Searcy County is a county in Arkansas, United States, in the Ozark Mountains along the upper Buffalo National River. It had a population of 7,828 at the 2020 census and covers 669 square miles (1,730 km2), of which 666 square miles is land, centred near 35°55′32″N 92°42′00″W.
Marshall is the county seat and its postal code is 72650. The county has two cities, four towns, one census-designated place and dozens of unincorporated communities; it keeps mountain time locally but observes Central Time like the rest of Arkansas. Searcy County is a dry county — the sale of alcohol is prohibited countywide.
Towns & Villages in Searcy County
Marshall and Leslie are incorporated cities; Big Flat, Gilbert, Pindall and St. Joe are incorporated towns; Witts Springs is a census-designated place (CDP). Everything else below is an unincorporated community — a crossroads, hollow or former post-office settlement with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | City · seat | — | 72650 |
| Leslie | City | — | 72645 |
| Big Flat | Town | — | — |
| Gilbert | Town | — | 72636 |
| Pindall | Town | — | 72669 |
| St. Joe | Town | — | 72675 |
| Witts Springs | CDP | — | 72686 |
| Baker | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Baker Hollow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barren Hollow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bear Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blanco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bohannon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Booster | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buroak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Campbell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Canaan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cozahome | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dongola | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Duff | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elberta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eula | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Evening Star | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harriet | Unincorp. | — | 72639 |
| Imo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kay | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Landis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lone Pine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Magic Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marsena | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Martin Box | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maumee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Morning Star | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Noahs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oxley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Point Peter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Push | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rock Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rumley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Silver Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Snowball | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thola | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tomahawk | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Watts | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Welcome Home | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wileys Cove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woolum | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zack | Unincorp. | — | — |
Big Flat is added above from the county’s official town roll; it did not appear on the old list. The duplicate “Witts Springs” entry on the old list is collapsed to one row here.
ZIP Codes
- 72650 — Marshall
- 72645 — Leslie
- 72675 — St. Joe
- 72639 — Harriet (also serves nearby hollow communities)
- 72669 — Pindall
- 72686 — Witts Springs
- 72636 — Gilbert
Big Flat and most of the small unincorporated communities scattered through the county’s hollows share the ZIP code of their nearest post-office town rather than carrying one of their own.
Geography
Searcy County sits in the rugged Ozark Mountains of north-central Arkansas. The Buffalo National River, the first river in the United States to carry that federal designation, flows along part of the county’s southern reaches, and the Ozark National Forest covers a large share of its land. Terrain is steep and heavily wooded, with narrow hollows draining toward the Buffalo and the Little Red River’s headwaters. The county borders Marion County to the north, Baxter County to the northeast, Stone County to the east, Van Buren County to the south, Pope County to the southwest, Newton County to the west and Boone County to the northwest.
Demographics
Searcy County’s population was 7,828 at the 2020 census. Marshall and Leslie are its two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs well below the Arkansas median of $58,700, reflecting its rural, mountainous economy with limited industry. Population density works out to roughly 12 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, forestry and tourism anchor the local economy. Cattle and poultry farming remain common on the county’s hill farms, and outdoor recreation tied to the Buffalo National River and Ozark National Forest draws visitors for canoeing, hiking and hunting. Marshall serves as the county’s retail and government hub. Searcy County holds the trademarked title “Chocolate Roll Capital of the World,” awarded in 2012, and hosts an annual chocolate roll festival built around the local pastry.
History
Searcy County was formed on December 13, 1838, out of part of Marion County. It is named for Richard Searcy, the first clerk and judge of the Arkansas Territory. The county has never been home to the separately named city of Searcy, Arkansas, roughly 70 miles away in White County — a frequent point of confusion given the shared name. Searcy County was historically Republican-leaning even through the Democratic-dominated Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras in the South, a pattern often traced to its small enslaved population and hill-country soils unsuited to cotton.
Getting There
US Highway 65 runs north–south through the county via Marshall, linking it to Harrison to the north and Conway to the south. Arkansas Highways 14, 16, 27, 66, 74, 235, 333 and 377 connect the smaller communities.
- Harrison — 30 miles north
- Mountain View — 35 miles east
- Conway — 65 miles south
- Little Rock — 100 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Boone County Airport in Harrison; the closest larger hub is Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Searcy County?
It is in north-central Arkansas, in the Ozark Mountains along the Buffalo National River, about 100 miles northwest of Little Rock.
What is the population of Searcy County?
7,828 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Searcy County?
669 square miles (1,730 km2).
What is the county seat of Searcy County?
Marshall.
How many towns are in Searcy County?
Two cities (Marshall and Leslie), four towns (Big Flat, Gilbert, Pindall and St. Joe) and one census-designated place (Witts Springs), plus dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Searcy County?
72650 (Marshall), 72645 (Leslie), 72675 (St. Joe), 72639 (Harriet), 72669 (Pindall), 72686 (Witts Springs) and 72636 (Gilbert).
Is Searcy County a dry county?
Yes — the sale of alcohol is prohibited countywide, a designation the county has held since its founding era.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.