Hempstead County Courthouse (2022--Present)
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
On December 20, 2017, Hempstead County signed a purchase agreement with Farmers Bank and Trust to purchase their bank building in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building would become the new courthouse of the county. The building went through extensive renovations and the grand opening of the courthouse was celebrated on May 19, 2022.
Images
Hempstead County Courthouse (2022)
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Due to many repairs and maintenance of the 1939 Hempstead County Courthouse, it was regularly discussed across the county that a new courthouse was needed to meet the needs of Hempstead County.
In 2017 Farmers Bank and Trust offered a three story bank building in downtown Hope for purchase to Hempstead County to be used as a new courthouse. On December 20, 2017, Hempstead County signed a purchase agreement with Farmers Bank and Trust to purchase their bank building in downtown Hope, Arkansas for $1.5 million dollars.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2020, a 1% sales tax increase was approved by citizens of Hempstead County in a special election that would last for two years. The additional funds from the tax would go to support the renovations of the bank building to be suitable for use as a courthouse building.
The building went through extensive renovations and the grand opening of the courthouse was celebrated on May 19, 2022.