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Arkansas · Fort Smith · Arkansas River Valley · #358
Sebastian County, Arkansas
Fort Smith - the Arkansas River Valley's largest city, the Fort Smith National Historic Site (where Judge Isaac Parker sentenced 160 men to death in 21 years as the "Hanging Judge"), the historic Butterfield Overland Mail terminus, and the gateway to the Arkansas River and Oklahoma. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Sebastian County residents.
County SeatFort Smith
Population127,799
Founded1851
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Office: Sebastian County Office of Emergency Management
Address: 35 S 6th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901
Phone: (479) 784-1559
Alert System: AR Alert; CodeRed; NOAA Weather Radio; Fort Smith city alerts
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; Fort Smith community facilities; multiple school district facilities
FEMA Region: Region 6
Notes: Northwest Arkansas River valley; Fort Smith is county seat and Arkansas’s second-largest city; Arkansas River flooding (significant – Fort Smith sits at the confluence of the Poteau River and Arkansas River); tornado corridor; significant industrial base; Fort Smith National Historic Site; I-40 and I-49 corridor hub; regional EMA is sophisticated reflecting Fort Smith’s urban character
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Sebastian County Road Department – (479) 784-1800
Public Transit: Fort Smith Transit (FST) – (479) 785-0546 | fsttransit.com; fixed-route bus service; Fort Smith Regional Airport
Road Conditions: ARDOT – idrivearkansas.com
Notes: I-40 and I-49 (major north-south artery connecting Fort Smith to Fayetteville/NW Arkansas and south to Texarkana) meet in Sebastian County; US-64, US-71; Fort Smith is the hub of western Arkansas transportation; Fort Smith Regional Airport serves the region; railroad (Union Pacific) through Fort Smith important for industrial shipping; Arkansas River navigation port
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Sebastian County – (479) 784-1550 | sebastiancountyar.gov
Services: Building permits for unincorporated county; Fort Smith (extensive, separate), Greenwood, Barling, Lavaca, Hackett, Hartford, Huntington, Mansfield separate
Notes: Fort Smith is western Arkansas’s largest building market; I-49 corridor growth; industrial facility expansion; Greenwood growing as Fort Smith suburb; I-40 commercial development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Sebastian County Veterans Service Office – (479) 784-1750
VA Medical: Fort Smith VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic – (479) 709-1740 (significant local VA clinic); Fayetteville VAMC – (479) 443-4301 for hospital services
Services: Full range – benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment, pension, compensation, disability; Fort Smith VA clinic provides substantial outpatient services
Notes: Fort Smith VA clinic is one of Arkansas’s more substantial CBOC facilities; large veteran community in Fort Smith metro; active VSO chapter network; Fort Smith National Historic Site honors the judge and lawmen who brought order to the Indian Territory
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Fort Smith Public Library – (479) 783-0229 | fortsmithlibrary.org
Main: 3201 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith; branches in Greenwood, Barling, Hartford
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy, Arkansas and Oklahoma Indian Territory history collections, maker space, children’s programs
Notes: Fort Smith Public Library has an outstanding genealogy and regional history collection – particularly strong for Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory research given Fort Smith’s role as the federal court for that region; Judge Parker’s court records and frontier history materials are exceptional; well-funded urban library system
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
County/City Parks: Fort Smith Parks & Recreation – (479) 784-2208; Fort Smith Convention Center; Ben Geren Regional Park (extensive sports and recreation complex); Arkansas River Trail; Chaffee Crossing Historic District (former WWII Army training camp – now arts district)
Key Attractions: Fort Smith National Historic Site (Judge Parker’s federal court – “Hanging Judge” Parker enforced federal law in the Indian Territory 1875-1896; excellent NPS site with historic jail and courthouse); Miss Laura’s Social Club (historic brothel on the National Register – Visitor Center!); Fort Smith Museum of History; Chaffee Crossing (WWII training site where Elvis Presley was inducted into the Army – museum)
Notes: Fort Smith has remarkable heritage; Judge Isaac Parker (“Hanging Judge”) administered federal law for 21 years over the lawless Indian Territory from this courthouse – a truly dramatic chapter in Western history; the NPS site tells the story compellingly; the Chaffee Crossing arts district at the historic WWII Fort Chaffee (where Elvis was inducted and Vietnamese refugees were housed in 1975) is a fascinating adaptive reuse of military history; Miss Laura’s Social Club is a unique National Register visitor center; the Arkansas River corridor through Fort Smith is an outstanding recreation asset
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Sebastian County GIS – sebastiancountyar.gov/gis; Fort Smith City GIS
Parcel Search: Available through county and city GIS portals
Notes: Well-developed GIS reflecting Fort Smith’s urban character; Arkansas River flood mapping; I-40/I-49 corridor infrastructure; industrial district mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Sebastian County Animal Control – (479) 784-1800; Fort Smith Animal Control – (479) 784-2267; Fort Smith Animal Services complex
