Editing Bentonville, Arkansas

{{confused|Benton, Arkansas}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Bentonville
| official_name      = 
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | total_width            = 280
  | border                 = infobox
  | perrow                 = 1/2
  | caption_align   us       = center
  | image1                 = Central Avenue at night.jpg
  | alt1                   = Downtown Bentonville at night
  | caption1               = [[Downtown Bentonville]] at night
  | image2                 = Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art--2012-04-12.jpg
  | alt2                   = Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
  | caption2               = [[Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art]]
  | image3                 = Benton County Courthouse, Bentonville, Arkansas.jpg
  | alt3                   = Benton County Courthouse
  | caption3               = [[Benton County Courthouse (Arkansas)|Benton County Courthouse]]
}}
| image_seal         = 
| image_flag         = Benton City AR Flag.gif
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Bentonville, Arkansas.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| image_map          = {{maplink
 |frame              = yes
 |plain              = yes
 |frame-align        = center
 |frame-width        = 270
 |frame-height       = 270
 |frame-coord        = {{Coord|36.3728|-94.2088}}
 |zoom               = 10
 |type               = shape
 |marker             = city
 |stroke-width       = 2
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| map_caption        = Interactive map of Bentonville
| pushpin_map = Arkansas#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Bentonville
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Arkansas|County]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_name1  = [[Arkansas]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Benton County, Arkansas|Benton]]
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = April 3, 1873
| named_for          = Originally [[Osage Indians]]<br />[[Thomas Hart Benton (politician)|Thomas Hart Benton]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Stephanie Orman<ref name="mayor">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bentonvillear.com/594/Mayors-Office |title=Mayor's Office website |access-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210937/https://www.bentonvillear.com/594/Mayors-Office |archive-date=January 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 88.70
| area_total_sq_mi   = 34.25
| area_land_km2      = 88.19
| area_land_sq_mi    = 34.05
| area_water_km2     = 0.52
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.20
| elevation_ft       = 1266
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 54164
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = 614.19
| population_density_sq_mi = 1590.72
| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| coordinates        = {{coord|36|21|10|N|94|13|52|W|region:US-AR|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 72712, 72713, 72716
| area_code          = [[Area code 479|479]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 05-05320
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2403857<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403857}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| website            = {{URL|bentonvillear.com}}
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 57868 {{increase}}
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_05.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
}}

'''Bentonville''' is the [[county seat]] of [[Benton County, Arkansas]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=United States Census Data|website=www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref> The city is centrally located in the county with [[Rogers, Arkansas|Rogers]] adjacent to the east. The city proper had a population of 54,164 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Bentonville city, Arkansas; United States|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bentonvillecityarkansas,US/POP010220|access-date=September 15, 2021|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref> making it the [[List of cities and towns in Arkansas|ninth-most populous city in Arkansas]]. It is one of the four main cities in the three-county [[Northwest Arkansas]] metropolitan area, with 546,725 residents in 2020.

The city is the birthplace and headquarters of [[Walmart]], the world's largest retailer.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= With Wal-Mart At 10-Year Highs, Some Shareholders Want Directors Shown The Door |magazine= Forbes |date= May 22, 2012 |last= Schaefer |first= Steve |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveschaefer/2012/05/22/with-wal-mart-at-10-year-highs-some-shareholders-want-directors-shown-the-door/ |access-date= May 31, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120527155200/http://www.forbes.com/sites/steveschaefer/2012/05/22/with-wal-mart-at-10-year-highs-some-shareholders-want-directors-shown-the-door/ |archive-date= May 27, 2012 |url-status= live }}</ref> Bentonville is considered to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the state.<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 22, 2021|title=Overall population growth in Northwest Arkansas is large but not evenly distributed, census shows|url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/aug/22/overall-population-growth-in-northwest-arkansas/|access-date=September 15, 2021|website=Arkansas Online|language=en}}</ref>

==History==

===Early history===
[[File:Bentonville Welcome.jpg|thumb|left|"Welcome to Bentonville" board put up at many entrances to the city]]
The first known use by humans of the area which is now known as Bentonville,  was as hunting grounds by the [[Osage Nation]] who lived in [[Missouri]]. The Osage would leave their settlements to hunt in present-day Benton County for months at a time before returning to their families. European settlers first inhabited the area around 1837 and named their settlement "Osage". By this time, the Osage had ceased using the area for hunting, and the European settlers began to establish farms. Upon establishment of Benton County on September 30, 1836, Osage was deemed a suitable site for the [[county seat]], and the town square was established as the home of county government the following year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Barnes |first=Kenneth C. |date=2017 |title=Another Look behind the Masks: The Ku Klux Klan in Bentonville, Arkansas, 1922-1926 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26291365 |journal=The Arkansas Historical Quarterly |volume=76 |issue=3 |pages=191–217 |jstor=26291365 |issn=0004-1823}}</ref> Osage was renamed Bentonville in honor of [[Thomas Hart Benton (politician)|Thomas Hart Benton]], a senator from [[Missouri]] who strongly supported Arkansas statehood.<ref>{{ cite web |title=Benton County Fun Facts |url=http://www.co.benton.ar.us/funfacts.aspx |access-date=May 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625151203/http://www.co.benton.ar.us/FunFacts.aspx |archive-date=June 25, 2012 }}</ref>

===Early statehood and Civil War===
[[File:Terry Block Building.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Terry Block Building]] sat the southwest corner of the Bentonville Town Square. Built in 1888, the building previously housed the Walmart Museum, adjacent to the original [[Walton's Five and Dime]], but in October 2023 it was razed as part of a renovation of the museum complex.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |title=Questions surround Walmart Museum project |url=https://www.5newsonline.com/video/news/local/questions-surround-walmart-museum-project/527-9f4e311e-c2b4-4d9e-a319-e1266c51b135 |work=KFSM-TV |agency= |date=October 24, 2023 |access-date=October 24, 2023|ref=none}}</ref>
]]
Two years after Arkansas received statehood in 1836, thousands of [[Cherokee]] people from [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] passed through Benton County as part of the [[Trail of Tears]] route to the [[Indian Territory]] in what is now [[Oklahoma]]. Although no [[American Civil War|Civil War]] battles were fought inside Bentonville, the city was occupied by both armies and saw almost all of its buildings burned.<ref name=":1" /> Bentonville was a staging point for the [[Confederate States Army|Confederate army]] prior to the [[Battle of Pea Ridge]], fought about {{convert|12|mi}} northeast of town, and [[Battle of Pea Ridge#Action at Bentonville, Arkansas|the town saw a brief skirmish]] just prior to the battle. 

