Economic Development


Bentonville/Bella Vista is a great place to locate new business and industry thanks to the quality of life and an educated and able work force. Milken Institute consistently rates the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR/MO Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as one of the top Best Economic Performers.

Bentonville is home to the Wal-Mart, Inc. general offices. Northwest Arkansas is also home of several other large corporations including Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt and the University of Arkansas.

The University of Arkansas projects NW Arkansas will surpass Pulaski County (Little Rock) in population before 2025! The US Census Bureau has added McDonald County, Missouri and Madison County, Arkansas to our MSA due to the number of their residents who commute here to work shop and dine.

Arkansas Business
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
Northwest Arkansas Council


The U.S. Census Bureau has released new population data for the State of Arkansas. The report shows that Benton County is now the second largest county in the state with a population of 221,339. This is an increase of 44.3 percent from the 2000 Census. Benton County growth was led by the City of Bentonville with a 78.9 percent population increase, coming in at 35,301 people, and the City of Bella Vista, with a 59.6 percent population increase, at 26,461 people. Officials with the state will use the new census data to redraw the political boundaries in the state.

The full report is located at this link:
U.S. Census Bureau

NW Arkansas population, growth rates, and number of people added:

Bentonville 35,301 78.9 percent 15,571 people added
Bella Vista 26,461 59.6 percent 9,879 people added
Springdale 69,797 52.4 percent 23,999 people added
Rogers 55,964 44.1 percent 17,135 people added
Fayetteville 73,580 26.8 percent 15,533 people added
Benton County 221,339 44.3 percent 67,933 people added
Washington County 203,065 28.8 percent 45,350 people added


The state legislature is in session and here are a few websites links to keep up with the session and be able to sign up for daily updates:

Arkansas State Chamber
Arkansas State Legislature
Arkansas House of Representatives
Arkansas Senate

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