ROOTED HERE
Behind the downtown streets.
A whole city’s story.
Bentonville brings a historic square, contemporary art and Northwest Arkansas cycling into one growing city.
People made the city.
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The history of Bentonville, Arkansas
A local history film shared by World History Official tv.
Watch on YouTube ↗- 1837
A county seat is selected
The site was designated as the Benton County seat and named Bentonville.
City of Bentonville ↗ - 1838
A small new town
The city history records a population of about 30 residents.
City of Bentonville ↗ - 1860s
Civil War destruction
The city's historical account says all but twelve buildings were burned during the Civil War.
City of Bentonville ↗ - 1873
Bentonville incorporates
Bentonville incorporated as a town after its petition and certification process.
City of Bentonville ↗ - 1900
Municipal utilities
By the turn of the century, Bentonville operated a city-owned light and water plant.
City of Bentonville ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk downtown to see surviving commercial architecture, then explore the Historical Preservation Society’s museum and visiting information. Check current opening dates before setting out. Historical Preservation Society.
For deeper research, the Bentonville library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.