The city began to rebuild about a decade after incorporation on April 3, 1873, with many of these [[Reconstruction Era]] buildings today serving as the oldest structures in Bentonville.

The first railroad line into the area bypassed Bentonville, instead creating the nearby town of Rogers.<ref name="Rogers">{{cite web|url= https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/rogers-benton-county-837/ |title=Rogers (Benton County)|publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|accessdate=August 12, 2023}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> So in 1883, a corporation called the Bentonville Railroad Company (a forerunner of the [[Arkansas and Oklahoma Railroad]]) proceeded to link Rogers with Bentonville, about six miles.<ref name="Bentonville">{{cite web|url= https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/bentonville-828/ |title=Bentonville (Benton County)|publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|accessdate=August 12, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Museum">{{cite web|url=  https://www.condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco-Museum-All-Aboards/AA1988.1.v2.8.pdf | title=Arkansas and Oklahoma Railroad Company| publisher=All Aboard, The Frisco Railroad Museum, January 1988 (accessed on CondrenRails.com) | accessdate=August 12, 2023}}</ref>  That line has changed hands over time, but remains in use.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/bentonville-828/ |title=Bentonville (Benton County)|publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|accessdate=August 12, 2023}}</ref>

With good transportation available, the area established a vibrant apple industry, with Benton County becoming the leading apple producing county in the nation in 1901.

=== Twentieth century ===
In May 1922, the first [[Ku Klux Klan]] chapter was opened in Bentonville.<ref name=":1" /> By 1923, there was documentation of at least 162 men who were members of the Klan.<ref name=":1" /> Most of the town's most prominent citizens were charter members of the Klan chapters, including mayor [[Lee Seamster]],  his successor Tom Curt, the Benton County sheriff and several deputies, and Circuit Judge William A. Dickson, as well as half of the aldermen on the city council.<ref name=":1" />

In the 1920s and 1930s the county developed a reputation as a leader in [[Poultry farming|poultry production]] that continued into the [[World War II]] years, and which the area still maintains today.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bbvchamber.com/general/134/community-history|title=Community history from Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718221711/http://www.bbvchamber.com/general/134/community-history|archive-date=July 18, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=August 5, 2011}}</ref> The post-war economy helped Bentonville grow, with many new businesses starting.

[[File:Wea01361 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|thumb|US Weather Bureau Bentonville building c. 1900]]
In 1950, [[Sam Walton]] bought the Harrison Variety Store on the [[Downtown Bentonville|Bentonville town square]]. He fully remodeled the building and opened "Walton’s 5 and 10 Variety Store" on March 18, 1951. This single store eventually led to the creation of [[Walmart]], the world's largest retailer, which still strongly influences the community today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=828|title=Bentonville (Benton County) – Encyclopedia of Arkansas|website=www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net|access-date=May 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929115459/http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=828|archive-date=September 29, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

The late twentieth and early twenty-first century has seen a dramatic reduction in the manufacturing sector in Bentonville, corresponding with an increase in tourism and entertainment focused on the natural setting and outdoor opportunities of the area as well as the [[Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art]], which opened in 2011. This has resulted in Bentonville being the fastest growing city in Arkansas,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nwahomepage.com/news/bentonville-fastest-growing-city-in-nwa/729353504|title=Bentonville Fastest Growing City in NWA|last=Caprariello|first=Alex|date=June 2, 2017|work=NWAHOMEPAGE|access-date=May 6, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605095614/http://www.nwahomepage.com/news/bentonville-fastest-growing-city-in-nwa/729353504|archive-date=June 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and the larger [[Northwest Arkansas]] area one of the fastest growing in the United States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://talkbusiness.net/2018/03/northwest-arkansas-leads-growth-in-state-14th-fastest-growing-metro-area-nationwide/|title=Northwest Arkansas leads growth in state, 14th fastest-growing metro area nationwide – Talk Business & Politics|date=March 22, 2018|work=Talk Business & Politics|access-date=May 6, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|81.6|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|81.0|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.5|km2|order=flip}}, or 0.67%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Metropolitan area===
{{Main|Northwest Arkansas}}
The [[Northwest Arkansas]] region consists of three [[List of Arkansas counties|Arkansas counties]]: Benton, [[Madison County, Arkansas|Madison]], and [[Washington County, Arkansas|Washington]]. The area had a population of 347,045 at the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] which had increased to 463,204 by the 2010 Census (an increase of 33.47 percent). The Metropolitan Statistical Area does not consist of the usual principal-city-with-[[suburbs]] morphology; instead Bentonville is bordered to the east by [[Rogers, Arkansas|Rogers]], the north by [[Bella Vista, Arkansas|Bella Vista]], and the west by [[Centerton, Arkansas|Centerton]]. The [[Northwest Arkansas National Airport]] is located to the southwest of Bentonville and is used to connect all of the northwest Arkansas region to the rest of the nation. For more than the last decade, Northwest Arkansas has been one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States.<ref name=":0" />

===Climate===
Bentonville lies in the [[humid subtropical climate]] zone ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa'') with influence from the humid continental climate type.  Bentonville experiences all four seasons and does receive cold air masses from the north. July is the hottest month of the year, with an average high of {{convert|89|°F|0}} and an average low of {{convert|66|°F|0}}. Temperatures above {{convert|90|°F|1}} are common, with a high of {{convert|100|°F|1}} occurring about once per year on average. January is the coldest month with an average high of {{convert|46|°F|0}} and an average low of {{convert|24|°F|0}}. The city's highest temperature was {{convert|114|°F|1}}, recorded in 1954. The lowest temperature recorded was {{convert|-16|°F|1}}, in 1996.

