Benton Genealogy Records

Benton genealogy records are held at the Saline County courthouse, which is located in Benton as the county seat, with records going back to 1836 and an online marriage search available through the county clerk's website.

Saline County Courthouse Records

Benton is the county seat of Saline County. The Saline County Clerk's office is at 200 N. Main Street, Suite 117, Benton, AR 72015, hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Clerk holds marriage records from 1836 and probate records from 1836. Saline County was formed in 1835 from Independence and Pulaski counties. An online marriage license search is available through the county clerk's website, making Saline County one of the easier Arkansas counties for initial marriage record searches.

Pre-1835 records for the Benton area are in Independence County at Batesville and Pulaski County at Little Rock. Saline County's record base runs continuously from 1836, giving researchers a near-complete documentary chain for families in the Benton area from the mid-1830s forward. The county is adjacent to Pulaski County and has grown as part of the Little Rock metro area, but its founding families were established in the 1830s and 1840s and are well-documented in the courthouse records.

The Benton City Clerk at City Hall holds city records including ordinances and historical documents.


The Benton City Clerk maintains city records. Saline County genealogy records are at the courthouse at 200 N. Main Street.

Local Archives and Libraries

The Saline County courthouse in Benton is the central repository for all county genealogy records, including the marriage record index available online.


The Saline County courthouse holds marriage records from 1836, probate records from 1836, and an online marriage search through the county clerk's website.

The Saline County Library at 1800 Smithers Drive, Benton, AR 72015, holds a local history collection and genealogy resources including online database access. The Saline County History and Heritage Society maintains historical archives, photographs, and publications covering the county's history since its formation in 1835. The Gann Museum of Saline County in Benton holds historical artifacts and local history exhibits that provide context for genealogical research in this area.

The Arkansas Department of Health holds birth and death records from 1914. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds Confederate pension files and microfilmed county materials for Saline County. Federal records are at the National Archives at Fort Worth, 501 W Felix Street, Fort Worth, TX 76115, phone (817) 831-5620.

Nearby Cities

Cities near Benton with genealogy pages include Little Rock, North Little Rock, Bryant, Maumelle, Conway, and Jacksonville. Bryant is also in Saline County and uses this courthouse. Little Rock is the Pulaski County seat to the northeast, which is one of the parent counties for Saline County.