St. Francis County sits in the Arkansas Delta roughly halfway between Little Rock and Memphis, bisected by Crowley’s Ridge — a geological oddity that rises 300 feet above the surrounding flat alluvial plain, running north to south through the county and providing the high ground on which Forrest City was built. The county was formed on October 13, 1827, and is one of the oldest in Arkansas. With a population of 23,090 (2020 census), Forrest City is the county seat and largest city at approximately 13,015 residents, positioned on I-40 about 47 miles west of Memphis.
Agriculture (cotton, soybeans, rice) has been the economic backbone since the antebellum era. The Federal Correctional Complex Forrest City (two facilities) is a major employer. East Arkansas Community College provides workforce training. The county faces significant economic challenges, with roughly one-third of Forrest City residents below the poverty line. All evictions are filed in the 1st Judicial Circuit Court. St. Francis County is a wet county.
🎵 Al Green — Rock and Roll Hall of Fame R&B/gospel singer born in Forrest City; “Let’s Stay Together,” “Tired of Being Alone,” “Love and Happiness” |
🥊 Sonny Liston — Heavyweight boxing champion born in St. Francis County; knocked out Floyd Patterson twice (1962, 1963) to become undisputed heavyweight champion |
🎸 Charlie Rich & Don Kessinger — Charlie Rich (“The Silver Fox”; “The Most Beautiful Girl”; “Behind Closed Doors”) born in St. Francis County; Don Kessinger (Cubs/White Sox All-Star shortstop) from Forrest City |
🛤️ Named for Nathan Bedford Forrest — Only city in the world spelled with two R’s; founded as railroad construction camp by Confederate Gen. Forrest in 1866; courthouse built on the hill where his camp stood; county records famously stolen from Madison in a night raid in 1874
Federal Correctional Complex, agriculture, EACC, healthcare, retail, government
Court
1st Judicial Circuit
Rent Control
None
Alcohol
Wet county
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Notice to Vacate
Lease Violation
14-Day Notice to Cure or Quit
Month-to-Month Term.
30-Day Written Notice
Week-to-Week Term.
7-Day Written Notice
Eviction Filing
Unlawful Detainer / Complaint
Tenant Response Window
5 days after summons
Eviction Timeline
3–6 weeks typical
Security Deposit Cap
2 months rent (6+ unit landlords)
Deposit Return
60 days after termination
Statute
A.C.A. §§ 18-16-101; 18-17-101 et seq.
St. Francis County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Circuit Clerk & Filing
All evictions in St. Francis County are filed in the 1st Judicial Circuit Court. Circuit Clerk: Alan T. Smith — 313 S. Izard St., Suite 8, Forrest City, AR 72335; Phone: (870) 261-1724; Fax: (870) 261-1723. File the Unlawful Detainer complaint at the 1972 courthouse at 313 S. Izard Street after the required notice period expires. The courthouse sits on the hill that was Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s camp while overseeing railroad construction in 1866 — a fact commemorated by a historical marker on the courthouse lawn. The building is known for its large ceremonial seals in the foyer and courtrooms.
Rent Control
None. Arkansas preempts local rent control statewide. No city or county in Arkansas may impose rent control. Landlords throughout St. Francis County may raise rents freely at renewal or with 30 days’ written notice on month-to-month tenancies.
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (A.C.A. § 18-16-304). Applies to landlords renting six or more dwellings. Return with written itemized deductions within 60 days of termination (A.C.A. § 18-16-305).
Notice to Vacate — Nonpayment
Written 3-day notice to vacate required before filing for unlawful detainer for nonpayment. Best practice: wait until rent is at least 5 days past due before serving (A.C.A. § 18-17-901). Retain dated proof of service.
Lease Violation Notice
For non-rent violations, serve a written 14-day notice to cure or quit identifying the specific breach (A.C.A. § 18-17-701). If the tenant remedies the violation within 14 days, the tenancy continues.
Month-to-Month Termination
30-day written notice required to terminate a month-to-month tenancy (A.C.A. § 18-17-704). Week-to-week tenancies require 7-day written notice.
Federal Correctional Complex — Worker Screening
The Federal Correctional Complex Forrest City operates two facilities (medium security and low security) and is one of the largest employers in the county. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees are federal W-2 workers with stable, above-average compensation and generous benefits. Verify income with recent pay stubs and federal W-2 or most recent tax return. Federal employment is among the most stable income sources available; treat BOP employees like other institutional W-2 earners. Note that correctional officers may work rotating shifts and receive overtime pay; verify base vs. total income to avoid overqualifying based on unsustainable overtime.
Agricultural Workers — Delta Economy
St. Francis County’s agricultural economy (cotton, soybeans, rice) involves farm operators, hired hands, equipment operators, and agribusiness employees. Farm operator income: verify with Schedule F tax returns and/or bank statements (12 months). Seasonal hired agricultural workers: verify income over a full year to account for seasonal fluctuations. Agribusiness corporate employees (grain elevators, co-ops, chemical dealers): typically W-2, stable.
High Poverty Rate — Income Verification
St. Francis County and Forrest City have high poverty rates (approximately one-third of Forrest City residents fall below the poverty line). Landlords should apply thorough, consistent income verification across all applicants regardless of applicant demographics — the Fair Housing Act prohibits race-based screening. Use documented income ratios (e.g., rent should not exceed 30–33% of gross monthly income) applied evenly. Accept all lawful income sources including government assistance where permitted.
