Van Buren County was formed November 1833, from parts of Conway, Independence and Izard counties. The county was named for Martin Van Buren who was Vice President of the United States at that time, and Van Buren County was the 29th county of the State of Arkansas. The landscape of the county is rugged and mountainous in the north and rugged to rolling terrain in the south. Clinton is the county seat. The courthouse that has dimensions of only 100' x 43' is Arkansas's smallest courthouse in number of square feet of covered ground. The building was originally constructed under the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works program but was remodeled in 1973. The economic base is small industry, cattle farming and tourism. The beauty of the Ozark Mountain with its waterfalls, natural bridges, and underground caverns are unique. The nationally known "Natural Bridge of Arkansas" is 100 feet long, 50 feet high and 4 feet thick. The bridge was actually used as a roadway until after the turn of the century. The Gulf Mountain Wildlife Management Area lures the hunter, the stream fisherman, nature lover and camper. The Brock, the Driver Creek, and the Little Red River areas offer hunting and camping. The most populous area of the county is Fairfield Bay, with more than 4,000 people. Greers Ferry Lake's, 40,000 acres of water offers boating, skiing, swimming, fishing and hunting is a popular area with thousands of visitors each year. The popular Sugar Loaf Mountain is an uninhabited island refuge for plant and animal life. An award winning hiking trail winds its way from the water's edge to the mountain summit. Van Buren County is a unique place.

Cities in Van Buren County

Clinton  |  Damascus  |  Fairfield Bay  |  Shirley