{{Weather box
|location = Bentonville, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1943–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 76
|Feb record high F = 86
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 96
|May record high F = 93
|Jun record high F = 103
|Jul record high F = 114
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 106
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 85
|Dec record high F = 78
|year record high F = 114
|Jan high F = 46.2
|Feb high F = 51.4
|Mar high F = 60.0
|Apr high F = 69.4
|May high F = 76.6
|Jun high F = 84.8
|Jul high F = 89.4
|Aug high F = 89.5
|Sep high F = 82.2
|Oct high F = 71.4
|Nov high F = 59.0
|Dec high F = 49.2
|year high F = 69.1
|Jan mean F = 35.2
|Feb mean F = 39.3
|Mar mean F = 47.8
|Apr mean F = 56.7
|May mean F = 65.3
|Jun mean F = 73.8
|Jul mean F = 78.0
|Aug mean F = 77.3
|Sep mean F = 69.7
|Oct mean F = 58.7
|Nov mean F = 47.4
|Dec mean F = 38.1
|year mean F = 57.3
|Jan low F = 24.2
|Feb low F = 27.2
|Mar low F = 35.5
|Apr low F = 44.0
|May low F = 53.9
|Jun low F = 62.9
|Jul low F = 66.5
|Aug low F = 65.2
|Sep low F = 57.2
|Oct low F = 45.9
|Nov low F = 35.9
|Dec low F = 26.9
|year low F = 45.4
|Jan record low F = −15
|Feb record low F = −16
|Mar record low F = −12
|Apr record low F = 16
|May record low F = 27
|Jun record low F = 40
|Jul record low F = 45
|Aug record low F = 44
|Sep record low F = 30
|Oct record low F = 18
|Nov record low F = 5
|Dec record low F = −15
|year record low F = −16
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.70
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.66
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.24
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.78
|May precipitation inch = 6.26
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.49
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.87
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.71
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.05
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.39
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.92
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.26
|year precipitation inch = 47.33
|Jan snow inch = 3.2
|Feb snow inch = 2.3
|Mar snow inch = 2.6
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.2
|Dec snow inch = 1.2
|year snow inch = 9.5
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.1
|Feb precipitation days = 5.2
|Mar precipitation days = 7.9
|Apr precipitation days = 8.6
|May precipitation days = 9.8
|Jun precipitation days = 8.9
|Jul precipitation days = 6.9
|Aug precipitation days = 5.6
|Sep precipitation days = 6.6
|Oct precipitation days = 6.3
|Nov precipitation days = 7.2
|Dec precipitation days = 6.1
|year precipitation days = 85.2
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.8
|Feb snow days = 0.8
|Mar snow days = 0.4
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.3
|Dec snow days = 0.8
|year snow days = 3.1
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=tsa
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = June 21, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00030586&format=pdf
| title = Station: Bentonville 4 S, AR
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 21, 2021}}</ref><ref name= NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/tsa/climo_benton
| title = Bentonville, Arkansas Climatology
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| format = Table
| access-date = June 21, 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210621205841/https://www.weather.gov/tsa/climo_benton
| archive-date = June 21, 2021
| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=extremes>
{{cite web 
| url = http://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
| publisher = Applied Climate Information System 
| title = Monthly Highest Max Temperature and Monthly Lowest Min Temperature for Bentonville 4 S, AR
| access-date = June 21, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1880 = 696
| 1890 = 1677
| 1900 = 1843
| 1910 = 1956
| 1920 = 2313
| 1930 = 2203
| 1940 = 2359
| 1950 = 2942
| 1960 = 3649
| 1970 = 5508
| 1980 = 8756
| 1990 = 11257
| 2000 = 19730
| 2010 = 35301
| 2020 = 54164
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 59471
| estref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: Bentonville city, Arkansas |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bentonvillecityarkansas/PST045222 |access-date=June 19, 2024 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0505320| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212175152/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0505320| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bentonville city, Arkansas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Bentonville racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0505320&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=January 1, 2022|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 34,687
| 66.04%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 1,653
| 2.91%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 493
| 0.91%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 8,427
| 15.56%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 228
| 0.42%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 3,242
| 5.99%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 5,434
| 10.03%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 54,164 people, 18,223 households, and 12,212 families residing in the city.

===2017===
As of 2017 Bentonville had a population of 49,298.  The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 77.0% non-Hispanic white, 2.4% non-Hispanic black, 1.2% Native American, 5.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from some other race and 2.5% from two or more races.  8.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref>2010 general profile of population or housing characteristics of Bentonville from the US census</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 19,730 people, 7,458 households, and 5,265 families residing in the city. The city grew substantially in the 1990s; the 1990 population was 11,257 and the city is expected to reach 50,000 people by the year 2030. According to the US Census, Bentonville and surrounding communities in Benton County is second in growth for Arkansas and among the 100 fastest-growing counties in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2004-09.html |title=Estimates for the 100 Fastest Growing U.S. Counties in 2004: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2004 |access-date=April 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403192900/http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2004-09.html |archive-date=April 3, 2007 }}</ref>

The population density was {{convert|928.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 7,924 housing units at an average density of {{convert|373.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.92% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.88% Black or African American, 1.33% Native American, 2.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.68% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races.  6.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The 2005 Special Census reported 24,837 Whites/non-Hispanic whites (86.8%), 2,428 Hispanics of any race (8.5%), 1,135 Asians (4.0%), and 510 Blacks/African Americans (1.8%). 

