Benton County was founded in 1836 and was the first county in Arkansas. Agriculture was the primary business of the county with pears and apples among the main crops. Today, poultry and cattle are important products. Benton County’s location on the Ozark Plateau provided serene beauty and plenty of recreation. The plateau was created by water eroding the limestone cliffs. The White River originates on the plateau and is a world-class trout river. Beaver Lake is the northern-most lake along the White River. Completed in 1966, Beaver Lake has 487 miles of shoreline. There are cabins, resorts and lodges around the lake, along with over 650 campsites. Large- and small-mouth bass, crappie, bream, catfish and stripers of the fish that fisherman can catch in the lake. Sailing, boating and scuba diving are also popular activities in the area.

Less than five miles from Bentonville was the site of the Battle of Pea Ridge. This well-preserved battlefield is part of Pea Ridge National Military Park. On March 7th and 8th, 1862, 26,000 soldiers fought to determine whether Missouri would become a Confederate state. More than 10,000 Union soldiers prevailed by beating 16,000 Confederate men to ensure that Missouri would remain part of the Union.

Memorial Park in Bentonville contains a Benton County Memorial honoring the fallen soldiers. The park is also home to the Ford Aquatic Center with an Olympic-sized pool and a 52-foot water slide into a separate diving pool. A wading pool features a raindrop fountain. The park has lighted tennis courts, ball fields, and two playgrounds. Other Bentonville city parks include Lake Bentonville Park – featuring a fishing lake with docks, a pavilion, picnic areas and play structures – and Park Springs Park, which offers a scenic nature trail through 18 wooded acres as well as a playground and picnic areas.

Historic buildings in Bentonville include the Benton County Court House, built in 1928. The neo-classic building was designed by A. O. Clark and cost approximately $200,000 to construct. A. O. Clark also designed the Massey Hotel. In addition to being a hotel, the building also served as a train ticket office, radio station, gift shop and barbershop. Today the Bentonville City Library is housed in the Massey Hotel. The Ole’ Applegate Place Country Store is located on the square in a restored building in Bentonville’s historic downtown. The town square also houses a Civil War statue, and beautiful gardens with benches and fountains.

The Andy Lynch Log Cabin was moved from Brightwater, Arkansas to the site of the Peel House. This pre-Civil War cabin functions as the gatehouse and gift shop for the Peel Mansion. The Peel Mansion is by far the most famous of the historic buildings in Bentonville. Built in 1875 by Colonel Samuel West Peel, the Italianate home has been accurately restored and furnished to the period. The Peel House Archival Library is home to historic organizations including the Benton County Preservation Project and the Benton County Historical Society.

Bentonville is also the international headquarter of Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart Visitors Center is located on the square in Sam Walton’s original Bentonville variety store. The circa 1886 building was first a post office, a drug store and an office before becoming Sam Walton’s first store. Today the Visitors Center traces the history of the largest retail conglomerate in America.