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Arkansas County
Benton County, Arkansas
Walmart's global headquarters and Crystal Bridges Museum - from Bentonville's Walmart Inc. global headquarters (Sam Walton founded Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962 - the company grew from a single discount store to the world's largest retailer, with annual revenues exceeding $600 billion, making Bentonville one of the most economically influential small cities in American history) to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (founded by Alice Walton in 2011 - the museum's extraordinary collection of American art from Colonial-era portraits through 21st-century works, set in a stunning Frank Gehry-influenced building amid Ozark forest, has made northwest Arkansas an unexpected world-class arts destination) and the Razorback Regional Greenway's 40-mile trail network.
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Alert System: AR Alert; CodeRed; NOAA Weather Radio; Benton County emergency alerts
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; contact county OEM; school district facilities
FEMA Region: Region 6
Notes: Northwest Arkansas – Arkansas’s fastest-growing and most prosperous county; Bentonville is county seat and home of Walmart World Headquarters; Rogers, Bentonville, Bella Vista, Centerton are the main communities; tornado corridor; flash flooding (Ozark terrain); significant development-driven infrastructure stress
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Benton County Public Works – (479) 271-1016
Public Transit: Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) – (479) 756-5901 | ozarktransit.com; regional bus service throughout NW Arkansas including Benton County; Razorback Regional Greenway (trail network)
Airport: Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA – Bentonville/Fayetteville metro); significant regional airport reflecting Walmart vendor community demand
Road Conditions: ARDOT – idrivearkansas.com
Notes: I-49 (US-71B) is the main north-south corridor through NW Arkansas; US-412 east-west; Bentonville area traffic is significant for a non-metro area given Walmart HQ vendor traffic; NW Arkansas is one of the fastest-growing metros in the US; new highways and interchanges constantly under construction; XNA airport serves a globally connected community
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Benton County Planning & Development – (479) 271-1040 | bentoncountyar.gov
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas; Bentonville (very active), Rogers, Bella Vista, Centerton, Siloam Springs, Gravette, Highfill, Pea Ridge, Cave Springs, Little Flock have separate permits
Notes: One of the most active building environments in the mid-South; Walmart vendor community driving commercial and residential growth; Crystal Bridges Museum area development; Bentonville trail system development generates unique permit activity; tech and logistics company relocations creating commercial growth
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Benton County Veterans Service Office – (479) 271-1061
VA Medical: Fayetteville VAMC – (479) 443-4301; NW Arkansas VA Clinic (Fayetteville area)
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment, pension/compensation
Notes: Growing county with significant veteran population; Fayetteville VAMC is the primary regional VA facility; NW Arkansas’s economic growth is attracting veteran entrepreneurs and retirees
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Benton County Library System – (479) 268-4700 | bentoncountyar.gov/library
Branches: Bentonville, Rogers, Centerton, Siloam Springs, Gravette, Bella Vista, Pea Ridge
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs, business resources; Crystal Bridges nearby enhances arts programming
Notes: Well-funded and modern library system reflecting the county’s prosperity; Walmart’s economic engine creates a well-educated, internationally diverse user base; Bentonville main library reflects the city’s ambitions; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (world-class) near library enhances cultural programming
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville – world-class American art museum built by Alice Walton; free admission; stunning Frank Gehry-influenced architecture in the woods; one of the finest art museums in the US); Walmart AMP (outdoor amphitheater – major concerts); Bentonville’s mountain biking trail network (Slaughter Pen Trail and others – Bentonville is internationally recognized as one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the world); Razorback Regional Greenway (35+ miles of paved trail connecting communities); Lake Leatherwood (mountain biking mecca); Pea Ridge National Military Park (Civil War battle site – NPS); Beaver Lake (72,000 acres – NW Arkansas reservoir; Corps of Engineers)