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, owner surrenders, spay/neuter, microchipping, animal control
Notes: Fort Smith has well-developed animal services for a non-metro area; active humane community; Crawford County also accessible
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Sebastian County – (479) 784-1800; Fort Smith Sanitation – (479) 784-2243
Recycling: Fort Smith city recycling program; county drop-off sites
Environmental: Arkansas DEQ; Army Corps (Arkansas River – Fort Smith sits at confluence of Arkansas and Poteau Rivers; flooding and navigation management); Arkansas River watershed; industrial environmental compliance (manufacturing, steel, poultry processing, railroad); Fort Chaffee legacy environmental sites
Notes: Fort Smith’s industrial base (metal manufacturing, food processing, retail distribution) requires significant ADEQ environmental compliance monitoring; Arkansas River flooding has affected Fort Smith historically – flood protection infrastructure is critical; Fort Chaffee (adjacent Barling) has legacy military environmental sites from WWII and Cold War era operations requiring ongoing monitoring; I-40 and I-49 corridors create stormwater management challenges with continued commercial growth; the Arkansas River navigation system’s maintenance through the McClellan-Kerr system is managed by Army Corps
About Sebastian County
– TWO COUNTY SEATS (Fort Smith and Greenwood) with DRAMATIC HISTORY — county seat alternated 4 times (Greenwood 1851 → Fort Smith 1858 → Greenwood 1860 → Fort Smith permanent post-Civil War); divided along Union/Confederate lines during Reconstruction; Arkansas Supreme Court ultimately ruled in Fort Smith’s favor.
BRONZE PLAQUE acknowledging courthouse destruction history: “risen from ashes and other disasters since 1851” — rare self-aware public acknowledgment of difficult county history.
GREENWOOD CITY FLAG flown at Fort Smith courthouse — remarkable political gesture acknowledging dual-seat arrangement; Greenwood’s separate civic identity honored.
THREE DISTRICT COURTS — Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Barling-Greenwood; unusual three-court configuration.
Sebastian County anchors western Arkansas with Fort Smith — the state’s second-largest city and historic gateway to Indian Territory. Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves Judge Isaac Parker’s courthouse and gallows; Parker, known as the “Hanging Judge,” presided over federal court here from 1875–1896. The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS) and ArcBest Corporation (major freight company) are significant institutions. The Fort Smith metro area is an important manufacturing and logistics hub on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Greenwood District Court: 301 East Center Street, 2nd Floor, Greenwood — (479) 452-6680
8 AM–5 PM M,T; Jurisdiction: Misdemeanor, civil under $25,000, traffic, small claims (maintains all records for Sebastian County excl. Fort Smith, Barling, Central City)
Barling-Greenwood State District Court: 304 Church Street, Barling, AR 72923 — (479) 452-1550 ext. 211
8 AM–4:30 PM
Center for Arkansas Legal Services: 901 South 21st Street, Fort Smith — 1-888-540-2941
COUNTY COURT: Presided over by County Judge Steve Hotz
Sheriff: Hobe Runion
(479) 783-1051
Fax: (479) 784-1587
911
Sebastian County Detention Center: Confirm address
Inmate Search: Via county website
Civil Process: Contact Sheriff — (479) 783-1051
Arkansas State Police: 5728 Kelly Highway, Fort Smith — (479) 783-2395
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
Phone: (479) 783-5065
Address: 35 S. 6th St., Fort Smith, AR 72901
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 — multiple Fort Smith locations
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
35 S. 6th St., Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 784-1506
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
35 S. 6th St., Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 783-5065
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Sebastian County Circuit Clerk, both districts (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Frontier Researchers Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2123, Fort Smith, AR 72902
Fort Smith Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 3676, Fort Smith, AR 72913-3676, (479) 646-9140
South Sebastian County Historical Society, P.O. Box 523, Greenwood, AR 72936 – covers the Greenwood District specifically.
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
Sebastian County has two districts, each with its own courthouse – file in whichever is more convenient.
Fort Smith District – 901 South ‘B’ Street, Room 205, Fort Smith, AR 72901. (479) 782-1046. Greenwood District – (479) 996-4175. 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
301 E. Center St., Greenwood, AR 72936
(479) 783-1051
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Unit
(479) 785-2181
DHS / SNAP / Medicaid
(800) 482-8988
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Sebastian County Health Unit – (479) 784-4870
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records, restaurant inspections
Hospitals: Baptist Health Fort Smith – (479) 441-4000; Mercy Hospital Fort Smith – (479) 314-6000; UAMS Fort Smith campus; Sparks Regional Medical Center (part of Baptist Health)
Notes: Fort Smith has strong healthcare for a non-metro city; two major hospital systems (Baptist, Mercy); UAMS Fort Smith supplements academic medical resources; Fort Smith is the healthcare hub for western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma; growing healthcare investment reflecting regional hub status
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Fort Smith
Population: 127,799
Area: 533 mi²
Established: 1851
Tier: 3
Inmate Services
Care Packages
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