Bella Vista
Bella Vista is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. First established in 1917 as a summer resort destination, Bella Vista has evolved and redesigned itself over the succeeding years. 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.
Amenities include numerous parks, clubhouses with workout areas, swimming pools, five 18-hole golf courses, two nine-hole golf courses, seven lakes with fishing and boat docks (three ski lakes), a marina, swimming beach, putt-putt golf courses and tennis courts, dog park, softball field, and extensive hiking and biking trails.
The city of Bella Vista is located on the Springfield Plateau of the Ozark Mountains. Oak/hickory forests, along with valleys, creeks, and steep rises, characterize the city's topography. Bella Vista is located north of Bentonville and Rogers within the Northwest Arkansas region. The city has been experiencing a population and building boom in recent years, as indicated by a 60% growth in population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.