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.

300 N. Spruce St.
Searcy 72143

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