History of Phillips County

Phillips County was organized in accordance with an act of the legislature of Arkansas Territory, approximately May 01, 1820.  It then included a large amount of territory lying north of its present limits, which has since been organized into several counties.  The county was named in honor of Sylvanus Phillips, a pioneer settler, and one of the original proprietors of the site of the present city of Helena.  Soon after the county was organized, the seat of justice thereof was located at this place, and about the year 1821, Nicholas Rightor, an early settler and Government surveyor, surveyed and laid out land belonging to Sylvanus Phillips and William Russell.  Sylvanus’ land was named Helena, in honor of Helena Phillips, daughter of Sylvanus Phillips.