Randolph County Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law: Five Rivers, Arkansas’s Oldest Town, the 1872 Victorian Courthouse, and What Every Landlord Needs to Know
Randolph County holds a geographic distinction shared by no other county in Arkansas: five rivers flow through its 656 square miles. The Black, Current, Spring, Fourche, and Eleven Point rivers collectively defined the county’s settlement patterns, its economy, its Civil War history, and its character today as a recreational destination in the northeastern corner of the state. Named for John Randolph of Virginia, the U.S. senator whose advocacy was influential in securing congressional approval of the Louisiana Purchase — the territory that would eventually include modern Randolph County — the county was created on October 29, 1835, when Bettis Bluff was renamed Pocahontas and designated as the county seat.
Davidsonville: Arkansas’s First Town
Long before Pocahontas existed, Davidsonville was the center of civilization in what is now Randolph County. Established in 1815 near the confluence of the Spring and Eleven Point rivers, Davidsonville was Arkansas’s first incorporated town, home to the state’s first post office (1817) and its first courthouse (1818). The first actual term of court convened in Arkansas was held in this part of what was then Lawrence County. By 1829, Davidsonville had declined as the Southwest Trail shifted to a more favorable route and settlers followed it westward; the town was effectively abandoned. Today, Davidsonville Historic State Park preserves and interprets the site. Nearby, the Rice-Upshaw House is recognized as the oldest standing structure in Arkansas. These facts give Randolph County a claim on early Arkansas history that few other counties can match.
The 1872 Victorian Courthouse and the Barker-Karpis Gang
The Randolph County Courthouse, built in 1872 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the most visually distinctive courthouses in Arkansas. Its Victorian Italianate architecture is complemented by three large oil paintings in the foyer depicting three scenes from Arkansas history: Native Americans, the Civil War, and road building — the latter featuring an old Studebaker wagon. The courthouse faces a sunken garden with benches, lampposts, and landscaped shrubs, approached by imposing steps 48 feet wide. A large aluminum seal of the State of Arkansas hangs over the main entry door behind square fluted concrete columns. This is where landlords file evictions for Randolph County properties.
Pocahontas’s most notorious historical footnote involves the Barker-Karpis Gang, which committed its first known murder here in 1931, when night marshal Manley Jackson was killed. The gang would go on to become one of the most wanted criminal organizations in Depression-era America before being dismantled by the FBI. Earlier, in 1901, the town’s racial and legal tensions erupted when George Shivery, accused of murdering a city marshal, was hanged by a mob outside the bounds of law.
Thomas S. Drew, Arkansas’s Third Governor
Thomas Stephenson Drew arrived in what would become Randolph County in the late 1820s, married Cinderella Bettis — daughter of the county’s earliest settler, Ransom Bettis — and became instrumental in the founding of Pocahontas as the county seat. He served as Lawrence County judge from 1832 to 1835 and went on to become Arkansas’s third governor (1844–1848). Drew died in Lipan, Texas, but was reburied in the Masonic Cemetery in Pocahontas in 1923, with more than 5,000 people attending the ceremony. The county’s Civil War years saw Camp Shaver in Pocahontas serve as the Confederate headquarters for forces west of the Mississippi River during the early stages of the war, until Union operations on the rivers shifted control.
Flood Risk and the Black River
For Randolph County landlords, the Black River is both an economic and natural asset and a genuine risk factor. Major flooding struck the county in spring 2011 as part of the broader eastern Arkansas flood event. In spring 2017, heavy rains filled the rivers around Pocahontas and the Black River levee failed, spilling water into the lower-lying eastern sections of the city and triggering a mandatory evacuation order. Properties near the Black River or in the eastern, Delta-facing portions of the county warrant careful attention to FEMA flood zone maps. Require renter’s insurance for tenants in these areas, and be prepared to disclose documented flood history to prospective tenants as part of responsible leasing practice.
Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law in Randolph County
All residential rental relationships in Randolph County are governed by statewide Arkansas law. There is no local rent control — state law preempts any county or municipal rent control ordinance. For nonpayment of rent, serve a 3-day written notice to vacate after rent is at least 5 days past due, then file an Unlawful Detainer complaint with Circuit Clerk Debbie Wise at 107 W. Broadway St., Pocahontas, AR 72455, (870) 892-5522. For lease violations, serve a 14-day notice to cure. Month-to-month tenancies require 30 days’ written notice to terminate; week-to-week require 7 days. Security deposits are capped at two months’ rent for landlords with six or more units, returned with itemized deductions within 60 days. No implied warranty of habitability by default; no repair-and-deduct remedy; self-help evictions are prohibited.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Arkansas attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
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