Within the borders of Arkansas, there are a number of distinctive geographical regions, such as the Ouachita Mountains, Crowley’s Ridge, and the Delta. While these regions are based on natural features such as topography and soils, man has imposed artificial political boundaries to create states and counties. Certainly some of those boundaries are natural as well as political, such as lines established by creeks and rivers.

Political or civil boundaries create frameworks within which citizens interact with the various levels of government. In the early days, ordinary individuals had limited contact with government, and for most, nearly all of that contact was at the county level. Leaders believed citizens should be within “a day’s ride” of their courthouse. Divisions within the county are known as townships and have been established by the County Court. They have been named for people, places, landmarks, or other things at the discretion of the Court. Township names can be especially significant for those interested in genealogy and local history since federal census records divide data by those political divisions. To view a map of Hot Spring County townships as of 1930, visit digitalheritage.arkansas.gov

The book, Arkansas Township Atlas: A History of the Minor Civil Divisions in Each Arkansas County, by Russell P. Baker, formerly of the Arkansas State Archives (known for over 100 years as the Arkansas History Commission), lists the following names of Hot Spring County townships that have existed through the years, along with their dates of establishment:

Alford Township:  Created at some time between 1910 and 1920 from parts of Antioch and Lone Hill townships.

Antioch Township: Created in 1853 and annexed to Garland County when that county was established in 1873. Another township by the same name was created between 1880 and 1890, then part of it went to Alford Township between 1910 and 1920.

Big Creek Township:  Created in 1858.

Bismarck Township: Created between 1880 and 1890, with part of it going to Montgomery Township between 1910 and 1920.

Brown Springs Township: Created from parts of Harrison and Ouachita townships in 1904.

Butterfield Township: Created in 1920 from parts of Fenter, Magnet Cove, and Saline townships.

Clear Creek Township: Created in 1842.

DeRoche Township: Created in 1873 from annexed parts of Clark and Montgomery counties, with part of it going to Montgomery Township between 1910 and 1920.

Fenter Township: Created prior to 1836, with part of it going to Magnet Cove Township in 1873, part to Midway between 1890 and 1900, part to Butterfield in 1902, and part of Miller annexed in 1907.

Gifford Township: Created between 1880 and 1890.

Harrison Township: Created between 1880 and 1890, with part going to Midway between 1890 and 1900, and then part to Brown Springs in 1904.

Henderson Township: Created between 1890 and 1900 from part of Valley Township.

Hot Springs Township: Created prior to 1836 and annexed to Garland County in 1873.

Lone Hill Township: Created between 1880 and 1890, with part going to Miller Township between 1890 and 1900.

Magnet Cove Township: Created in 1873 from part of Fenter Township, part went to Butterfield Township in 1902.

Midway Township: Created between 1890 and 1900 from parts of Fender, Harrison, and Ouachita townships.

Miller Township: Created between 1890 and 1900 from part of Lone Hill Township, part went to Fenter Township in 1907.

Montgomery Township: Created between 1910 and 1920 from Bismarck and DeRoche townships.

Ouachita Township: Created in 1852, with part going to Midway Township between 1890 and 1900 and part to Brown Springs Township in 1904.

Prairie Bayou Township: Created in 1846.

Saline Township: Created in 1844, with part going to Butterfield Township in 1902.

Union Township: Created in 1852 and annexed to Garland County in 1873.

Valley Township: Created in 1873 from annexed parts of Clark and Montgomery counties, with part going to Henderson Township sometime between 1890 and 1900.