There were 7,458 households, out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% are classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,936, and the median income for a family was $46,558. Males had a median income of $31,816 versus $23,761 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,831.  10.3% of the population and 7.5% of families were below the poverty line.  Out of the total people living in poverty, 13.7% are under the age of 18 and 10.9% are 65 or older.

==Economy==
{{See also|Economy of Arkansas|History of Walmart}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"  border="1"
|+ <big>Bentonville's Top Employers</big>
|+Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce<ref name="BBVCoC">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbvchamber.com/general/113/bentonvilles-largest-employers |title=Bentonville's Largest Employers |publisher=Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce |year=2014 |access-date=March 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316003908/https://www.bbvchamber.com/general/113/bentonvilles-largest-employers |archive-date=March 16, 2014}}</ref>
|-
! style="width: 3em;" |Rank
! style="width: 17em;" |Employer
|-
|align="right"|1&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Walmart|Walmart Inc.]]
|-
|align="right"|2&nbsp;&nbsp;
| Northwest Health System
|-
|align="right"|3&nbsp;&nbsp;
| Mercy of Northwest Arkansas
|-
|align="right"|4&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Bentonville School District]]
|-
|align="right"|5&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Benton County, Arkansas]]
|-
|align="right"|6&nbsp;&nbsp;
| City of Bentonville
|-
|align="right"|7&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Northwest Arkansas Community College]]
|-
|align="right"|8&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Arvest Bank|Arvest Bank Group, Inc]]
|-
|align="right"|9&nbsp;&nbsp;
|Outdoor Cap Company
|-
|align="right"|10&nbsp;&nbsp;
|Community Publishers
|}

Bentonville has been home to Walmart since [[Sam Walton]] purchased a store on the town square in 1950 and renamed it Walton's 5 & 10. The retailer continued a rapid growth, but [[Helen Walton]] wished to remain in Bentonville to raise the family, and thus by the time Walmart became the #1 [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] in 2002, it was still based in Bentonville. The Walmart "Home Office" now includes more than 20 buildings throughout Bentonville, specifically along Walton Boulevard ([[U.S. Route 71B (Bentonville, Arkansas)|US 71B]]) in the western part of the city. In 2017 Walmart announced their intention to construct a new central headquarters in Bentonville, consolidating many of their employees to a more centralized campus.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/15/wal-mart-planning-new-home-office-in-bentonville-arkansas.html|title=Wal-Mart plans for new home office in Bentonville to help lure 'high-quality talent'|last=Thomas|first=Lauren|date=September 15, 2017|publisher=CNBC|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505070128/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/15/wal-mart-planning-new-home-office-in-bentonville-arkansas.html|archive-date=May 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The impact from the Walmart Home Office is multiplied by the over 1,100 prospective Walmart vendors who have established sales offices in the region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bentonville, Ark., Is Sam's Town |first=Laura J. |last=Hopper |date=October 2004 |publisher=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis |work=The Regional Economist |url=http://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/re/articles/?id=381 |access-date=March 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316022015/http://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/re/articles/?id=381 |archive-date=March 16, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The large number of satellite offices for companies of almost every industry means a large number of transplants from around the United States live in or near Bentonville.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Is Bentonville The South's Next Cultural Mecca? |url=http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2012/10/06/is-bentonville-the-souths-next-cultural-mecca/ |date=October 6, 2012 |last=Disbrowe |first=Paula |magazine=Southern Living |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915030915/http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2012/10/06/is-bentonville-the-souths-next-cultural-mecca/ |archive-date=September 15, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> This phenomenon impacts the culture of Bentonville in addition to the city's economy.

Bentonville is home to a growing entrepreneurial scene, with co-working spaces and startup incubators being added quickly over the last 5 years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://talkbusiness.net/2017/05/co-working-space-opens-in-bentonville-to-support-entrepreneurs-and-startups-in-nwa/|title=Co-working space opens in Bentonville to support entrepreneurs and startups in NWA – Talk Business & Politics|date=May 12, 2017|work=Talk Business & Politics|access-date=May 15, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516103642/https://talkbusiness.net/2017/05/co-working-space-opens-in-bentonville-to-support-entrepreneurs-and-startups-in-nwa/|archive-date=May 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
{{See also|Culture of Arkansas}}
[[File:Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art main hall.jpg|thumb|Opened in 2011, the [[Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art]] features a vast collection of American art. ]]
Bentonville's culture is a combination of a southern city, small town, global business hub, and the surrounding Northwest Arkansas metro.

