Bella Vista, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bella Vista, Arkansas
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Clockwise, from top: Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel, Lake Ann, Bella Vista golf, and a waterfall along Tanyard Creek
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Location of Bella Vista in Benton County, Arkansas
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 Bella Vista, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Bella Vista, Arkansas
Location in the United States
Bella Vista, Arkansas
Location in North America
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Arkansas | |
| County | Benton | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 46.88 sq mi (121.41 km2) | |
| • Land | 45.30 sq mi (117.34 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,204 ft (367 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 30,104 | |
| • Density | 664.47/sq mi (256.55/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
72714, 72715
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| Area code(s) | 479 | |
| FIPS code | 05-04840 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405233 | |
Bella Vista is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. It's known for its beautiful natural setting in the Ozark Mountains. The city started as a summer vacation spot in 1917.
Bella Vista has lovely forests, valleys, and creeks. Over time, it has added lakes, golf courses, and other fun places. At first, people built summer cabins here. Later, it became a popular place for people to retire. A group called the Property Owners Association (POA) helped manage services and fun activities.
Bella Vista is in Northwest Arkansas. The city has grown a lot recently, with its population increasing by 82% between 2000 and 2020. Many people live here and work in nearby cities like Bentonville and Rogers. In 2006, residents voted to make Bella Vista an official city. This meant the city government took over many important services from the POA.
Contents
History of Bella Vista
The land where Bella Vista is now was once used by the Osage and Delaware tribes for hunting. A special rock shelter called Hay Bluff was used by different groups and is an important archaeological site. Early settlers later used it to store hay.
In 1909, a minister from Bentonville started a simple summer resort here. He imagined a place with golf, tennis, and affordable cabins for summer visitors. In 1915, Lake Bella Vista was created by building a dam on Little Sugar Creek.
By 1916, the resort was sold to the Linebarger Brothers Realty Company. They added more fun things to do, like the Sunset Hotel and the Wonderland Cave nightclub. Some of the early cabins are now recognized as historic places. These include the Blackwell-Paisley Cabin and the Sutherlin Cabin. The resort became popular with city people who owned cars, and even had special areas for visitors from Dallas, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In 1965, Bella Vista became a community for people who were retired. After a vote in 2006, it officially became an incorporated city on January 1, 2007. The new city government took over services like the police, fire department, streets, and trash collection. The Property Owners Association (POA) still manages many of the fun activities and places for its members and their guests.
Where is Bella Vista?
Bella Vista is located in the northern part of Benton County, Arkansas. Its northern edge touches the state line of Missouri.
The city covers about 46.88 square miles (121.41 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 1.57 square miles (4.07 square kilometers) is water, mainly from the many lakes within the city.
Bella Vista's Population
Bella Vista has grown a lot over the years. In 1980, about 2,589 people lived here. By 2020, the population had grown to 30,104 people. This shows how popular the city has become!
In 2020, there were over 30,000 people living in Bella Vista. There were also more than 12,000 households and nearly 9,000 families living in the city.
Fun Things to Do in Bella Vista
Lakes for Fun and Fishing
Bella Vista has seven beautiful lakes. These lakes are mostly for people who live in the community or their guests.
- Lake Ann is a smaller lake that's great for water sports. It covers about 112.5 acres and is about 53.5 feet deep. You can even go water skiing here!
- Lake Windsor is the second largest lake, covering 220 acres. It's about 79.5 feet deep. Like Lake Ann, it's an "unlimited power" lake, so you can enjoy water skiing.
- Loch Lomond is the biggest lake in Bella Vista. It's 80 feet deep and covers 477 acres. You can ski here, and you can even rent boats.
- Lake Avalon is a "limited-power" lake, meaning boats with very powerful engines are not allowed. It has a heated fishing dock. This lake covers 67 acres and is 50 feet deep.
- Lake Brittany is another limited-power lake. It's 77 feet deep and covers 35 acres.
- Lake Norwood is near the center of Bella Vista. It covers 34.5 acres and is 75 feet deep. This is also a limited-power lake.
- Lake Rayburn is 60 feet deep and covers 47 acres. It's a limited-power lake and has a special swimming area.
If you want to fish in Bella Vista's lakes, you need a special boat permit from the POA and an Arkansas fishing license. You can't use personal watercraft like Jet Skis on these lakes. However, Beaver Lake, which is a large lake, is just 20 miles east and allows Jet Skis.
Trails for Hiking and Biking
The walking and biking trail around Lake Bella Vista is now part of Bentonville's park system. In the middle of Bella Vista, you'll find the Tanyard Creek Nature Trail. It has a footbridge and some waterfalls, especially after it rains.
In 2016, Bella Vista opened 'The Back 40' trails, which are about 40 miles (64 km) long. These trails are great for hiking and mountain biking. The Little Sugar trail system opened in 2019 and has about 50 miles (80 km) of trails, perfect for mountain biking. The city plans to build even more trails, with a goal of 150 miles (240 km) by 2025!
Education in Bella Vista
Students in Bella Vista attend schools in different school districts. Most students go to the Bentonville School District. Some parts of the city are served by the Gravette School District or the Pea Ridge School District.
For students in the Bentonville School District, there are several elementary schools like Cooper, Thomas Jefferson, and Sugar Creek. Middle schools include Old High, Ruth Barker, and Ardis Ann. Junior high schools are Washington and Lincoln. All high school students in this part of Bella Vista go to Bentonville High School.
There is also a private preschool called Bella Vista Montessori Academy. The Bentonville School District is planning to build two new schools for Bella Vista students in the future.
Northwest Arkansas Community College also serves the community. Its main campus is in Bentonville.
Getting Around Bella Vista
Roads and Highways
A major highway, Interstate 49 (I-49), was finished around Bella Vista in 2021. This new route helps traffic flow better by going around the city instead of through it. I-49 has four exits that connect to Bella Vista.
Bella Vista Way, also known as Highway 71, is a four-lane highway that runs through the city from north to south. Two other state highways cross Bella Vista: Highway 279 (Forest Hills Boulevard) and Highway 340 (Lancashire Boulevard). Most of the other streets in Bella Vista are designed like those in large neighborhoods, with many cul-de-sac streets.
Trash and Recycling
The City of Bella Vista works with Republic Services for trash collection. They also offer two special pick-ups each year for larger items that don't fit in regular trash bins.
Notable People from Bella Vista
- Donna Hutchinson, who was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
- Jim Sheets, who also served in the Arkansas House.
- Garth Smith, an award-winning pianist and composer.
See also
In Spanish: Bella Vista (Arkansas) para niños