No Warranty of Habitability (Default)
Arkansas does not impose a general implied warranty of habitability by default. Leases executed after October 2021 carry some statutory habitability protections unless waived in writing. Tenants have no repair-and-deduct remedy under Arkansas law.
Abandoned Property
Personal property remaining after lease termination is deemed abandoned and may be disposed of by the landlord (A.C.A. § 18-16-108). Document with timestamped photos and video before disposal.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited. Do not attempt lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removal of belongings without a court order. Use the lawful judicial process through the 1st Judicial Circuit Court in Forrest City.
Late Fees & NSF Checks
No statutory cap on late fees in Arkansas. Specify amount and grace period in writing in the lease. For returned checks: $30 per check plus bank fees (A.C.A. § 5-37-307(c)(2)(B)).
Notice Type3-Day Notice to Quit (Civil unlawful detainer) / 10-Day Notice (Criminal failure to vacate)
Notice Period3 days
Tenant Can Cure?No - 3-day civil notice is unconditional quit; tenant must vacate (landlord not required to accept late rent)
Days to Hearing5-15 days
Days to Writ1-5 days
Total Estimated Timeline15-30 days
Total Estimated Cost$100-$350
⚠️ Watch Out
Arkansas historically had a criminal eviction statute allowing landlords to charge tenants with a misdemeanor for failure to vacate. This was struck down in 2023 but some counties still reference it. Civil unlawful detainer is now the primary path.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Circuit Court (or District Court with concurrent jurisdiction). Pay the filing fee (~$65-165).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Arkansas eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Arkansas attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
St. Francis County market: 1st Judicial Circuit; Circuit Clerk Alan T. Smith, 313 S. Izard St., Suite 8, Forrest City, (870) 261-1724. Wet county. Federal Correctional Complex workers: federal W-2, very stable; verify base pay vs. overtime in computing qualifying income. Agricultural workers: verify full-year income (Schedule F or 12 months bank statements). High poverty rate in Forrest City: use consistent, documented income ratio criteria applied evenly to all applicants; Fair Housing Act prohibits race-based screening. EACC staff: stable W-2.
Arkansas key rules: 3-day notice (nonpayment), 14-day cure (violations), 30-day M-to-M termination, no rent control, 60-day deposit return, 2-month cap (6+ unit landlords), no habitability warranty by default, no repair-and-deduct.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
St. Francis County Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law: Forrest City, Al Green, Sonny Liston, Crowley’s Ridge, and What Every Landlord Needs to Know
St. Francis County, formed on October 13, 1827, from a portion of Phillips County, is one of the oldest counties in Arkansas and sits in the heart of the Arkansas Delta. Its defining geographic feature is Crowley’s Ridge — a narrow, north-south running geological phenomenon that rises some 300 feet above the flat Mississippi alluvial plain on either side of it, creating the only significant elevated terrain in the eastern Arkansas Delta. The county seat, Forrest City, was built on this ridge, and that elevation has protected it repeatedly from the floods that have devastated the flat farmland on either side throughout the county’s history.
Forrest City: Named for the Railroad, Named for the General
Forrest City is the only city in the world named for Nathan Bedford Forrest that is spelled with two R’s. The name reflects the city’s origin: in 1866, Confederate General Forrest secured a railroad construction contract from the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad and established a commissary camp on the west side of Crowley’s Ridge with approximately 1,000 Irish laborers. The camp grew into a town, which was platted on March 1, 1869. In 1874, Forrest City became the county seat — in a manner that now qualifies as one of the more colorful episodes in Arkansas government history. When citizens voted to move the county seat from Madison to Forrest City, Madison’s residents refused to surrender the county records. A group of Forrest City citizens resolved the impasse by traveling to Madison at night and stealing the safe containing the records. The 1972 courthouse now stands on the hill where Forrest’s camp once sat, a fact commemorated by a historical marker on the courthouse lawn.
Al Green, Sonny Liston, and Charlie Rich
St. Francis County has produced an remarkable roster of musicians and athletes. Al Green — the R&B and gospel singer whose catalog includes “Let’s Stay Together,” “Tired of Being Alone,” and “Love and Happiness” — was born in Forrest City and is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Charlie Rich, known as “The Silver Fox,” whose “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Most Beautiful Girl” topped the charts in the 1970s, was born in St. Francis County. Sonny Liston, the intimidating heavyweight boxing champion who knocked out Floyd Patterson twice in 1962 and 1963 to claim the undisputed heavyweight title, was born in St. Francis County. Don Kessinger, the six-time All-Star shortstop for the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, was born in Forrest City. Scott Bond, who was born into slavery in St. Francis County and rose to become one of the wealthiest individuals in Arkansas during his lifetime through agriculture and business, represents one of the most remarkable stories of post-emancipation achievement in the state’s history.
Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law in St. Francis County
All residential rental relationships in St. Francis County are governed by statewide Arkansas law. There is no local rent control anywhere in Arkansas. For nonpayment, 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 Alan T. Smith, 313 S. Izard St., Suite 8, Forrest City, AR 72335, (870) 261-1724. For lease violations, serve a 14-day notice to cure. Month-to-month tenancies require 30 days’ written notice to terminate. Security deposits are capped at two months’ rent for landlords with six or more units, returned with written 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.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, and other protected classes; apply all screening criteria consistently. Consult a licensed Arkansas attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: March 2026.