Bentonville shares many of the characteristics commonly given to Arkansas as a Southern state, yet it has also absorbed minor cultural influence from the [[Midwest]] and [[American West|West]]. Located firmly in the [[Mid-South (region)|Mid-South]], Bentonville's culture is distinct and differs from the Delta portion of the state. Many of the city's first settlers came from [[North Georgia]], [[North Alabama]], [[Kentucky]], [[North Carolina]] and [[Tennessee]], because they found the Ozarks familiar, similar to the [[Appalachian Mountains]] back home.<ref>Arnold et al 2002, p. 104.</ref> The uplands of Arkansas, including Northwest Arkansas, did not participate in large-scale plantation farming with slaves like the [[Arkansas delta]], instead electing to settle in small clusters, relying largely on [[subsistence agriculture]] and hunting rather than the settlement patterns common in the Midwest and [[Deep South]]. The "hillbilly" stereotype given to the Ozarks and Appalachians is largely a derivative of the difficult topography, tendency to settle in clusters, and mostly cashless self-sustaining economy found in those regions. Bentonville's large proportion of [[Southern Baptist]] and [[Methodist]] adherents does, however, reflect a trend often associated with the Deep South.<ref>{{cite web |title= Arkansas's Regional Identity |url= http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5857 |date= June 7, 2013 |first= Guy |last= Lancaster |access-date= August 18, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130405060126/http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5857 |archive-date= April 5, 2013 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Due to Walmart's prominence in the city, Bentonville is also an international focal point for retail suppliers and other supporting businesses. According to the Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, over 1,250 suppliers have offices in Northwest Arkansas in an attempt to secure or retain Walmart's business.<ref>{{cite web |title= Wal-Mart influences continue to push rapid growth in Bentonville |publisher= The City Wire |date= March 19, 2014 |url= http://talkbusiness.net/2014/03/wal-mart-influences-continue-to-push-rapid-growth-in-bentonville/ |access-date= November 29, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151208154439/http://talkbusiness.net/2014/03/wal-mart-influences-continue-to-push-rapid-growth-in-bentonville/ |archive-date= December 8, 2015 |url-status= live }}</ref> Symbolic of Bentonville's complex culture was a [[cricket]] game played between [[PepsiCo]] and Walmart, spectated by their respective chief executives [[Indra Nooyi]] and [[Doug McMillon]], chronicled in an article in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' describing the complex Bentonville culture.<ref>{{cite news | title = In Bentonville, Is It Cricket To Play on a Baseball Field? Players face a sticky wicket with 18 teams, no grounds; Wal-Mart vs. Pepsi | last = Nassauer | first = Sarah |newspaper= Wall Street Journal | date = December 8, 2015 | page = A1, A12 |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-bentonville-cricket-players-make-do-with-a-baseball-field-1449540837 | access-date = December 24, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223210903/http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-bentonville-cricket-players-make-do-with-a-baseball-field-1449540837 | archive-date = December 23, 2015 | url-status = live}}</ref> The game was played on a baseball field in Bentonville not well suited for typical cricket, so the players adopted new rules. The city has a league with 18 teams and a host of fans, mostly derived from the thousands of [[India]]n natives drawn to Bentonville by Walmart software and [[Information technology|IT]] jobs. In late 2018 plans for a public cricket pitch were approved for a new park in the southwest of the city.<ref>{{cite web | title = Bentonville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting | url = http://bentonvillear.com/DocumentCenter/View/3167/November-PRAB-Meeting-Packet | website = bentonvillear.com | date = November 19, 2018 | access-date = December 28, 2018}}</ref>

From the Walmart Museum on the downtown square to the over 20 buildings spread throughout the city, Walmart's Home Office has a presence throughout Bentonville. The [[Northwest Arkansas National Airport]] has direct commercial flights from many large destination cities not typical of airports its size due to the supplier community.<ref>{{cite web | title = Transportation | url = http://www.nwacouncil.org/pages/transportation/ | publisher = NWA Council | access-date = November 29, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151208105111/http://www.nwacouncil.org/pages/transportation/ |archive-date= December 8, 2015 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Bentonville, and the recently opened Bentonville West (located in Centerton) High Schools, have programs to assist the sizable transient student population, including international students, for those who have recently relocated to the area.

===Culture===
[[Image:Walton's Five and Dime store, Bentonville, Arkansas.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sam Walton]]'s original Walton's Five and Dime, now the Walmart Visitor Center on Bentonville town square]]
[[Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art]] is a $450 million museum of American Art designed by architect [[Moshe Safdie]] located within walking distance of downtown Bentonville.<ref>http://www.crystalbridges.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205023051/https://crystalbridges.org/ | date = December 5, 2019 }} The official homepage of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art</ref> The museum was founded by [[Alice Walton]] in 2011 and contains many masterpieces from all eras of American art, including many works from Walton's private collection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/arts/design/alice-walton-on-her-crystal-bridges-museum-of-american-art.html?ref=arts|title=A Billionaire's Eye for Art Shapes Her Singular Museum|last=Vogel|first=Carol|date=June 16, 2011|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524050818/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/arts/design/alice-walton-on-her-crystal-bridges-museum-of-american-art.html?ref=arts|archive-date=May 24, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other points of interest include:
* [[Downtown Bentonville#Terry Block Building|Walmart Museum]]: Located adjacent to [[Sam Walton]]'s original Walton's Five and Dime which serves as a visitor center.
* [[Museum of Native American History]]: Museum showcasing Native American history, art, and culture.
* [[21c Museum Hotels|21C Museum Hotel]]: Public museum and hotel featuring works of the 21st century.
* [[Scott Family Amazeum]]: An interactive children's museum
*[[The Momentary]]: A contemporary art museum and performance venue<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://crystalbridges.org/blog/the-momentary/|title=Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Announces Director and Plans for New Arts Venue {{!}} Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art|date=August 30, 2017|work=Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art|access-date=May 4, 2018|language=en-CA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505065957/https://crystalbridges.org/blog/the-momentary/|archive-date=May 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Bentonville Public Library

Beginning in 2015, the [[Bentonville Film Festival]] has been held annually the first week of May in Downtown Bentonville. Over 85,000 attendees take part in this week-long event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bentonvillefilmfestival.com/2018/05/22/bff-announces-2019-dates/|title=BFF Announces Continued Growth & 2019 Dates! - Bentonville Film Festival|website=bentonvillefilmfestival.com|language=en-US|access-date=May 31, 2018|date=May 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140523/http://bentonvillefilmfestival.com/2018/05/22/bff-announces-2019-dates/|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Historic districts and properties===
[[File:COL. SAMUEL W. PEEL HOUSE, BENTONVILLE, BENTON COUNTY, AR.jpg|right|thumb|Peel Mansion, built in 1875, is now furnished with period pieces and offers tours and rentals for private events, such as weddings.]]
{{See also|National Register of Historic Places listings in Benton County, Arkansas}}
Bentonville contains over 30 listings on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP), the official [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation.

