Greene County, Arkansas
1830 Census
The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 brought (what is
now) Arkansas into the United States. The area was thrown open for settlement at that
time.
The area was part of the Missouri Territory in 1812, and became Arkansas Territory in 1819
when Missouri applied for statehood. The area encompassed what is now Oklahoma. On June
15, 1836, Arkansas became the twenty-fifth state in the union.
Some very early records, 1803-1836, may be found in Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma
collections.
Greene Co. was formed in 1833 from part of Lawrence County. Clay County, in 1873, and Craighead County, in 1859, Poinsett County, in 1838 were formed partly
from sections of Greene County.
By the Legislative Act of Missouri Territory,
January 15, 1815, Lawrence County was formed from New Madrid Co., Missouri. Arkansas
County was the first county and Lawrence County was the second county formed in what is
now called the state of Arkansas. From Lawrence County thirty-one other counties was
formed. Thus called "Mother of Counties". Lawrence county was named for Captain
James Lawrence, a naval commander who was killed in the War of 1812.