Bentonville

Bentonville is the tenth-largest city in Arkansas, United States and the county seat of Benton County. The city itself had a population of 54,164 at the 2020 Census, an increase of 53% from the 2010 Census. It is one of the four main cities in the three-county Northwest Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is ranked 105th in terms of population in the United States with 546,725 residents in 2020. Bentonville was a staging point for the Confederate army prior to the Battle of Pea Ridge, fought about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of town, and the town saw a brief skirmish just before the battle. In 1950, Sam Walton bought the Harrison Variety Store and opened "Waltons 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. The Northwest Arkansas region consists of three Arkansas counties: Benton, Madison, and Washington. The area had aPopulation of 347,045 at 2000 census which increased to 463,204 by 2010 Census (an increase of 33.47 percent). The area does not have a principal-city-suburbs morphology; instead Bentonvile is instead considered a principal city-suburban area. It has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) with all four seasons receiving humid influence from the humid continental climate type.

History

The area now known as Bentonville's first known use by humans was as hunting grounds by the Osage Nation who lived in Missouri. The city was a staging point for the Confederate army prior to the Battle of Pea Ridge, fought about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of town. After the war, the area established a vibrant apple industry, with Benton County becoming the leading apple producing county in the nation in 1901. In 1950, Sam Walton bought the Harrison Variety Store on the town square. He fully remodeled the building and opened "Waltons 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. The late twentieth and early twenty-first century has seen a dramatic reduction in the manufacturing sector in Bent onville, corresponding with an increase in tourism and entertainment focused on the natural setting and outdoor opportunities of the area. This has resulted in Bentonvile being the fastest growing city in Arkansas, and the larger Northwest Arkansas area one of the fastestgrowing in the United States. The town was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a senator from Missouri who strongly supported Arkansas statehood in 1836. It was incorporated on April 3, 1873, with many of these Reconstruction Era buildings today serving as the oldest structures in BentOnville. The county developed a reputation as a leader in poultry production that continued into the World War II years and which the area still maintains today.

Geography

The Northwest Arkansas region consists of three Arkansas counties: Benton, Madison, and Washington. The area had a population of 347,045 at the 2000 census which had increased to 463,204 by the 2010 Census (an increase of 33.47 percent) Bentonville lies in the humid subtropical climate zone (Köppen Cfa) with influence from the humid continental climate type. The city's highest temperature was 114 °F (45.6 °C), recorded in 1954. January is the coldest month with an average high of 46°F (8°C) and an average low of 24°F. July is the hottest month of the year, with a high of 89 °F  (32.2 °C) Temperatures above 90 °F are common. The lowest temperature recorded was 16 °f (26.7°C), in 1996. The Northwest Arkansas National Airport is used to connect all of the northwest Arkansas region to the rest of the nation.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 54,164 people, 18,223 households, and 12,212 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. The racial makeup of the city was 90.92% 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. 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%). 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 per cent who were 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11. The median income was $39,936, and the median income for a family was $46,558.

Economy

The Northwest Arkansas economy was historically based upon agriculture and poultry. In recent decades, NWA has seen rapid growth and diversification of its economy based upon the three Fortune 500 companies based there, Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt. Between 2007 and 2013, the region has seen a growth of 8,300 jobs in the region, with 6,100 added in education and health professions. The government and transportation sectors have remained relatively constant. The manufacturing sector has seen steady decline, mirroring national averages. The construction and real estate sectors saw large declines attributable to the poor housing market during the economic downturn. The Walmart "Home Office" now includes more than 20 buildings throughout Bentonville, specifically along Walton Boulevard (US 71B) in the western part of the city. 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. This phenomenon impacts the culture of Bentonvill in addition to the city's economy. The city is home to a growing entrepreneurial scene, with co-working spaces and startup incubators being added quickly over the last 5 years. The region has a growing University of Arkansas and cultural amenities sector. The NWA gross domestic product grew 7.0% over the aforementioned time period, and bankruptcies, building permits and per capita incomes are returning to pre-Recession rates. In 2017 Walmart announced their intention to construct a new central headquarters.

Culture, contemporary life, and points of interest

Bentonville's culture is a combination of a southern city, small town, global business hub, and the surrounding Northwest Arkansas metro. 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. The city has a league with 18 teams and a host of fans, mostly derived from the thousands of Indian natives drawn to Bentonville by Walmart software and IT jobs. 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. Over 30 listings on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the official federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation. Over 40 houses are listed as contributing residential properties within the city. Over 1,250 suppliers have offices in Northwest Arkansas in an attempt to secure or retain Walmart's business. In late 2018 plans for a public cricket pitch were approved for a new park in the southwest of theCity. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a $450,000,000 museum of American art designed by architect Moshe Safdie located within walking distance of downtown Bent on the downtown square. The Momentary is a contemporary art museum and performance venue located near the Benton County Courthouse. The Benton City Public Library is located in the downtown area of the City of Benton, and has a collection of more than 1,000 books.

