Ouachita County

US States / A-G / Arkansas / Ouachita County
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Ouachita County is named for the Ouachita River which name derived from the Choctaw words “owa” meaning “hunt” and “chito” meaning “big” and means “big hunt”.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Clark County and Dallas County

E – Calhoun County

S – Union County and Columbia County 

W – Columbia County and Nevada County

 

Created:   November 9, 1842                 Map of Arkansas highlighting Ouachita County

County Seat:        

Camden  1842 – present

 

County Courthouse – Camden

 

Location:  145 Scott Alley SW / Jefferson Street SW

Built:  1932 – 1933

Style:  Classical Revival and Art Deco

Architect:   Thomas Harding III

Contractor:  William Peterson of a Little Rock

 

Description:  The building faces north and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Camden. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Camden. The building is “T” shaped. The north front has two columns at the central entrance on the first story rising to a small balcony on the second story. The second story has a large double window. There are large double windows on the first and second stories. On the center of the roof is a square white colored clock tower with dome. The building has east and west wings. The roof line is flat. In the interior, there are two courtrooms, both located on the second floor. The appearance of the circuit courtroom is unconventional, as the bar, the jury seats, the witness chair, and the attorneys are all arranged in a semi-circle surrounding the judge. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial District. The building was renovated in 2002. The architect was Don Renshaw and Larry Rogers.

 

See:  National Register of Historic Pl;aces – Ouachita County Courthouse

 

See:  The 13th Judicial District includes Calhoun County, Cleveland CountyColumbia County, Dallas County and Union County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1842 and Camden was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in 1842. The second courthouse was designed by Thomas Harding II in 1889 and was flatten by a tornado in 1931. The cost of construction of the third and present courthouse in 1932 to 1933 was $46,050.

 

 

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County Courthouse – Camden

 

 

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Photos taken 2011 and 2019