The city contains two residential historic districts, the [[Bentonville Third Street Historic District|Third Street Historic District]] and [[Bentonville West Central Avenue Historic District|West Central Avenue Historic District]]. Both districts contain historic residences notable for their architectural styles and contributions to the city's early history. Together, over 40 houses are listed as contributing properties. Preeminent individual residential listings within the historic districts include the [[Craig-Bryan House]], [[Elliott House (Bentonville, Arkansas)|Elliott House]], [[James A. Rice House]] and the [[Rice House (Bentonville, Arkansas)|Rice House]] on "A" Street. Residential listing elsewhere in the city include the [[Col. Samuel W. Peel House|Peel Mansion Museum]], [[Stroud House (Bentonville, Arkansas)|Stroud House]] and [[Col. Young House]].

Also included in the NRHP are historic public structures, such as the Benton County Courthouse, [[Benton County Jail]], [[Old High Middle School (Bentonville, Arkansas)|Bentonville High School]], commercial structures such as the [[Benton County National Bank]], [[Massey Hotel]], [[Roy's Office Supply Building]], and the [[Terry Block Building]], and two cemeteries.

Additionally, a [[Bentonville Confederate Monument|confederate monument]] installed in 1908 by a local [[United Daughters of the Confederacy]] chapter. On June 1, 2020, local residents held a [[George Floyd protests|non-violent demonstration]] at the statue in solidarity with the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement, until later that night, when the Benton County Sheriff's "mobile field force" ended the demonstration by deploying [[Tear gas|tear gas]] on the assembled crowd and arresting several people.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Doug |last2=Neal |first2=Tracy |title=Before the Tear Gas: How peaceful protest turned into chaos |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/jul/26/tear-gas/?news-arkansas-nwa |website=Arkansas Online |date=July 26, 2020 |publisher=Arkansas Democrat Gazette |access-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref> The statue was removed from the square in September 2020 and relocated to the new privately held James H. Berry Park in July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Crews remove Bentonville's Confederate monument|url=https://www.4029tv.com/article/bentonville-confederate-statue-moving/33866567|website=4029tv.com|language=en-US|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-29 |title=Confederate statue returns to public view as James H. Berry Park gets set to open in Bentonville {{!}} Arkansas Democrat Gazette |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/29/confederate-statue-returns-to-public-view-as/ |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=www.arkansasonline.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
{{See also|Razorback Regional Greenway}}

The Bentonville Parks and Recreation Department maintains twenty-two parks and over {{convert|50|mi|km}} of trails.

[[File:Crystal Bridges Trail.jpg|right|thumb|Crystal Bridges Trail crosses through Compton Gardens between downtown and the museum.]]

Over {{convert|300|acre|ha}} of city parks throughout the city offer educational, recreational and outdoors opportunities to park visitors. The largest park surrounds [[Bella Vista, Arkansas|Lake Bella Vista]] and includes a popular perimeter fitness trail and disc golf course.<ref>{{cite web |title= Bella Vista Lake |url= http://www.bentonvillear.com/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/bella-vista-lake/ |publisher= City of Bentonville |access-date= December 6, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141208132616/http://www.bentonvillear.com/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/bella-vista-lake/ |archive-date= December 8, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Memorial park features the Melvin Ford Aquatic Center as well as baseball, basketball, tennis, volleyball, skateboard, softball and soccer facilities.<ref>{{cite web |title= Memorial Park |url= http://www.bentonvillear.com/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/memorial-park/ |publisher= City of Bentonville |access-date= December 6, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141208131646/http://www.bentonvillear.com/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/memorial-park/ |archive-date= December 8, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The four baseball fields at Merchants Baseball Park have hosted the Bentonville Youth Baseball League since its inception in 1954.<ref>{{cite web |title= Merchants Baseball Park |url= http://www.bentonvillear.com/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/elm-tree-ballfields/ |publisher= City of Bentonville |access-date= December 6, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141208132514/http://www.bentonvillear.com/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/elm-tree-ballfields/ |archive-date= December 8, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Park Springs Park was created in the 1890s following the discovery of two springs with purported healing powers. The Burns Arboretum/Nature Trail was added in 1996 and includes a [[Arkansas State Champion Tree|State Champion]] tree.<ref>{{cite web |title= Park Springs Park |url= http://www.bentonvillear.com/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/park-springs-park/ |publisher= City of Bentonville |access-date= December 6, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141208132111/http://www.bentonvillear.com/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/park-springs-park/ |archive-date= December 8, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Trails in Bentonville vary from small fitness trails to long mountain bike trails to the regional Razorback Greenway depending upon topography, intended use and city planning. The [[Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway]], a {{convert|36|mi|km|adj=on}} primarily off-road mixed use trail connecting the Northwest Arkansas region, runs through Bentonville near Bentonville High School, the Walmart Home Office, and Crystal Bridges on its way to Lake Bella Vista to the north. 
The Crystal Bridges Trail is a {{convert|1|mi|km}} trail between downtown Bentonville and the museum, built by the museum and donated to the city. Public art and sculptures line the trail, which passes through Compton Gardens on its way to the museum's southeast entrance. After passing by an overlook where trail users can view the museum from a bluff, the Crystal Bridges Trail connects to the museum's {{convert|3|mi|km|adj=on}} trail system.<ref>{{cite web |title= Trails |url= http://crystalbridges.org/trails-and-grounds/trails/ |publisher= Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art |access-date= December 6, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141211132048/http://crystalbridges.org/trails-and-grounds/trails/ |archive-date= December 11, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The city also has several trails connecting main streets, parks and neighborhoods throughout the city. Bentonville also boasts a cricket league with 18 teams.<ref>{{cite web|title=26 Interesting Facts to Know About Bentonville, Arkansas|date=March 25, 2019|last=Jones|first=Janis|website=travelingwiththejones.com|url=https://travelingwiththejones.com/2019/03/25/26-interesting-facts-to-know-about-bentonville-arkansas/|access-date=September 6, 2024}}</ref>

