November 7, 2006

The citizens of Bella Vista (Benton County) voted by a two-to-one margin for incorporation. In unison with the incorporation vote, town government elections were held for eight positions (mayor, recorder/treasurer, city attorney, and five aldermen). Census Bureau statistics show that the percentage of residents age sixty-five and older dropped in 2000 to 21.4 percent from 49.1 percent in 1990. Children of school age in Bella Vista accounted for 19.1 percent of Bentonville School District students in 2006. In 2006, the Bentonville School District began construction of an elementary school on the east side of Bella Vista to accommodate 750 students. Bella Vista has changed from a retirement community to a bedroom community, primarily for the Walmart Home Office and nearby Walmart vendor companies.