Hempstead County - American Courthouses

Hempstead County is named for Edward Hempstead, who was a Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Missouri Territory.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Pike County

E – Nevada County

S – Lafayette County

W – Miller County, Little River County, Sevier County and Howard County

Created: December 15, 1818

County Seat:

Washington 1824 – 1938

Hope 1938 – present

County Courthouse – Hope

Location: 200 East 3rd Street / South Hazel Street

Built: 2001 – 2003 / 2020 – 2022

Style: Colonial Revival

Architect: NewGround Resources of Clayton, Missouri

Contractor: NewGround Resources of Clayton, Missouri

Description: The building faces southeast and is a three story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Hope. On each side of the building are large porticos with four high white colored columns, balcony on the second story and pediment the roof line, The corners are trimmed and horizontal belts run below the second story, third story and roof line. On the center of the roof is a white colored cupola. The roof is hipped. In the interior there is a rotunda extending up to the third story. There are two County Circuit Court courtrooms located on the north and south sides of the third story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the North 8th Judicial District and the County District Court of the 38th Judicial District. The building was formerly the National Bank Building and acquired by Farmer Bank & Trust.

Note: In 2017 the county purchased the building from the Farmers Bank and Trust for $1,500,000.

See: The 8th Judicial Circuit includes Lafayette County, Miller County and Nevada County.

Old County Courthouse – Hope

Location: 400 South Washington Street / West 5th Street

Built: 1939 – 1940

Style: Art Deco

Architect: McAninch & Anderson

Contractor: B W Edwards

Description: The building faces east and is a five story buff colored brick and reinforced concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Hope. The east front has a central projecting entrance framed with concrete friezes. Above the second story, the building is recessed with vertical brick dividers between the vertical windows. There are four molded panels depicting Construction, Mining, Medicine, Justice, Munitions, Electricity, Farming and Brickmaking. The roof line is flat. There are two story north and south wings. The interior has earth-tone tile floors, polished stone dados and staircase framed by Art Deco-style arches. The former main courtroom was located on the east side of the third story. In 1994 an addition was added on the north side. The architect was Wittenberg, Deloney and Davidson and the contractor was Ideal Construction Company. In 2012 the addition was expanded. The roof was replaced in 2024. The contractor was Wagner General Contractors, Inc.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Hempstead County Courthouse

Old County Courthouse – Washington

Location: Franklin Street / Henry Clay Street

Built: 1836

Style: Federal

Architect: Tilman L Patterson

Contractor: Tilman L Patterson

Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story white colored wood frame structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds of the Washington Courthouse State Park. The courtroom is on the first story. The building was restored in 1930. The architect was J N Porter and the contractor was A P Bailey. The Clerk’s Office on the northwest was built by Daniel E Alexander in 1839 and is located on the property.

Note: The building was used as the Confederate State Capitol after Little Rock in Pulaski County fell to Union forces in 1863. The courthouse is the oldest former courthouse in Arkansas that is still standing.

Old County Courthouse – Washington

Location: 103 Franklin Street / Morrison Street

Built: 1872 – 1874

Style: Italianate

Architect: Green & Son of Little Rock

Contractor: Ezekial Treadway

Description: The building faces northeast and is a two story dark red colored brick and wood structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Washington Courthouse State Park. The northeast front has a slightly projecting center section with entrance on the first story. On the roof is a square cupola. The building served as a courthouse until 1939.

History: The county was created in 1818 and Washington was selected as the county seat in 1824 when the county was organized. The first courthouse was a one room building built by Tilman L Patterson, The first courthouse was a two story wood frame structure built in Washington in 1836 at a cost of $1,850 and is still standing. The second courthouse was a two story brick structure built in 1872 at a cost of $21,454 and is still standing. The county seat was moved to Hope in 1939 and the third and present courthouse was constructed.

Note: Hempstead County was one of the five original administrative districts created in 1809 to 1819 being Arkansas County, Clark County, Lawrence County and Pulaski County.