Bella Vista, Arkansas

Bella Vista is in Benton County in Northwest Arkansas. Spreading out over approximately 46 square miles on the Springfield Plateau of the Ozark Mountains, it is populated with oak/hickory forests, along with valleys, creeks, and steep rises.

First established in 1917 as a summer resort destination, Bella Vista has evolved and redesigned itself over the succeeding years. Bella Vista became a retirement community in 1965, and, after much contention and a 2006 vote of its property owners, became an incorporated city. Following its official incorporation on January 1, 2007, the new city government took over the police department, fire department, streets, trash removal and other city functions, while the Property Owners Association (POA) retained control of the many amenities available to Property Owners and their guests. Amenities include restaurants, numerous parks, clubhouses with workout areas, swimming pools, five 18 hole golf courses, two nine-hole golf courses, seven lakes with fishing and boating, a marina, swimming beach, tennis courts, dog park, and hiking and biking trails.

The area has been experiencing a population and building boom in recent years, as indicated by a 60% growth in population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.