About Washington County

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Established: October 17, 1828

Area: 941.97 square miles

Population: 225,477 (U S Census estimate as of July 1, 2015)

Washington County is in the northwest corner of Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains. It was established on October 17, 1828, formed from Lovely County, which was part of Indian Territory. Washington County has grown from small settlements of farms, mills, and orchards into one of the most affluent and prosperous counties in the state. Learn more from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.

Washington County is part of the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region has the second largest population in Arkansas, and it is home to Walmart Stores, Tyson Foods, and JB Hunt Transport Services. The Fayetteville Metro Area was named the 3rd best place to live in the US by U.S. News & World Report in 2016.

Original Act to Create Washington County
Courtesy of Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries

Government

As set forth in Act 742 of 1977, Arkansas county government is divided into three departments:

Legislative (Quorum Court)
Executive (County Court)
Judicial (Circuit Court)

Elected county officials include:

Justices of the Peace
County Judge
County Clerk
Circuit Clerk
Assessor
Collector
Treasurer
Sheriff
Coroner
Surveyor

Legislative (Quorum Court)

All legislative powers of the various county governments are vested in the Quorum Court. The Quorum Court consists of 15 elected Justices of the Peace, each elected for a term of two years.

Those services which the Quorum Court must provide under Arkansas law include:

the administration of justice through the courts
law enforcement protection
real and personal property tax administration
the keeping of court and public records

Other services which the Quorum Court may provide include:

agricultural services
community and rural development services
county planning
parks
libraries
museums
civic center
public camping grounds
emergency services
fire protection
juvenile services
pollution control
public health
solid waste and recycling services
transportation
water, sewer and other utility services

Executive Branch (County Judge)

The County Judge is the chief executive officer of the county and presides over the Quorum Court. County Judges do not have a vote but do have the power to veto.

Judicial Branch (Circuit Judges)

Washington County is part of the 4th Judicial District. Elected positions in the Judicial Department include seven Circuit Court Judges, one Circuit Clerk, and a Prosecuting Attorney.

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