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Arkansas · Arkansas River Valley · #748
Pope County Government Offices
In the Arkansas River valley between the Ozarks and the Ouachitas, Russellville anchors Pope County's economy with Arkansas Tech University, the Arkansas Nuclear One power plant, and a regional healthcare and retail center that serves a wide swath of west-central Arkansas.
County SeatRussellville
Population65,000
Founded1829
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Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; Russellville community facilities; emergency planning includes nuclear plant evacuation zones
FEMA Region: Region 6
Notes: West-central Arkansas; Russellville is county seat and a regional hub; Arkansas River; Arkansas Nuclear One (Entergy – the only nuclear power plant in Arkansas, on Lake Dardanelle in Pope County); Lake Dardanelle (major recreation lake); tornado corridor; flash flooding; Arkansas Tech University; significant industrial base; I-40 corridor
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Pope County Road Department – (479) 968-7000
Public Transit: Limited; demand-response; Russellville city area
Road Conditions: ARDOT – idrivearkansas.com
Notes: I-40 runs through Russellville (exits 78-84 – major highway hub); US-64 along the Arkansas River; Arkansas Nuclear One creates specialized transportation considerations (fuel rod transport, emergency evacuations); Lake Dardanelle State Park drives tourism traffic; ATU generates significant traffic; regional hub for west-central Arkansas
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Pope County – (479) 968-7000
Services: Building permits; Russellville (very active), Atkins, Dover, Dardanelle (Yell County seat on opposite bank), Pottsville, London, Belleville separate
Notes: Russellville is one of western Arkansas’s most active building markets; ATU campus development; I-40 commercial growth; Lake Dardanelle waterfront development; nuclear plant maintenance permits through NRC/federal channels
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Pope County Veterans Service Office – (479) 968-7000
VA Medical: Fort Smith VA Clinic; Fayetteville VAMC – accessible via I-40
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment; ATU veteran student services
Notes: I-40 access makes multiple VA facilities accessible; ATU has active veteran student programs; Russellville’s growing population includes significant veteran community
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Pope County Library – (479) 968-2430 | popecountylibrary.org
Main: Russellville; branches at Atkins, Dover, London
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy, Arkansas collection, children’s programs; ATU Ross Pendergraft Library supplements
Notes: Well-developed library system reflecting Russellville’s university city character; ATU’s excellent library provides supplemental community access; growing system with county population growth
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Lake Dardanelle State Park – arkansasstateparks.com | (479) 967-5516 (large reservoir on the Arkansas River; excellent fishing; marina; camping; water sports); Arkansas Nuclear One Visitor Center (nuclear energy education); ATU Bears athletics (Division I – OVC); Holla Bend NWR (outstanding waterfowl and bald eagle winter viewing – adjacent Yell County across the river); Pope County Fairgrounds; Lake Dardanelle water sports; Petit Jean Mountain accessible from south
Notes: Lake Dardanelle is one of western Arkansas’s finest recreational lakes – outstanding bass fishing, water sports, and boating; Holla Bend NWR (across the river in Yell County) has excellent bald eagle viewing in winter (dozens of eagles roost there November-February) and superb waterfowl hunting; Arkansas Nuclear One’s visitor center provides nuclear energy education; ATU adds college sports and cultural programming; Russellville is a genuine regional city with good quality of life
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Pope County GIS – popecountyar.gov; Arkansas GIS
Notes: Active county GIS; Lake Dardanelle water management mapping (Army Corps); Arkansas Nuclear One emergency planning zones mapping (NRC-required); ATU campus GIS; I-40 corridor infrastructure
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Pope County Animal Services – (479) 968-7000; Russellville Animal Services – (479) 968-4467
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, owner surrenders, spay/neuter, animal control
Notes: Active humane community; ATU community contributes to animal welfare; Russellville area humane organizations well-supported
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Pope County – (479) 968-7000; Russellville city sanitation – (479) 968-7200
Recycling: Russellville city recycling; county drop-off sites
Environmental: Arkansas DEQ; NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission – Arkansas Nuclear One); Army Corps (Lake Dardanelle); Holla Bend NWR (USFWS); Arkansas River watershed; I-40 corridor
Notes: Arkansas Nuclear One (Entergy Arkansas) is the dominant industrial environmental presence in Pope County – the NRC regulates the plant extensively; thermal discharge (warm water from cooling) affects Lake Dardanelle ecology; nuclear waste storage on-site is managed under NRC protocols; Arkansas River and Lake Dardanelle water quality is monitored for both recreation and the nuclear plant’s cooling water intake; Holla Bend NWR watershed protection is important; the Army Corps manages Lake Dardanelle as part of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System; I-40 corridor stormwater management with continued commercial growth
About Pope County
Pope County’s Russellville has built one of Arkansas’s stronger small-city economies around two anchors: Arkansas Tech University (about 11,000 students with strong engineering and education programs) and the Arkansas Nuclear One plant – the only nuclear power plant in Arkansas, operated by Entergy, providing significant employment and property tax revenue to the county. Lake Dardanelle, the Arkansas River reservoir adjacent to Russellville, provides recreation and some additional tourism activity.
The county’s position between the Ozark and Ouachita mountains gives it scenic appeal and outdoor recreation access. The Arkansas River navigation system connects Russellville to the broader inland waterway commerce. Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center provides healthcare. Pope County has grown steadily, attracting some retirees and remote workers drawn by affordability and the River Valley’s natural setting.
Pope County is the Arkansas River Valley’s major hub, anchored by Russellville — home to Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas Nuclear One, the state’s only nuclear power plant. Lake Dardanelle, created by Dardanelle Dam on the Arkansas River, is one of the most popular recreation lakes in central Arkansas. Mount Nebo State Park offers dramatic views from a high mesa above the river. The county’s position on I-40 midway between Little Rock and Fort Smith has made it an important logistics and manufacturing center.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Jail: #3 Emergency Lane (likely co-located with Sheriff)
Inmate Search: Via county or state resources
Civil Process: Contact Sheriff — (479) 968-2558
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
Phone: (479) 968-7006
Address: 100 W. Main St., Russellville, AR 72801
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Case Search: caseinfo.arcourts.gov
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
100 W. Main St., Russellville, AR 72801
(479) 968-7001
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
100 W. Main St., Russellville, AR 72801
(479) 968-7006
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Pope County Clerk, Probate Division (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Pope County Historical Association, c/o John Cotton, Treasurer, 225 Promenade Circle, Russellville, AR 72801, [email protected]
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 Pope County, probate matters are handled by the County Clerk’s Office, while other Circuit Court matters go through the separate Circuit Clerk.
Pope County Clerk – Probate Division 100 West Main Street, Russellville, AR 72801 (479) 968-6064 (Probate/County Clerk); (479) 968-7499 (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
2209 E. 5th St., Russellville, AR 72802
(479) 968-1616
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Unit
(479) 968-4171
DHS / SNAP / Medicaid
(800) 482-8988
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Pope County Health Unit – (479) 968-4171
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records, restaurant inspections
Hospital: Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center (Russellville) – (479) 968-2841 (major regional hospital serving west-central Arkansas)
Notes: Saint Mary’s is a strong regional hospital; ATU health programs supplement community resources; nuclear plant worker health monitoring; Russellville is growing healthcare hub for west-central Arkansas; nuclear emergency response planning involves specialized medical readiness
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Russellville
Population: 65,000
Area: 817 sq mi
Established: 1829
Tier: 4
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Pope County facilities via Amazon.
