Description
Located in northeastern Arkansas, Craighead County has an area of 717 square miles and a population of 82,148 according to the 2000 census. The creation of Craighead County occurred February 19, 1859, in the Arkansas Legislative in Little Rock, Arkansas. Senator William A. Jones, representing St. Francis and Poinsett Counties, sponsored an Act to create a new county from parts of Greene, Mississippi and Poinsett Counties. One of the Senators opposed to the creation of a new county was Senator Thomas B. Craighead who represented Crittenden and Mississippi Counties. Senator Craighead did not want to lose a large part of Buffalo Island. The loss of rich farmland and revenue from his section were the main reasons for Craig head's non-support of the Act.