Centerton, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Centerton, Arkansas
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Location of Centerton in Benton County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Benton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.78 sq mi (35.69 km2) |
| • Land | 13.64 sq mi (35.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.35 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,309 ft (399 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,792 |
| • Density | 1,304.21/sq mi (503.56/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
72719
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| Area code(s) | 479 |
| FIPS code | 05-12820 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404021 |
Centerton is a growing city in Benton County, Arkansas. It's located west of Bentonville along Highway 102. Centerton started as a small railroad stop and a place where fruit was grown in the early 1900s.
Today, it has become a popular bedroom community for people working in the fast-growing Northwest Arkansas (NWA) area. The city's population has grown a lot, from just 491 people in 1990 to over 17,000 in 2020. Centerton is known as one of Arkansas's fastest-growing and safest cities.
Contents
Centerton's History
Centerton's story began with natural springs, like McKissick Spring, which attracted early settlers and Native American hunters. A church and school were built near the spring. They called the area Center Point because it was in the middle of Benton County.
During the American Civil War, Union soldiers camped at McKissick Spring in 1862. This was just before a big battle called the Battle of Pea Ridge.
After the war, a railroad line was built through western Benton County around 1900. This railroad connected towns and helped farmers sell their apples and strawberries. This brought money and more people to the area. The town's name was changed to Centerton because another town in Arkansas was already called Center Point.
Centerton's Geography
Centerton is located near the center of Benton County. Arkansas Highway 102 goes right through the city. This highway leads east about 5 miles (8 km) to Bentonville and west about 11 miles (18 km) to Decatur.
The city covers a total area of about 13.8 square miles (35.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Northwest Arkansas Region
Centerton is part of the larger Northwest Arkansas (NWA) region. This region includes three counties: Benton, Madison, and Washington. NWA has grown very quickly. In 2000, about 347,000 people lived there. By 2010, the population had grown to over 463,000!
Centerton is now mostly a suburb of Bentonville. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is located south of Centerton. This airport connects the entire NWA region to other parts of the country. For more than ten years, Northwest Arkansas has been one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States.
Centerton's Population Growth
Centerton has seen a lot of growth in its population over the years. Here's how the population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 212 | — | |
| 1930 | 206 | −2.8% | |
| 1940 | 219 | 6.3% | |
| 1950 | 200 | −8.7% | |
| 1960 | 177 | −11.5% | |
| 1970 | 312 | 76.3% | |
| 1980 | 425 | 36.2% | |
| 1990 | 491 | 15.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,146 | 337.1% | |
| 2010 | 9,515 | 343.4% | |
| 2020 | 17,792 | 87.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 23,953 | 151.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
What the 2020 Census Shows
The 2020 United States census counted 17,792 people living in Centerton. There were almost 5,000 households and over 3,700 families in the city.
Centerton's Economy
The economy of Northwest Arkansas used to be mainly about farming and raising chickens. But in recent years, the area's economy has grown and changed a lot. This is thanks to large companies based here.
Some of these big companies include Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt. There's also a growing University of Arkansas and many cultural attractions. Even during tough economic times, NWA's economy has done better than many other areas.
Many new jobs have been created in fields like education, health care, and hospitality. These are jobs related to hotels, restaurants, and entertainment. While some older industries like manufacturing have seen fewer jobs, the overall economy in Northwest Arkansas continues to grow strong.
Education in Centerton
Most students in Centerton attend public schools run by the Bentonville School District. A small part of Centerton, to the west, is in the Decatur School District.
Centerton is home to several schools within the Bentonville district. These include Centerton Gamble Elementary School for younger students. Other elementary schools like Elm Tree, Mary Mae Jones, Osage Creek, and Vaughn also serve parts of Centerton.
For middle school, students might go to Ardis Ann, Creekside, or Ruth Barker Middle School. For junior high, many attend Grimsley Junior High School in Centerton. All students in the Bentonville district living in Centerton go to Bentonville West High School, which is also in Centerton.
Students in the Decatur School District attend Decatur High School. Centerton also has a private school called Lifeway Christian School. It teaches students from preschool all the way through 12th grade.
See also
In Spanish: Centerton para niños