Bentonville is a mountain biking destination providing more than 28 miles of mountain bike trails,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bentonvillear.com/498/Mountain-Biking | title=Mountain Biking &#124; Bentonville, AR }}</ref> and hosting multiple cycling events throughout the year, including [[Big Sugar Gravel]], part of the LifeTime Grand Prix Series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitbentonville.com/bike/events/|title=bike-bentonville|website=www.visitbentonville.com|language=en-us|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426213916/https://www.visitbentonville.com/bike/events/|archive-date=April 26, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Bentonville City Hall.jpg|thumb|right|Bentonville City Hall at 117 W. Central]]

===Mayor–city council===
{{see also|List of mayors of Bentonville, Arkansas}}
Bentonville operates within the [[Mayor–council government|mayor-city council]] form of government. The mayor is elected by a citywide election to serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the city by presiding over all city council meetings, laws are enforced and taxpayer funds are spent prudently. Once elected, the mayor also allocates duties to city employees. Mayors serve four-year terms and can serve unlimited terms.<ref>{{cite web |title= Form of Government |url= http://www.bentonvillear.com/government/form-of-government/ |publisher= City of Bentonville |access-date= January 9, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160105064912/http://www.bentonvillear.com/government/form-of-government/ |archive-date= January 5, 2016 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

The city council is the [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] legislative body of the city, consisting of eight members. The council's duties include balancing the city's budget and passing ordinances. The body also controls the representatives of specialized city commissions underneath their jurisdiction. Members are elected at-large with no term limits and represent individual wards. Council members must live in the ward they represent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bentonville, Arkansas City Council |url=http://www.bentonvillear.com/government/city-council |publisher=City of Bentonville |access-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105064908/http://www.bentonvillear.com/government/city-council |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The current mayor is Stephanie Orman, first elected in 2018. Prior to becoming mayor, Orman served as a member of the City Council as well as serving in and leading several non-profit organizations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2018/12/05/stephanie-orman-elected-mayor-of-bentonville-beating-back-walton-money-and-shadowy-dc-republican-group|title=Stephanie Orman elected mayor of Bentonville, topping Walton-backed candidate and fending off dark money from D.C. Republican group|last=Ramsey|first=David|website=Arkansas Times|date=December 5, 2018 |language=en|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228082954/https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2018/12/05/stephanie-orman-elected-mayor-of-bentonville-beating-back-walton-money-and-shadowy-dc-republican-group|archive-date=December 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Citizen boards, commissions, and committees ===
Citizen input is welcomed through the use of various specialized groups. Although some positions are appointed by the mayor, many consist of volunteers. Requirements include the applicant is a resident of Bentonville and submission of an application in order to gain access to any of Bentonville's 8 city boards. These range from appointed positions at the Planning Commission to the Bentonville Public Art Advisory Committee to the Bentonville Library Advisory Board.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bentonvillear.com/305/Boards-Commissions|title=Boards & Commissions {{!}} Bentonville, AR|website=bentonvillear.com|language=en|access-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516103734/http://bentonvillear.com/305/Boards-Commissions|archive-date=May 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Judicial system ===
The Bentonville District Court handles criminal, civil, small claims, and traffic matters within the city limits.  In addition, the Court handles Civil and Small Claims cases when there is proper jurisdiction. The current elected District Judge presides over all cases. Ray Bunch is the current Bentonville District Court Judge.
The [[Arkansas Circuit Courts|19th Judicial Circuit Court]] covers Benton County as a whole and operates out of the [[Benton County Courthouse (Bentonville, Arkansas)|Benton County Courthouse]] in [[Downtown Bentonville]] with Bentonville serving as the [[County seat|County Seat]].

=== Politics ===
Voters in Bentonville tend to lean conservative. The current state representatives that serve districts containing portions of Bentonville are Republican Rep. [[Jim Dotson]], Republican Rep. [[Rebecca Petty]], Republican Rep [[Kim Hendren]], and Republican Rep. [[Dan Douglas]]. The current state senator that serves the district containing Bentonville is Republican Sen. [[Bart Hester]].

==Education==
Public elementary and secondary education in the majority of the city limits is provided by [[Bentonville Public Schools]],<ref name=BentonCoSchMap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05007_benton/DC20SD_C05007.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Benton County, AR|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=May 25, 2022}}</ref> leading to graduation at [[Bentonville High School]] or [[Bentonville West High School]].

Small portions of the city to the east are zoned to [[Rogers Public Schools]].<ref name=BentonCoSchMap/>

[[Haas Hall Academy]] and Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy are the two public [[charter schools]]. Thaden School opened in 2017 and is the first independent high school in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thadenschool.org|title=Thaden School {{!}} Thaden School|website=www.thadenschool.org|language=en|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428121001/https://www.thadenschool.org/|archive-date=April 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bentonville Adventist School, associated with the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]], provides education services for kindergarten through eighth grade.

The nearest Catholic high school is [[Ozark Catholic Academy]] in [[Tontitown, Arkansas|Tontitown]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Schaefer|first=Alesia|url=https://www.arkansas-catholic.org/news/article/5720/Catholic-high-school-opens-in-northwest-Arkansas|title=Catholic high school opens in northwest Arkansas|newspaper=[[Arkansas Catholic]]|publisher=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock]]|date=August 16, 2018|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>

Bentonville is home to the [[Northwest Arkansas Community College]] (NWACC), a public two-year college that provides students undergraduate, vocational, career and technical education courses.

