April 16, 1873

Governor Elisha Baxter signed the act creating Lonoke County from the parent counties Prairie and Pulaski. Lonoke received its name from a “lone oak” tree standing on the site of the present county seat (also called Lonoke). George P. C. Rumbough used the tree as a landmark while surveying for the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad. The county and its seat of government having the same name distinguishes Lonoke County from the other counties in the state.