White County

White County was formed in 1835, by the territorial legislature from parts of Jackson, Pulaski, and Independence counties and was named for Hugh Lawson White, a U.S. Senator from Tennessee. The county seat is Searcy. The landscape of the county is rolling hills north and west the foothills of the Ozarks and Ouachitas, and rich, flat, delta farmland in the southeast. The economic base of the county is diversified with row crops of milo, wheat, soybeans, rice; blueberries, and table grapes; livestock, poultry, and coastal Bermuda grass hay; and a wide range of manufacturing and service industries including a Wal-Mart Distribution Center. Harding University at Searcy, Arkansas State University at Beebe, and Arkansas State University at Searcy draw hundreds of students from all parts of the country. White County has many varied recreational opportunities. The Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area, and the White and Little Red rivers offer hunting and fishing and water recreation. The White County Courthouse, built in 1871 is said to be the oldest functional courthouse in Arkansas and has an elaborate clock tower that resembles the Liberty Bell and dates back to 1855. A statue located on the southeast corner of the court square honors the Confederate Soldiers. A new statue built of six tons of granite, was recently constructed on the courthouse lawn honoring those soldiers of White County who died in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, with each soldier’s name inscribed on the monument. A Vietnam War memorial already sits on the courthouse grounds. A fire in the courthouse some years ago necessitated extensive repair, and the courtroom was restored to its original 19th century look with hardwood flooring and oak benches. The entire courthouse is outlined in lights and comes alive in December each year when the Christmas ”Festival of Lights” is observed. Hundreds of tourists visit the area at this time of year.

5012796200

County Officials				Phone		Fax		E-Mail
County Judge		Michael Lincoln		(501) 279-6200		(501) 279-6233		wcjudge@cablelynx.com
County Clerk		Marquita Teague		(501) 279-6204		(501) 279-6260		wcclerkmteague@yahoo.com
Circuit Clerk		Tami King		(501) 279-6203
County Sheriff		Ricky Shourd		(501) 279-6279		(501) 279-6287		rshourd@sbcglobal.net
County Collector		Sue Liles		(501) 279-6206		(501) 279-6266		whitecountycollector@cablelynx.com
County Treasurer		Janet Hibbitts		(501) 279-6202		(501) 279-6233		whitecountytr@att.net
County Assessor		Debra Lang		(501) 279-6205		(501) 279-6258		assessor@whi.countyservice.net
County Coroner		David Powell, Jr.		(501) 268-7220		(501) 268-7244		powellfh@cablelynx.com
Justice of the Peace		Bobby Burns
Justice of the Peace		Mike Cleveland
Justice of the Peace		Cameron Cooper
Justice of the Peace		Ron Gibbs
Justice of the Peace		Waylon Heathscott
Justice of the Peace		Kenneth Horton
Justice of the Peace		Jimmy House
Justice of the Peace		Allen King
Justice of the Peace		Ed Land
Justice of the Peace		George "Bud" Osborn
Justice of the Peace		Bobby Quattlebaum
Justice of the Peace		Shane Sellers
Justice of the Peace		Horace Taylor