Independence County

Independence County was created in October 1820 from part of Lawrence County. Its name comes from the Declaration of Independence. The landscape of the county is rolling hills, foothills of the Ozarks, except for river delta farmland in the southeast section. The county seat is Batesville. Agriculture is the economic base of the county, primarily is cattle and poultry production and processing. Some manufacturing is located near Batesville. The scenic White River coming into Batesville has the typical Ozark bends, riffles, shoals and pools surrounded by forest, rock, and hillsides. It is famous for its excellent trout fishing. When it leaves Batesville, it becomes mostly a flatland river. The river brought settlers to the county in the early 1800’s. The Pioneer Cemetery is the oldest recognized and preserved cemetery in Arkansas. During the Arkansas Sesquicentennial, a three-foot tall bell made in 1858 for the courthouse was permanently installed in a specially designed limestone structure on the courthouse lawn. Similar limestone from Batesville was used to build the State Capitol. Batesville has one college, Lyon College, a private Christian college established in 1872. The college has an annual Ozark Scottish Festival & Highland Games each year that attracts many visitors to the area.

192 East Main Street
Batesville 72501

8707938800

County Officials   Phone   Fax   E-Mail
County Judge   Robert T. Griffin   (870) 793-8800   (870) 793-8803   countyjudgegriffin@swbell.net
County Clerk   Tracey Nast Wyatt   (870) 793-8828   (870) 793-8831   independenceclerk@arkansasclerks.com
Circuit Clerk   Deborah Finley   (870) 793-8833   (870) 793-8888   incirfines@swbell.net
County Sheriff   Steve Jeffery   (870) 793-8838   (870) 612-6849  
County Collector   Janet Perkey   (870) 793-8823   (870) 793-8823   collectorindependence@yahoo.com
County Treasurer   Bob Treadway   (870) 793-8899   (870) 793-8898   independencecotreasurer@hotmail.com
County Assessor   Odus Fulmer   (870) 793-8842   (870) 793-8803   assessman@att.net
County Coroner   Wesley Gay   (870) 307-2938   (870) 612-6849   wgay@uaccb.edu
Justice of the Peace   Margaret Boothby      
Justice of the Peace   Gary Bridgman      
Justice of the Peace   Danny Ray Carter      
Justice of the Peace   Bill Cash      
Justice of the Peace   Brent Henderson      
Justice of the Peace   Waymon Long      
Justice of the Peace   Lackey Moody, Jr.      
Justice of the Peace   Anne Moore      
Justice of the Peace   Larry Nelson      
Justice of the Peace   Tim Stewart      
Justice of the Peace   Bobby Weaver