At the close of the year 1825, the then Territory of Arkansas consisted of the counties of Arkansas, Conway, Chicot, Crawford, Crittenden, Hempstead, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Miller, Pulaski and Phillips. Conway had been erected as recently as October 25 of that year. Lovely County was erected October 13, 1827, and was abolished October 17, 1828. Five days later part of the Indian purchase was added to Conway County. More than a year after the wiping out of Lovely County, Pope County was formed principally from Conway. An old record book of deeds containing the evidence of real estate transactions in Lovely County, in 1828, is among the curiosities of the Pope County clerk's office. Pope County was erected November 2, 1829.

In 1840, Yell County was formed out of Pope, by making the Arkansas River the line from the month of Petit Jean up to the crossing of the Miltary Road at the Dardanelle Rock; thence to the point of Magazine Mountain; thence with said mountain westward; and not until 1853 did Pope County relinquish to Yell all her lands south of the River. This concession was made under an act of Legislature passed January 5, 1853. Part of Conway County was attached to Pope January 6, 1853. The line between Pope and Newton Counties was defined January 10, 1853. Part of Van Buren County was attached to Pope January 12, 1853. The line between Pope and Van Buren Counties was defined February 17, 1859; the line between Pope and Johnson Counties, October 19, 1859, and March 27, 1871. The line between Pope and Conway Counties was defined May 28, 1874. The line between Pope and Johnson Counties was re-established March 6, 1875, and changed March 9, 1877.