultry industry occupational health; bilingual Spanish health services for significant Hispanic poultry worker population
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Huntsville
Population: 16,521
Area: 834 sq mi
Established: 1836
Tier: 3
Public Records
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