Notes: Bentonville’s transformation into a world-class mountain biking and arts destination is one of the most remarkable small-city reinvention stories in America; the Walton Family Foundation invested hundreds of millions in trails and Crystal Bridges; Bentonville now attracts cyclists and art lovers from around the world; Crystal Bridges (free admission to the permanent collection) makes world-class American art accessible; Pea Ridge NMP preserves an important Civil War battle where the Confederate Army lost control of Arkansas and Missouri
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Benton County GIS – bentoncountyar.gov/gis | (479) 271-1016; one of Arkansas’s best county GIS systems
Parcel Search: Available through county GIS portal
Notes: Sophisticated GIS reflecting county’s development and resources; Bentonville trail network GIS important for tourism; Army Corps GIS for Beaver Lake; XNA airport mapping
Notes: Fast-growing county with increasing animal service demands; international Walmart community creates unique pet owner demographics; Benton Humane Society active; NW Arkansas animal rescue community is well-funded
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Benton County – (479) 271-1040; Bentonville, Rogers, and other cities manage separately; Rogers Recycles program model
Recycling: Rogers city has model recycling program; Bentonville recycling; county drop-off sites; NW Arkansas has better recycling infrastructure than most of rural Arkansas
Environmental: Arkansas DEQ; Illinois River watershed (Benton County is in the Illinois River basin – water quality is critical for Oklahoma downstream); Beaver Lake water quality (drinking water for NW Arkansas metro – hundreds of thousands depend on it); rapid development stormwater management
Notes: Illinois River water quality is NW Arkansas’s most significant environmental issue – the river flows into Oklahoma and has been subject to a major water quality lawsuit (Oklahoma v. Tyson Foods and others) regarding phosphorus loading from poultry industry waste application on Arkansas land; NW Arkansas’s rapid growth creates stormwater management challenges; Beaver Lake (drinking water supply for 500,000+ people) faces nutrient loading pressure from development; Walmart has invested significantly in sustainability and has influenced its supply chain to improve environmental practices; the county’s prosperity enables more investment in environmental infrastructure than most of rural Arkansas
About Benton County
Benton County is Arkansas’s most economically dynamic county – Walmart’s global headquarters and the Walton family’s philanthropic investment in arts, cycling infrastructure, and outdoor recreation have transformed northwest Arkansas into one of the most unexpectedly vibrant metros in the South.
Bentonville (the county seat, population ~54,000) has been transformed by Walmart’s growth from a small Ozark town into a global corporate headquarters city. The Walton family’s Crystal Bridges Museum, the Momentary contemporary arts venue, and over 300 miles of mountain bike trails have made Bentonville a national destination for arts and outdoor recreation tourism.
Rogers (population ~67,000) and Bella Vista (population ~30,000) are significant suburban communities in the rapidly expanding Benton County corridor.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Benton County Assessor at 215 E. Central Avenue, Suite 200, Bentonville, AR 72712, phone 479-271-1033. AR residential assessed at 20% of market value. Appeal to Board of Equalization.
Public Records
Arkansas Dept of Health — Benton County Health Units:
Bentonville: 2401 SW D. Street, Suite 3, Bentonville, AR 72712 (confirm phone)
Gravette: 901 1st Ave. SE (Hwy 59), Suite C, Gravette, AR 72736 (confirm phone)
Siloam Springs: 707 Lincoln Street, Siloam Springs, AR 72761 (confirm phone)
WIC, immunizations, vital records (birth/death certificates), STD/HIV, family planning, environmental health
Multiple DHS locations in county given population size
Recommended
Search Benton County public records for Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Bella Vista, and Benton County residents.
Courts & Legal
Benton County Circuit Clerk at 215 E. Central Avenue, Suite 320, Bentonville, AR 72712, phone 479-271-1015, handles probate.
