Bella Vista, Arkansas

Bella Vista is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 30,102 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 32,368 in 2023. The community has taken advantage of the natural setting within the Springfield Plateau of the Ozark Mountains since first established in 1917 as a summer resort destination. The oak/hickory forests, valleys, creeks, and steep rises that characterize the city's topography have slowly given way to a series of reservoirs, golf courses, and other amenities. A largely residential city, early settlement was predominantly summer cabins, later giving way to single-family housing of a retirement community developed by Cooper Communities with services and amenities provided by a strong property owners' association (POA).

Located within the Northwest Arkansas region, the city has been experiencing a population and building boom in recent years, as indicated by an 82% growth in population between the 2000 and 2020 censuses, largely as a bedroom community for nearby Bentonville and Rogers. Residents voted to incorporate in 2006, supplanting the POA with municipal government for most essential services.

History

The area now encompassed by Bella Vista was used by roving bands of Osage and Delaware who used the area for seasonal hunting grounds. A prominent rock shelter known as Hay Bluff along US 71 was used by various groups in the area and remains an important archaeological site, before later being used by early settlers to store hay. The area was established as a primitive summer resort in 1909 by a Bentonville minister who envisioned golf, tennis, and inexpensive lots for summer cabins. In 1915, Lake Bella Vista was created by damming Little Sugar Creek. By 1916, the resort was sold to the Linebarger Brothers Realty Company, who further developed the resort to include more amenities, including the Sunset Hotel and Wonderland Cave nightclub. Early cabins recognized on the National Register of Historic Places include Blackwell-Paisley Cabin, Bogan Cabin, Hagler-Cole Cabin, Lamberton Cabin, Pharr Cabin, Princedom Cabin, and Sutherlin Cabin. The resort began catering to city dwellers with automobiles and came to include "colonies" of residents from Dallas, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Bella Vista became a retirement community in 1965, and, after much contention and a 2006 vote of its property owners, became an incorporated city. Following its official incorporation on January 1, 2007, the new city government took over the police department, fire department, streets, trash removal and other city functions, while the Property Owners Association (POA) retained control of the many amenities available to members (property owners) and their guests.

Geography

Bella Vista is located in northern Benton County. Its northern border is the Missouri state line. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (3.35%) is water, consisting mainly of the several lakes within the city.

Demographics

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 12,894 estimated households in Bella Vista with an average of 2.39 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $85,932. Approximately 3.5% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Bella Vista has an estimated 52.5% employment rate, with 37.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 96.1% holding a high school diploma.

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (97.7%), Spanish (1.6%), Indo-European (0.3%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.4%), and Other (0.0%).

The median age in the city was 51.5 years.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 30,104 people, 12,986 households, and 9,373 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 14,062 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.65% White, 0.71% African American, 1.04% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from some other races and 7.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.50% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 26,461 people, 12,986 households, and _ families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 13,241 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 0.66% African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from some other races and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.60% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 16,582 people, 7,818 households, and 6,004 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 8,854 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.87% White, 0.18% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from some other races and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.01% of the population.

There were 7,818 households out of which 13.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.4% are married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.38.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 12.3% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 16.4% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 41.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,090, and the median income for a family was $48,233. Males had a median income of $34,547 versus $24,690 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,406. About 1.5% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under the age of 18 and 1.0% of those 65 and older.

Government

Bella Vista's Declarations and Protective Covenants is the "rule book" that governs the POA. The Property Owners Association must follow this "rule book" composed of various articles. There are Class A and Class B members of the POA. Class B refers to Cooper Communities, the land developer, who gets 10 votes per lot owned and Class A refers to lot private lot purchasers who receive one vote per lot owned. Cooper Communities now owns too few lots to sway the vote. Both Class A and class B members must approve a vote before it is binding.

The POA is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors who serve three-year terms. They set the direction and long-term objectives for the POA guided by Bella Vista's declarations and protective covenants. The day-to-day activity of the POA is directed by its general manager, with division heads and site managers responsible for the various departments and facilities.

The residents voted in 2006 to incorporate as an official city effective January 1, 2007. The POA still remains intact to service the recreational amenities and provide water, but the City of Bella Vista now has responsibility for police, fire, streets, library, community development, and other services.

Parks and recreation

Lakes

Bella Vista has seven lakes. These lakes are not "public" in that only members of the community or their guests are permitted to use them. Lake Ann, Lake Windsor, and Lake Loch Lomond are the largest all-sports lakes in the town. Lake Avalon, Lake Norwood, and Lake Rayburn are primarily fishing lakes with "no-wake" restrictions. Current POA boat permits are required, as are Arkansas fishing licenses, when fishing Bella Vista lakes. No personal water crafts (AKA: Jet Skis) are allowed on any of the Bella Vista lakes, however, only 20 miles east of Bella Vista is Beaver Lake, a 31,700 acre US Army Corps of Engineers Lake, and Jet Skis are welcome there.

