(1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the venue of civil actions instituted under this subchapter shall be as in like actions instituted in the circuit courts.
(2) If a small claims division of the district court is established pursuant to Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, § 7, venue in civil actions instituted in the small claims division shall be as follows: When a defendant has contracted to perform an obligation in a particular county, an action based on that obligation may be commenced and maintained either in the county where the obligation is to be performed or in the county in which the defendant resides at the commencement of the action;
(3) When the action is for injury to person or to personal property, either the county where the injury occurred or the county where the defendant resides at the commencement of the action shall be the proper venue; and
(4) In all other cases, actions shall be commenced and maintained in the county in which the defendant resides.