Senior Services
Area Agency on Aging: Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District (NWAEDD) — Area Agency on Aging
Meals on Wheels, transportation, senior centers
Note: Large and growing senior population as NW Arkansas attracts retirees
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
215 E. Central Ave., Bentonville, AR 72712
(479) 271-1015
CIRCUIT CLERK (Deeds, Court Records)
215 E. Central Ave., Bentonville, AR 72712
(479) 271-1011
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Benton County Clerk, Probate Division (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society, P.O. Box K, Rogers, AR 72757 – covers Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington counties.
Benton County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1034, Bentonville, AR 72712
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
In Benton County, probate matters are handled by the County Clerk’s Office, while other Circuit Court matters (civil, criminal, domestic relations, juvenile) go through the separate Circuit Clerk. Make sure you’re contacting the right office.
Benton County Clerk – Probate Division 102 NE A Street, Bentonville, AR 72712 (479) 271-1013 (Probate Division specifically); (479) 271-1015 (Circuit Clerk, for other case types) Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Arkansas has one of the more generous small-estate thresholds in the country, so check this first.
Small Estate Affidavit – for estates where total property value (after debts, excluding the homestead and statutory spousal/minor-child allowances) is $100,000 or less. Available 45 days after the death. Filed using Form 23 (Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate by Distributee) under Ark. Code § 28-41-101 – no personal representative is appointed, and no full administration is needed.
Independent Administration – available when the will authorizes it, or when all heirs agree to it. The personal representative acts with minimal court oversight at each step.
Supervised Administration – the traditional, more heavily court-involved track; used for contested estates or when independent administration isn’t available or agreed to.
Administration with Will Annexed – used when a valid will doesn’t name an executor, or the named executor can’t or won’t serve.
If using the small estate affidavit
Wait at least 45 days after the death.
Confirm the estate’s total value (after debts, excluding homestead and statutory allowances) is $100,000 or less and there are no unresolved claims against the estate.
Complete Form 23, the Affidavit for Collection of Small Estate by Distributee, listing the property and heirs.
File it with the Probate Clerk, or present it with a certified death certificate directly to banks or other institutions holding the property.
If filing for independent or supervised administration
Gather the original will (if any), a certified death certificate, a list of assets/debts, and names of heirs.
File a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative (Form 3, if there’s a will) or a Petition for Appointment of Administrator/Administratrix (Form 2, if there isn’t) with the Probate Division. Filing fee is $165.
If there’s a will, the court formally admits it to probate; the court then issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The personal representative must file an inventory of estate assets within 2 months of appointment.
Creditor notice must be published in a local newspaper, plus direct notice to known creditors; creditors then have 6 months from the date of first publication to file claims.
If independent administration applies, the personal representative can act on most matters without seeking court approval at each step.
After debts are resolved, the personal representative files a final settlement with the court; once approved, the estate closes.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no separate court filing fee (a nominal recording fee may apply depending on what’s being transferred).
Formal probate filing fee: $165 (may vary somewhat by county).
Personal representative and attorney compensation: no fixed statutory rate – courts typically look to roughly 2–5% of the estate’s value as a reasonable baseline, subject to court approval as “just and reasonable.”
No state estate tax or inheritance tax in Arkansas.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
1300 S.W. 14th St., Bentonville, AR 72712
(479) 271-1008
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Unit
(479) 271-1000
DHS / SNAP / Medicaid
(800) 482-8988
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Benton County Health Unit – (479) 271-1072
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records, restaurant inspections
Hospital: Mercy Hospital Rogers – (479) 338-8000; Northwest Medical Center (Bentonville) – (479) 553-1000; multiple facilities reflecting county’s wealth and growth
Notes: NW Arkansas has excellent healthcare for a non-metro area driven by Walmart headquarters presence; Mercy and Highlands Oncology are strong; population growth driving healthcare investment; international vendor community creates multilingual health service demands (significant Hispanic, Korean, Chinese, Indian communities from Walmart supply chain)
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Bentonville
Population: 290,000
Area: 848 sq mi
Established: 1836
Tier: 2
Public Records
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