Local Wiki · State overview
Local Government in Arkansas
How local government works in Arkansas, the kinds of local government it has, and where to look for more. For your own county or city, browse Arkansas’s Local Wiki pages below.
All 75 Arkansas counties have two distinct elected components: a legislative "quorum court" of justices of the peace, and a separately elected County Judge who acts as chief executive — implementing quorum court decisions and running county operations — but does not vote in the quorum court. The judge can veto quorum court actions, though a three-fifths vote can override it. For a public meeting, check the quorum court's schedule (state law requires at least monthly meetings); for executive-branch or records matters, the County Judge's office is typically the contact.
Most states fuse legislative and executive power into one small elected commission with no separate strong executive; Arkansas instead separately elects a county executive with independent authority, including a vote-overridable veto, apart from its legislative body.
Local government in Arkansas
- County governments75
The main local government across most of the state.
Browse county pages - Cities, towns & villages500
Incorporated municipalities with their own elected council or board.
Browse city & town pages - School districts234
Independent school districts with their own elected boards. Listed on county pages where known.
- Special districts741
Single-purpose governments — fire, water, library, parks, housing, transit, and more.
Counts: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Units listing. A consolidated city-county is counted once.
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