Saline County Arkansas Landlord-Tenant Law: Bauxite, Bedroom Communities, Burt Reynolds, Billy Bob Thornton, and What Every Landlord Needs to Know
Saline County sits at the geographic heart of Arkansas, 20 minutes southwest of Little Rock on I-30, and its story over the past century has been one of continuous economic reinvention. The county was named for the brine springs found in the area and formed on November 2, 1835. Its county seat, Benton, was named after Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, a fierce advocate for westward expansion. The town’s original plat — and the land for its first courthouse — was donated in 1836 by William Woodruff, editor of the Arkansas Gazette, who gave 120 acres to the county and used the proceeds from the surplus land sale to fund the courthouse’s construction.
Bauxite: Arkansas’s Industrial Transformation
In 1887, state geologist John C. Branner discovered an unusual reddish ore near Hurricane Creek in Saline County — a road crew was using it to surface a new road. The mineral turned out to be bauxite, the primary ore used to produce aluminum, and the deposit was the largest ever found in the United States. At its peak, Arkansas produced 97 percent of the entire country’s bauxite supply, and most of that came from Saline County. Company-owned towns — including the incorporated town of Bauxite — were built to house workers for Alcoa and Reynolds Metal. The mines were absolutely critical to the American war effort in both World War I and World War II, supplying the aluminum needed for aircraft and ordnance. Mining operations wound down by 1990 as companies shifted to cheaper overseas sources, and the Reynolds plant was dismantled. The Alcoa plant continues to process ore shipped in by rail. A New Deal-era mural depicting bauxite miners, painted in 1942 by San Antonio artist Julius Woeltz, hangs inside the 1902 courthouse.
The 1902 Courthouse: On Film and On the Register
The Saline County Courthouse at 200 North Main Street is the third courthouse to occupy the square, completed in 1902 at a cost of $32,000 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Architect Charles L. Thompson designed it in the Romanesque Revival style — an uncommon choice for Arkansas — featuring a four-story clock tower at one corner, three smaller towers at the others, dentillated cornices, and rounded arch entrances. It gained national exposure when the 1973 Burt Reynolds film White Lightning used the courthouse as a backdrop, with many local residents serving as extras. Billy Bob Thornton later filmed portions of his Oscar-winning Sling Blade (1996) in Saline County as well. This is where all Saline County eviction filings are made.
The Fastest-Growing County in Central Arkansas
Since the 1950s, Saline County’s population has more than quadrupled as it has evolved into the primary bedroom community for Little Rock. Interstate 30 runs directly through Bryant and Benton, providing a fast commute to the state capital and all of Pulaski County’s employers. Between 2010 and 2020, Saline County gained more than 16,000 residents — the strongest growth of any county in the central Arkansas Metroplan region. Bryant alone grew by 26% during the decade, and its school enrollment now surpasses that of the county seat, Benton. The annual Benton–Bryant high school football rivalry, the Salt Bowl, has become one of the most attended high school sporting events in Arkansas, drawing more than 20,000 fans to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Landlord-Tenant Law in Saline County
All residential rental relationships in Saline County are governed by statewide Arkansas law. There is no local rent control anywhere in Arkansas — state law preempts any county or municipal ordinance attempting to impose it. 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 Myka Bono Sample, 200 N. Main Street, Suite 113, Benton, AR 72015, (501) 303-5615. 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.
Note: Saline County voted to allow alcohol sales in November 2014. Landlords with older lease templates that reference the county’s formerly dry status should update those documents to reflect current law.
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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