Poinsett County, the thirty-ninth county created, was formed February 27, 1838.

It was named for Joel R. Poinsett from South Carolina. He was the Secretary of War under President Van Buren. Poinsett was also a scientist and a botanist who is said to have introduced the favorite Christmas flower to American horticulture. It was named "poinsettia" in his honor.

A brick courthouse was built in there in 1858. This courthouse was 50 feet square and two stories high. The cost to build it was $8,800.00. The courthouse was at the center of business and society. The space in the courthouse was only needed part of the time for county business. Unused rooms functioned at various times as: a school, a church, real estate offices and even newspapers were published in the courthouse. The interior of this brick courthouse burned in 1873 destroying all county records.

A boarding house and church served as a temporary courthouse for over a year until the structure was rebuilt by the same contractor - using the same walls. This time a vault was built to protect county records.

This courthouse was used until 1917 when it was totally destroyed by another fire. This time only one record book was destroyed.

The present courthouse was built on the same site in 1918 costing $200,000. It is one of the prettiest in the state of Arkansas and is registered as an historic landmark.

The Courthouse is currently undergoing renovations to the heating/air conditioning and electrical systems. The Courtroom has been renovated to repair water damage caused by a leaking roof and to return it to its original grandeur.

Poinsett County is located in the northeastern section of the state. It is bounded on the north by Craighead County; on the east by Mississippi County; on the south by Crittenden and Cross County and on the west by Jackson County. Its area is 756 square miles. Running north and south through the center is Crowley's Ridge, a unique geological phenomenon. East and west of this highland are level fertile valleys and prairies where cotton, rice, milo, wheat, corn and soybean farming is carried on successfully. Cattle is also very popular in this area.