Little River County - American Courthouses

Little River County is named for the Little River which flows southeasterly through the county.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Sevier County

E – Sevier County and Hempstead County

S – Miller County and Bowie County, Texas

W – McCurtain County, Oklahoma

Created: March 5, 1867

County Seat:

Alleene 1867 – 1868

Rocky Comfort 1868 – 1880-

Richmond 1880 – 1902

Rocky Comfort 1902 – 1906

Ashdown 1906 – present

County Courthouse – Ashdown

Location: 351 2nd Street / West Main Street

Built: 1907 – 1908

Style: Beaux Arts

Architect: Sidney Stewart

Contractor: R S O’Neal

Description: The building faces northeast and is a two story red colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Ashdown. The northeast front of the square shaped building has a large projecting portico with two high white colored columns rising to the top of the second story with a parapet above. The entrance is recessed. On the center of the roof is a large octagonal gold colored dome. A wide white colored cornice runs below the hipped roof line. In the interior, the plaster walls are painted a cream color and the woodwork is painted a light mint color. Hallways crisscross on the first story with stairs at each end of the main hall. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the second story. Windows under the dome in the center of the ceiling provide natural light in the courtroom. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the West 9th Judicial Circuit and the County District Court of the 36th Judicial Circuit. On the southwest is a one story red colored brick and concrete County Jail and Courts Building constructed in 1973 to 1974 and attached to the courthouse. The architect was Reinheimer-Cox-Crumpton & Associates and the contractor was M L James Construction Company.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Little River County Courthouse

See: The 9th Judicial Circuit includes Clark County, Howard County, Pike County and Sevier County.

County Courtroom Building – Ashdown

Location: 2115 North Constitution Avenue / North Kaylee Drive

Built: 2023 – 2024

Style: Modern

Architect: Bailey Architecture of Texarkana

Contractor: Ideal Construction Company of Texarkana

Description: The building faces east and is a one story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds on the south side of the County Detention Center to the north of the center of Ashdown. The east front has a central entrance and the roof line is flat. The building has a County District Court courtroom.

History: The county was created in 1867 and Alleene was selected as the county seat. The county officers met at the home of William Freeman at Foreman. In 1868, the county seat was moved to Rocky Comfort and the court met in various buildings. In 1880, the county seat was moved to Richmond and the first courthouse was built. The courthouse burned in 1882 and the school house and vacant buildings were used until the second courthouse was built soon after. The county seat was moved back to Rocky Comfort ( Foreman ) in 1902 and then to Ashdown in 1907 where the third and present courthouse was constructed in 1907. The County Courtroom Building was constructed in 2023 to 2024.