Clay County, Arkansas Genealogy Records

Selected record inventories for Clay County, their listed years, and where to ask for access.

Selected inventory review: 2026-11-02. Selected collection metadata checked against repository catalog descriptions. This is not a complete holdings audit, examination of original records, or certification of current access. See the access note for limitations. Repository catalog or holdings guide

Formed
1873
County seat
Corning
Cleburne CountyCraighead CountyCrittenden CountyCross CountyFulton CountyIndependence CountyIzard CountyJackson CountyLawrence CountyMississippi CountyPoinsett CountySharp CountyStone CountyWhite CountyWoodruff CountyGreene CountyRandolph CountyClay CountyCleburneCraigheadFultonIndependenceIzardJacksonLawrenceMississippiPoinsettSharpStoneGreeneRandolphClay
Clay CountyParent counties (search here for earlier records)Today's boundaries · U.S. Census Bureau

Listed record inventories

Selected holdings and indexes for Clay County, checked against the repository descriptions linked below. Date spans may contain gaps; an index is not a complete set of original records.

Newspapers and directories

Other records

Court records

Schools

See the repository's descriptions and search options

Repository access note: Selected Arkansas State Archives collection descriptions. Collection titles and dates identify catalog holdings, not necessarily digitized records. Consult the finding aid for contents, restrictions and ordering options.

Sources: the catalogs and repository descriptions linked on the entries above. Selected inventories do not establish complete coverage of every record type or online access to original documents. Read the repository access note for source dates and limitations.

Where to find the records

  • Find Clay County's official website

    We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the circuit clerk and the county clerk.

  • The circuit clerk

    Deeds and other land records (the circuit clerk is also the county recorder), and civil and criminal cases.

  • The county clerk

    Marriage licenses and, in most counties, probate records (wills and estates).

  • The Arkansas State Archives

    In Little Rock: county records on microfilm, Confederate pension records and newspapers.

  • Arkansas State Archivesfree

    The state archives in Little Rock: county records on microfilm, Confederate service and pension records, maps and newspapers.

  • FamilySearch Catalogfree

    Search by place for "Arkansas, Clay" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.

Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.

Boundaries and parent counties

Formed from: Greene County, Randolph County

Check the parent counties for earlier records: Greene County, Randolph County

IndependenceIzardWhiteConwayVan BurenFultonMississippiCraigheadJacksonPoinsettCrossCrittendenLawrenceSharpWoodruffRandolphGreeneClaytonClaytonRandolphGreeneIndependenceIzardFultonMississippiCraigheadJacksonPoinsettLawrenceSharp
Clayton as created in 1873Where its land was the day beforeToday's boundaryBoundaries: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1873, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.

Research tip

Arkansas began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1914. Many counties lost records to courthouse fires, so check the parent county and the federal land records (the BLM's General Land Office site) for early settlers.