April 16, 1873, the legislature created Lonoke County by taking land from Pulaski and Prairie counties, making it the seventy-first county in Arkansas. Lonoke was designated as the county seat. Lonoke was named by a railroad surveyor that used a massive red oak tree as a landmark. The final boundaries of Lonoke were realized in 1882. The boundary change added 100 square miles to the county, resulting in the addition of the town of Carlisle. The first officials of Lonoke County, appointed by the Governor were: Judge E.L. Beard, Sheriff J.M. McClintock, County Clerk George M. Chapline and Treasurer Anderson M. Russell.
There have been three Courthouses in Lonoke County. In 1873, William Goodrum executed a deed for property for the consideration of $2,000. This property was to be used for the grounds of the first courthouse, located in Brownsville community. The first courthouse was formerly used as Prairie County's Courthouse and was torn down, moved, and rebuilt on the Goodrum lot. This two-story frame building burned in 1881.
The second Courthouse was built in 1885 for $15,000. This second courthouse was a two-story brick structure with two halls, five offices, a fireproof vault, a courtroom, offices on the second floor and a clock tower. This courthouse was torn down to build a larger one.
The third and present courthouse was built in 1928 at a cost of $200,000. The building is a rectangular, four-story structure with an exterior of red brick, white stone trim and an entrance portico of white columns. The interior of this courthouse still features marble, original tile floors and some of the original lighting fixtures. Dedication Day for the new Courthouse was set for May 14, 1928. A full day's activities included a parade, singing from local groups, a picnic, a speech from Lonoke countian, Joe T. Robinson, who was running for Vice President of the United States, and the long-awaited opening of the old cornerstone. The Courthouse was put on the National Register of Historical Places by the U.S. Dept. of Interior June 8, 1982.
Lonoke County has had four men from its midst serve as Governor of Arkansas. James P. Eagle served from 1889 to 1893; Joe T. Robinson served from 1912 to 1913; W.K. Oldham served in 1913 until the legislature adjourned, after Robinson had resigned; John E. Martineau served from 1927 to 1928, when he resigned to become a Federal District Court Judge in eastern Arkansas. Joe T. Robinson also served a total of ten years in the U. S. Congress and twenty-four years in the U.S. Senate.
Lonoke County is still primarily an agricultural county. Areas of interest are the Joe Hogan Fish Hatchery, the Smoke Hole Natural Area, Toltec Mounds State Park, and Camp Nelson Confederate Cemetery.
