Established in 1833 from Crawford and Pope Counties, Scott County is located on the west central border of Arkansas in the Ouachita Mountain region. The area is mountainous, interspersed with expansive valleys. Waldron and portions of Mansfield are the primary towns, with Waldron serving as County Seat. Major communities include Abbott, Bates, Blue Ball, Boles, Cauthron, Cedar Creek, Harvey, Hon, Nola, Parks, Union Hill, Winfield, and Y City.
The county's largest employer is the poultry industry with a Tyson Foods production plant located in Waldron. O.K. Foods also employs a number of people in the raising of chickens. With large chain establishments moving into the area, a lot of Waldron's business takes place on the Highway 71 bypass, but with the installation of street lamps, a conservation easement, and renovations to the historic former courthouse, efforts are being made to revitalize the downtown area. Popular attractions include the Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival, bringing thousands of people from throughout the country to the area, and Blythe's Museum, featuring artifacts of Native American villages as well as documenting the history of west-central Arkansas. Lake Hinkle, a 960-acre lake constructed by the Arkansas Game And Fish Commission, also provides recreational opportunities. Also of note is the Ouachita National Forest area.