Message from the Judge

Welcome to Pope County, the crossroads of west-central Arkansas.  Uniquely situated halfway between Little Rock and Fort Smith, and Harrison and Hot Springs, Pope County has the gifted location of being centralized to river, rail, and interstate commerce, while also being directly located in some of Arkansas' most scenic landscapes.

Encompassing over 831 square miles, Pope County was formed on November 2, 1829 and named for the third territorial governor of Arkansas, John Pope.  Our county has a heritage rich in Native American history that included the Osage and Cherokee, and the distinct recognition of having the first organized school in Arkansas at Dwight Mission; just west of modern-day Russellville.  Today, Pope County and its' six municipalities, represent a population nearing 70,000.

As home to the only nuclear power facilities in the state, Pope county has achieved its' moniker of "Arrowheads to Atoms" in less than two centuries of existence.  As a lifelong resident myself, and descended from ancestors who came to Pope county in the 1850's, I hope if you are a resident, you too, appreciate the immense beauty we are blessed to live in, and if you're visiting or considering a move to our county, I hope you'll adopt our mantra of "Live like you're on vacation."

Judge Ben Cross