Government and politics

Bentonville operates within the mayor-city council form of government. The current mayor is Stephanie Orman, first elected in 2018. The Bentonville District Court handles criminal, civil, small claims, and traffic matters within the city limits. The 19th Judicial Circuit Court covers Benton County as a whole and operates out of the Benton county Courthouse in Downtown Bentonvill. The city council is the unicameral legislative body of the city, consisting of eight members. The council's duties include balancing the city's budget and passing ordinances. Members are elected at-large with no term limits and represent individual wards. The body also controls the representatives of specialized city commissions underneath their jurisdiction. Although some positions are appointed by the mayor, many consist of volunteers. These range from appointed positions at the Planning Commission to the Bent onville Public Art Advisory Committee. The City Council also has a Library Advisory Board, which is made up of volunteers who are asked to serve on the board by the City Council when there is a shortage of seats to be filled. The mayor is elected by a citywide election to serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the City of Bentonvile. Once elected, the mayor also allocates duties to city employees. Mayors serve four-year terms and can serve unlimited terms.Voters in Bentonvil tend to lean conservative. Current state representatives are Republican Rep. Jim Dotson, Republican Sen. Rebecca Petty, Republican Rep Kim Hendren, and Republican Rep Dan Douglas.

Education

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. The Thaden School opened in 2017 and is the first independent high school in the city. The nearest Catholic high school is Ozark Catholic Academy in Tontitown. The city is zoned to Rogers Public Schools, which has two public charter schools: Haas Hall Academy and Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy. It is also home to a Seventh-day Adventist School, which provides education services for kindergarten through eighth grade. It also has a satellite location in the southwestern section of the city, at the Bent onville Community Center. It has a public library system that provides residents with access to print books, publications and multimedia content, as well as a satellite locations at the community center and the city's downtown library. The library system has a central library and one satellite location, which is in the southwest part of the town. The school district has two charter schools, one public charter school and one public public school. The town's public elementary and secondary education is provided by Bentonvill Public Schools. The high school district provides education for students in Bentonvile High School or Bentonvil West High School. The public charter high school, Thaden High School, opened in2017 and is a public high school that is independent of the school district.

Infrastructure

The major through route in Bentonville is Interstate 49/US 71. The nearest airport for commercial flights is Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA), located approximately 12 miles southwest of the city center. Ozark Regional Transit is a broad bus-based fixed-route regional transit system. The city uses approximately 10 million US gallons (38 ML) of water per day on average. The Bella Vista Bypass to the north was completed and opened in late 2021. The City of Bentonvill owns and operates a municipal water system that provides services to industrial, commercial and residential customers. It is owned by the city and serves general aviation and is located near Louise M. Thaden Field, which opened in 1998. It also has its own water treatment plant in Lowell, Arkansas, which supplies water to the city for use in the city's drinking water supply. It has a wastewater treatment system that supplies the city with water for its drinking water needs and for the treatment of wastewater from the treatment plant at Beaver Water District, which is also located in Lowell. There is also a water treatment system in Lowell that provides water for the city. It was built in the 1950s and is owned and operated by the City of Lowell, which has a treatment plant of its own. There are plans to build a new water treatment facility at Beaver, Arkansas in the 2030s. It will be the first of its kind in the state. It would be the second water treatment center in the region, after the one that opened in the 1970s.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas = 83. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 75. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 99. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Bentonville = 4.7 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 54,164 individuals with a median age of 31.6 age the population grows by 63.38% in Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,590.72 residents per square mile of area (614.19/km²). There are average 2.61 people per household in the 12,167 households with an average household income of $49,057 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 5.30% of the available work force and has dropped -1.53% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 31.64%. The number of physicians in Bentonville per 100,000 population = 118.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Bentonville = 45.5 inches and the annual snowfall = 10 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 91. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 215. 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 23.1 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 32, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas which are owned by the occupant = 59.12%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 10 years with median home cost = $154,540 and home appreciation of -12.19%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $7.85 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,767 per student. There are 15.3 students for each teacher in the school, 383 students for each Librarian and 412 students for each Counselor. 4.94% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 19.83% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 6.20% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).