Crawford

Formed October 18, 1820 (7^th county)

Crawford County (60,130), Van Buren (23,215)

The clock tower dominates the white classic courthouse of Crawford County.  It sits on a square at Main, 4^th, Webster, and 3^rd streets.  United States Highway 64 passes three blocks southeast of the site.  The 1842 building was rebuilt in 1878 after a fire.  It has been the only courthouse in Van Buren.  There was an addition in 1906 and it was remodeled and enlarged in 1940.  The architect is Frank W. Gibb for this Italianate style courthouse.  Fort Smith (1822), McLain’s Bottom (1822), Crawford (1822), Whitsontown (1836), Crittenden (1837), and Van Buren (1838) have all been the county seat.  Van Buren is named for Martin Van Buren, the tenth President of the United States.  He is also the source name for Van Buren County.  The county was named for William Harris Crawford, United States Presidential candidate, Secretary of War and Secretary of the Treasury.  On October 18, 1820, Crawford County was formed from Pulaski County as the 7^th county. 

Crawford County government consists of a sheriff, assessor, treasurer, and coroner (executive).  It has 13 Quorum Court members (legislative.)  Two Circuit Court Judges and a District Court Judge, an Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Crawford County (judicial.)  Crawford County government consists of a County Judge, a sheriff, and 13 Justices of the Peace.  serve Crawford County.  The county is in northwest Arkansas on the border with Oklahoma.  The center of the county is 14.8 miles North-Northeast of Van Buren nearer Cedarville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Washington, Madison, Franklin, and Sebastian counties and Oklahoma. 

The area of the county is 604.2 square miles.  It is 59 of 75 in size.  It ranks 13 out of 75 in population in the state.  It has a density of 99.5 persons per square mile making it 9 out of 75 in the state.  Crawford County has 57.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 40 crosses from Franklin County, east, into Oklahoma, west.  United States Highway 64 parallels Interstate Highway 40 across the county from Franklin County to Sebastian County.  United States Highway 71 goes from north to south, Washington County to Sebastian County.  The county is shaped like a vase with the Arkansas River serving as its southern border.  Van Buren is in the extreme southern part on the river.  Van Buren is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 38.6% of the county population.  Fort Smith, Arkansas is across the river and Fayetteville, Arkansas lies north of the county.  The county is in the Fort Smith Metropolitan Statistical Area.