Saint Francis County is named for the Saint Francis River which flows through the county and which is named for Saint Francis of Assisi the patron saint of the Franciscan order.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Cross County and Crittenden County
S – Lee County
W – Monroe County and Woodruff County
Created: October 13, 1827 
County Seat:
Franklin 1827 – 1840
Madison 1840 – 1855
Mt. Vernon 1855 – 1856
Madison 1856 – 1874
Forrest City 1874 – present
County Courthouse – Forrest City
Location: 313 South Izard Street / Court Avenue
Built: 1971 – 1972
Style: Modern
Architect: Cromwell, Neyland, Truemper, Mallett & Gatchell and Bob J Beaver of Forrest City
Contractor: Hatcher Construction Company
Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick, concrete and glass structure. The building sits on the side of a low hill to the south of the center of Forrest City. The west front has a high square red colored brick tower with clock. The central entrance is recessed with glass walls. The sections along the south part project from the main building and are one story. The north section is two stories. A wide white colored band runs along the flat roof line of the north and south sections. In the interior, the large County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the second story of the north section and the small courtroom is located on the first story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 1st Judicial Circuit. Behind the courthouse is the square red colored brick County District Court courthouse which faces south.
See: The 1st Judicial Circuit includes Cross County, Lee County, Monroe County, Phillips County and Woodruff County.
History: The county was created in 1827 and Franklin was selected as the county seat. The first court met at the home of William Strong and moved to Franklin. In 1840, the county seat was moved to Madison and in 1855 the first courthouse was built in Mt. Vernon which burned in 1856. The county seat was moved back to Madison until 1874 when a frame second courthouse was built in Forrest City. The courthouse burned and the third courthouse was a brick structure designed by Rickon & Thompson and built by C W Clark in 1897. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1971 to 1972.
County Courthouse – Forrest City
County Circuit Court small courtroom
County Circuit Court courtroom
Picture 1897 County Courthouse
Photos taken 2011, 2012 and 2018
Images 17*