*Lake Ann (, el. ) is a small man-made water sport reservoir with of surface area. The lake was created by damming a small west flowing stream in Pinion Hollow that is a tributary to Little Sugar Creek.''Bentonville North, Arkansas,'' 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1970 (1982 rev.)''Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer,'' DeLorme, 2004, 2nd edition, p. 22, Because it is deep with no power limit, water skiing is allowed on Lake Ann.
* Lake Windsor (, el. ) is the second largest of the lakes, covering with a maximum depth of . The lake is on Tanyard Creek just upstream from its confluence with Little Sugar Creek. Lake Windsor is also an unlimited power lake, and water skiing is allowed.
*Loch Lomond is the largest of all the lakes in the city. It is deep and covers . There is no power limit, skiing is allowed, and boat rental is offered.
*Lake Avalon is a limited-power lake that features an enclosed, heated fishing dock located off Tamworth Circle. This lake covers and is deep.
* Lake Brittany (, el. ) is deep, has a surface area and is a limited-power lake. It is located on a small north flowing tributary to Pinion Hollow and lies upstream of Lake Ann off Trafalgar Road.
*Lake Norwood, located just north of Bella Vista's Town Center, has of surface area and is deep. The Lake Norwood launching ramp is located north of Harp's Food Store in Town Center. This is a limited-power lake.
*Lake Rayburn is deep and has a surface area. This lake has limited-power regulations. It also features a designated swimming area and a launching ramp that is accessible from Lakeside Drive.

Trails

Lake Bella Vista, formerly part of Bella Vista, and the 1.8 mile walking/biking trail that goes around the lake is now part of the City of Bentonville Parks system. In the center of Bella Vista is the Tanyard Creek Nature Trail below the Lake Windsor dam. It has a footbridge and some waterfalls except during dry times. In October 2016 the City of Bella Vista, with the cooperation of the Property Owners Association, opened of hiking and mountain bike trails entitled 'The Back 40' which is located on the east side of the city. The Little Sugar trail system, which was designed and built for mountain biking and opened in 2019, is located in the central part of the city and features approximately 50 mi (80 km) of trails. In July 2023, the Bella Vista Property Owners Association approved by a 7-1 vote the construction of 7 new trails. The trail Master Plan developed in 2015 shows of trails to be built by 2025.

Education

The following school districts serve the city. On the east side is the Bentonville School District, and on the west side is Gravette School District. A few blocks in the east are zoned to the Pea Ridge School District.

The Bentonville portion is zoned to the following schools:
* Cooper Elementary School, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, and Sugar Creek Elementary School have separate sections.
* Most of the section is zoned to Old High Middle while some sections to the southeast are zoned to Ruth Barker Middle School and some to the southwest are zoned to Ardis Ann Middle School.
* Washington Junior High School and Lincoln Junior High School have separate sections.
* All of that portion of Bella Vista is zoned to Bentonville High School.

Also serving the city is a private preschool, Bella Vista Montessori Academy. Cooper Elementary, part of the Bentonville District, is a K-4. The Bentonville School district is planning two new schools for Bella Vista students.

Northwest Arkansas Community College is also part of the community, with its main branch in Bentonville near I-49 Exit 86.

Infrastructure

Electricity

Carroll Electric Cooperative provides electricity for Bella Vista residents.

Public safety

The Bella Vista Fire Department is a career fire department with four fully staffed fire stations. There are three shifts with 21 career firefighters on each shift. The fire department also provides Advanced Life Support paramedic service to the city with six ambulances. In 2010, the department took control over the Bella Vista Ambulance Services.

Transportation

The final segment of Interstate 49 (I-49), which runs from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Kansas City, Missouri, was completed around Bella Vista on October 1, 2021. The new route bypassed Bella Vista to the south and west, removing through traffic from Highway 71, which had seen increasing traffic congestion over the decades. I-49 has four exits providing access to Bella Vista: US 71 (Bella Vista Way), two exits with Highway 72, and Benton County Road 34 (CR 34, Rocky Dell Hollow Road).

Bella Vista Way is a four-lane controlled access divided highway that bisects the city from north to south. Two Arkansas state highways cross Bella Vista: Highway 279 (Forest Hills Boulevard) runs north-south from Gravette to Missouri, and Highway 340 (Lancashire Boulevard) from east to west from Highway 279 to Missouri. Almost all of the remaining street network in Bella Vista is laid out using a street hierarchy typical of large residential subdivisions, with hundreds of cul-de-sac streets.

Solid waste

The City of Bella Vista contracts with Republic Services for trash collection. There also are two semi-annual pick ups of large items.

Stump Dump Fire of 2018

A dump site had begun an underground fire in August 2018. In December 2018, health officials declared the air within a half-mile radius around the property was at unhealthy levels on one occasion. An emergency declaration was made by Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The Bella Vista POA took over this project in early May 2019 and had the fire extinguished in less than 30 days.

Water and wastewater

The POA provides water service to Bella Vista residents. Village Waste Water provides sewer service to portions of Bella Vista.

Notable people

* Donna Hutchinson, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2007 to 2013
* Jim Sheets, member of the Arkansas House from 1967 to 1968 in the Winthrop Rockefeller administration, retired resident of Bella Vista
* Garth Smith, award winning pianist, composer and musician noted for his contributions to LDS Gospel Music.

See also

* Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel

References

External links

City of Bella Vista – official website

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Cities in Benton County, Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas
Former census-designated places in Arkansas
Cities in Arkansas
Populated places established in 2006
1917 establishments in Arkansas