Randolph

Formed October 29, 1835 (31^st county)

Randolph County (18,571), Pocahontas (7,390)

The masonry courthouse was built in 1940 in Art Deco style.  It is located on Broadway Street between Van Bibber and Marr streets.  United States Highway 62 is four blocks east of the location.  The building designer was Eugene John Stern.  There was an earlier courthouse for the county in Pocahontas (1872) as Pocahontas is the only county seat.  Randolph County was formed on October 29, 1835 from Lawrence County as the 31^st county. The county was named for John Randolph, one of the first settlers in the area.  Pocahontas was named for the famous Native American. 

Randolph County government consists of a sheriff, assessor, treasurer, and coroner (executive).  It has 9 Quorum Court members (legislative.)  Three Circuit Court Judges serve Randolph, Jackson, Lawrence, and Sharp counties and a District Court Judge, an Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Randolph County (judicial.)  The county is in the northeast part of the state northwest of Jonesboro, Arkansas on the Missouri border.  The White River crosses through the county from north to south.  The center of the county is 7.6 miles North of Pocahontas nearer Attica.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Missouri and Clay, Greene, Lawrence, and Sharp counties.  The county is shaped like a fat headed walking cane.  Pocahontas is in the northeast quarter of the county.  Pocahontas is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 39.8% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced POE-KA-HON-TAS.

The area of the county is 656.0 square miles.  It is 38 of 75 in size.  It ranks 37 out of 75 in population in the state.  It has a density of 28.3 persons per square mile making it 34 out of 75 in the state.  Randolph County has 47.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 62 crosses east to west from Clay County to Sharp County.  United States Highways 63/412 come from Lawrence County on the southeast, joins United States Highway 62, and goes to Sharp County on the west.  United States Highway 67 is joined with United States Highway 62 from Clay County (east), splits, and heads into Lawrence County (south).