The Bentonville Public Library System consists of one central library, located at 405 S. Main Street, which provides residents with access to print books, publications and multimedia content, as well as a satellite location at the Bentonville Community Center in the southwestern section of the city.
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==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
====Major highways====
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[File:I-49 (AR 1957).svg|25px]] [[Interstate 49 (Arkansas)|Interstate 49]]
*[[File:US 71 (1961).svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 71 in Arkansas|US Route 71]]
*[[File:US 71B.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 71 Business (Northwest Arkansas)|US Route 71 Business]]
*[[File:Arkansas 12.svg|20px]] [[Arkansas Highway 12|Highway 12]]
*[[File:Arkansas 72.svg|20px]] [[Arkansas Highway 72|Highway 72]]
*[[File:Arkansas 102.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 102|Highway 102]]
*[[File:Arkansas 112.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 112|Highway 112]]
{{div col end}}

The major through route in Bentonville is [[Interstate 49]]/[[U.S. Route 71 in Arkansas|US 71]]. This [[Controlled-access highway|fully controlled access]], four-lane expressway is a discontinuous piece of a route ultimately planned to connect [[Kansas City, Missouri]] to [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]. Formerly designated as [[Interstate 540 (Arkansas)|Interstate 540]] with the re-designation as Interstate 49 being granted by the U S Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration on March 28, 2014,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-approval-north.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=November 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215757/http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-approval-north.pdf |archive-date=May 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> the highway became the first freeway in the area when it was completed in the 1990s to relieve the former US 71 (now [[Arkansas Highway 471|US 71B]]) of a much-increased demand of through travelers following the unanticipated and rapid growth of the [[Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Area|Northwest Arkansas metro]]. Future plans for the I-49 corridor include completion of a freeway segment through between [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]] and [[Texarkana, Arkansas|Texarkana]]. The [[Bella Vista Bypass]] to the north was completed and opened in late 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ardot.gov/news/21-323/ |title=Arkansas & Missouri Celebrate The Completion Of Interstate 49 Bella Vista Bypass |access-date=June 14, 2022 }}</ref>

==== Public transit ====
Bentonville has one major provider of public transportation, [[Ozark Regional Transit]], which operates in Benton/Washington Counties and is a broad bus-based fixed-route regional transit system.

The nearest intercity bus service is provided by [[Jefferson Lines]] in nearby [[Fayetteville, Arkansas|Fayetteville]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeffersonlines.com/bus-stops/arkansas/|title=Arkansas Bus Stops|access-date=September 28, 2023}}</ref>

==== Aviation ====
The [[Bentonville Municipal Airport]] and [[Louise Thaden|Louise M. Thaden]] Field is owned by the city and serves [[general aviation]]. The nearest airport for commercial flights is [[Northwest Arkansas National Airport]] (XNA), located approximately 12 miles southwest of the city center, which opened in 1998.

=== Utilities ===

====Water====
The City of Bentonville owns and operates a municipal water system that provides services to industrial, commercial and residential customers. Drinking water is purchased and pumped from the [[Beaver Water District]] treatment plant in [[Lowell, Arkansas|Lowell]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Election Day Will Decide Two Positions for Beaver Water District |url= http://5newsonline.com/2012/11/03/election-day-will-decide-two-positions-for-beaver-water-district/ |publisher= [[KFSM-TV]] |date= November 3, 2012 |last= Pruna |first= Jocelyne |newspaper= 5Newsonline.com |access-date= January 13, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140201181611/http://5newsonline.com/2012/11/03/election-day-will-decide-two-positions-for-beaver-water-district/ |archive-date= February 1, 2014 |url-status= live }}</ref> The city uses approximately {{convert|10|MUSgal|ML}} of water per day on average.<ref>{{cite web |title= Production Data |url= http://www.bwdh2o.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Water-Records-Master.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151208042112/http://www.bwdh2o.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Water-Records-Master.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= December 8, 2015 |publisher= Beaver Water District |date= October 2015 |access-date= November 29, 2015 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
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When you add a name in this section, it's YOUR responsibility to ensure all of the following for each person:
 1) Insert person into list sorted by last name (surname).
 2) Each person MUST meet [[Wikipedia:Bio]] requirements to ensure notability (see [[Wikipedia:Notability]]).
 3) Each person MUST meet [[Wikipedia:Verifiability]] requirements to verify their notability and prove they attended the school.
 4) If the person has a Wikipedia article, then wikilink the persons name to the correct wikipedia article, otherwise add citation reference(s) to prove notability and attended the school (see [[Wikipedia:Citing sources]]).
*** END OF INSTRUCTIONS *** -->
* [[James Henderson Berry]], U.S. senator and 14th Governor of Arkansas
* [[Asa Hutchinson]], 46th Governor of Arkansas, 2024 presidential candidate
* [[Tim Hutchinson]], former U.S. Senator
* [[Doug McMillon]], CEO of Walmart<ref name=CNBC>{{cite news|title=About Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon|url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/102459825|access-date=February 28, 2015|work=CNBC|agency=Associated Press|date=February 26, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150228184720/http://www.cnbc.com/id/102459825|archive-date=February 28, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Malik Monk]], professional [[basketball]] player for the [[Sacramento Kings]]
* [[Lee Seamster]], Chief Justice of the [[Arkansas Supreme Court]]; mayor of Bentonville, 1921–1922
* [[Louise Thaden]], aviation pioneer, and the first woman to win the [[Bendix Trophy]]
* [[Dwight Tosh]], Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Dwight+&qmi=&qn=Tosh&qcs=Arkansas&focusfirst=1|title=Dwight Crandall Tosh|publisher=intelius.com|access-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120045942/http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Dwight+&qmi=&qn=Tosh&qcs=Arkansas&focusfirst=1|archive-date=January 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Karri Turner]], actress on the adventure/drama television show ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]''
* [[Jim Walton]], 17th richest person in the world,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/#417e1684251c|title=The World's Billionaires 2018|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129074957/http://www.forbes.com/billionaires/#417e1684251c|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> youngest son of [[Sam Walton]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Bentonville}} 
{{Commons category|Bentonville, Arkansas}}
* {{official website|http://www.bentonvillear.com}}
* Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=828 Bentonville (Benton County)]
{{Bentonville, Arkansas}}
{{Benton County, Arkansas}}
{{Arkansas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bentonville, Arkansas| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1873]]
[[Category:Cities in Benton County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:County seats in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Northwest Arkansas]]
[[Category:1836 establishments in Arkansas]]