Cleveland County

Cleveland County, a county of rolling hills, was formed April 17, 1873, and was originally called Dorsey County, named for Stephen W. Dorsey, a U.S. Senator from Arkansas, who later fell out of favor with Arkansans. Citizens petitioned for a change of name and in 1885 it was renamed Cleveland County in honor of Grover Cleveland, who had just been elected president of the United States. The county seat is Rison. Timber is the leading industry in the county. The Saline River was used for shipping logs before the railroads came to the county in 1881. The county has extended its economic base to produce tomatoes, broiler chicks and cattle. Rison is at the center of an estimated 15-by-6 mile iron deposit containing as much as 42% magnetite. The Saline River, a scenic river, runs through the county that also provides excellent fishing and floating. The courthouse represents an outstanding courthouse restoration and is listed on the National Register. On the courthouse lawn stands a memorial to veterans of the First and Second World Wars.

#20 Magnolia Street
Rison 71665

8703256214

County Officials   Phone   Fax   E-Mail
County Judge   Gary Spears   (870) 325-6214   (870) 325-6366   judgespears@tds.net
County Clerk   Sharon K. Gray   (870) 325-6521   (870) 325-6144   clevelandclerk@arkansasclerks.com
Circuit Clerk   Sharon K. Gray   (870) 325-6902   (870) 325-6144   clevelandclerk@arkansasclerks.com
County Sheriff   Joe Paul King   (870) 325-6222   (870) 325-7866  
County Collector   Marcell Jacks   (870) 325-7254   (870) 325-7876   cctaxcollector@tds.net
County Treasurer   Becky Tollison   (870) 325-6681   (870) 325-6369   beckytoll@tds.net
County Assessor   Donna Sims   (870) 325-6695   (870) 325-6369   ccassess@tds.net
County Coroner   Darran Kea   (870) 325-6134    
Justice of the Peace   vacant      
Justice of the Peace   Bruce T. Brown      
Justice of the Peace   Donnie Herring      
Justice of the Peace   John L. McClellan      
Justice of the Peace   Elbert Miller      
Justice of the Peace   John T. Reed      
Justice of the Peace   Charles Rodgers      
Justice of the Peace   Owen Rushing      
Justice of the Peace   Donald Triplett