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Arkansas · North-Central Arkansas · #779
White County, Arkansas
In the foothills between the Arkansas Delta and the Ozark Mountains, Searcy has built one of Arkansas's more complete small-city economies - anchored by Harding University, a Churches of Christ institution with a distinctive campus culture, and by manufacturing and healthcare employment that serves a wide north-central Arkansas catchment.
County SeatSearcy
Population80,000
Founded1835
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Office: White County Office of Emergency Management
Address: 300 N Spring St, Searcy, AR 72143
Phone: (501) 279-6222
Alert System: AR Alert; CodeRed; NOAA Weather Radio; Searcy city alerts
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; Searcy community facilities; Harding University facilities
FEMA Region: Region 6
Notes: North-central Arkansas; Searcy is county seat and largest city; Little Red River runs through county (flooding below Greers Ferry Dam – world-record brown trout river); tornado corridor; Harding University (Searcy – significant private university); White River Monster folklore (the famous cryptid reportedly sighted in White and Jackson counties); significant manufacturing base; growing as Little Rock suburban area
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: White County Road Department – (501) 279-6212
Public Transit: Very limited; demand-response; Searcy area
Road Conditions: ARDOT – idrivearkansas.com
Notes: US-67/US-167 is the main corridor connecting Searcy to Little Rock (50 miles south) and Batesville north; US-36 east-west; Searcy is a growing regional center; Harding generates significant campus traffic; manufacturing base creates industrial traffic; White County Airport (general aviation)
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: White County – (501) 279-6222 | whitecounty.net
Services: Building permits; Searcy (active – separate), Beebe, Bald Knob, Bradford, Judsonia, Kensett, El Paso, McRae, Pangburn, Garner separate
Notes: Searcy is a significant regional building market; Harding University campus expansion; manufacturing facility construction; growing residential development as Little Rock exurb; Beebe growing rapidly (Arkansas State University-Beebe campus)
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: White County Veterans Service Office – (501) 279-6222
VA Medical: Central Arkansas VA (Little Rock) – 50 miles south on US-67; accessible
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment; Harding University veteran student services; ASU-Beebe veteran programs
Notes: Little Rock VA accessible via US-67/167; growing veteran community as county grows; two college veteran student programs active
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: White County Library – (501) 268-2449 | whitecountylibrary.org
Main: Searcy; branches in Beebe, Bald Knob, Bradford, Judsonia, Kensett, El Paso, McRae
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy, children’s programs; Harding University library supplements; ASU-Beebe library supplements
Notes: Well-developed multi-branch library system; Harding’s Brackett Library is an excellent private university library with community access; ASU-Beebe library supplements academic resources; growing county population driving library expansion
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Little Red River (world-class trout fishing – world record brown trout (40 lbs 4 oz) caught here; the tailwater below Greers Ferry Dam at Heber Springs flows through Cleburne/White County into the White River – outstanding fishing throughout); Searcy Parks and Recreation (Heritage Park; Berryhill Park); Harding University athletics (Division II – Great American Conference); ASU-Beebe athletics; White County Fair (annual); Beebe growth creating new parks
Notes: The Little Red River trout fishery world record reflects the extraordinary quality of this tailwater fishery; trout fishing is excellent throughout the Little Red River section; White County Monster – a large unidentified river creature reportedly seen in the White River through White and adjacent counties since 1915 (similar to Scotland’s Nessie in local folklore); Searcy has quality parks befitting a regional center; Harding adds college sports and cultural programming; the county’s growth is driving investment in recreational infrastructure
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: White County GIS – whitecounty.net/gis | (501) 279-6212
Parcel Search: Available through county GIS portal; active with growth
Notes: Active GIS tracking growing county; Little Red River watershed mapping; White River floodplain mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: White County Animal Services – (501) 279-6222; Searcy Animal Control – (501) 268-7271
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, owner surrenders, spay/neuter, animal control
Notes: White County Humane Society active; growing county creating increased demand; Harding community supports animal welfare programs
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: White County – (501) 279-6212; Searcy city sanitation; Beebe city sanitation
Recycling: Searcy city recycling; county drop-off; growing recycling infrastructure
Environmental: Arkansas DEQ; Army Corps (Greers Ferry Dam – upstream; Little Red River management); White River watershed; growing suburban development stormwater management; manufacturing facility environmental compliance
Notes: Little Red River water quality management is critical – the cold tailwater from Greers Ferry Dam creates the trout fishery, and water temperature and clarity must be maintained; Army Corps manages dam releases in coordination with fishery management; manufacturing in White County (multiple manufacturers in Searcy) requires ADEQ environmental compliance; growing suburban development in the Searcy-Beebe-Little Rock corridor creates stormwater management challenges; White River water quality monitoring important for downstream communities
About White County
White County’s Harding University – a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the Churches of Christ, with about 4,000 students – gives Searcy an educational anchor with a distinctive institutional culture. Harding’s commitment to its faith tradition shapes campus life in visible ways and attracts students who specifically seek a religiously grounded liberal arts education. The university’s programs in business, nursing, and education serve the region’s workforce needs.
Searcy’s location on US-67/167 between Little Rock and Batesville makes it a commercial hub for the surrounding counties. The White River, from which the county takes its name, flows through the Ozark foothills to the county’s north and provides fishing and recreation access to the White River corridor that extends through Batesville and into the renowned trout fishery of the North Fork and Buffalo River systems. Unity Health White County Medical Center provides regional healthcare.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Arkansas assesses property at 20% of true market value. Property owners may appeal to the County Board of Equalization on the third Monday of August. Arkansas offers a $375 homestead credit. Arkansas has no estate or inheritance tax.
Public Records
White County Health Unit — Searcy: (501) 268-5131 (confirm address)
Unity Health System: Major healthcare system in Searcy; significant regional hospital
Local DHS offices: Searcy (confirm via dhs.arkansas.gov)
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
SENIOR SERVICES
White County Area Agency on Aging
(Through Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services)
(501) 682-2441
Senior Services
White County Area Agency on Aging
(Through Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services)
(501) 682-2441
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
300 N. Spring St., Searcy, AR 72143
(501) 279-6204
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
300 N. Spring St., Searcy, AR 72143
(501) 279-6213
Genealogy
County-level record sources
White County Clerk, Probate Division (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
White County Historical Society, Box 537, Searcy, AR 72145, (501) 278-5010, [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 White County, probate matters are handled by the County Clerk’s Office, while other Circuit Court matters go through the separate Circuit Clerk.
White County Clerk – Probate Division 300 N. Spruce Street, Searcy, AR 72143 (501) 279-6204 (Probate/County Clerk); (501) 279-6223 (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
113 E. Pleasure Ave., Searcy, AR 72143
(501) 268-3333
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Unit
(501) 268-6148
DHS / SNAP / Medicaid
(800) 482-8988
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: White County Health Unit – Searcy: (501) 268-2477; Beebe: (501) 882-5181
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Hospital: Unity Health (Searcy) – (501) 268-6121 (major regional hospital for north-central Arkansas); Baptist Health Beebe – (501) 941-9000 (newer facility reflecting Beebe’s growth)
Notes: Unity Health is a strong regional hospital; Baptist Health Beebe reflects the area’s growth; Harding’s health science programs supplement local workforce; Little Rock healthcare 50 miles south for major specialty needs; growing population creating healthcare investment demand
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Searcy
Population: 80,000
Area: 1,041 sq mi
Established: 1835
Tier: 3
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in White County facilities via Amazon.
