Bella Vista, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Bella Vista is a city in Benton County
, Arkansas
. It previously was the largest unincorporated community in the state of Arkansas; however, in November 2006 it voted to incorporate and form a municipality
. The Bella Vista Property Owners Association estimates that there are currently 24,000 residents in the community, which covers about 65 square miles (168.3 km²). As of the 2010 census the current population is 26,461. The town has two USPS ZIP code
s: 72714 on the east side and 72715 on the west side. It is part of the Fayetteville
–Springdale
–Rogers
, AR-MO
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
First established in 1965, the village is located on U.S. Route 71
at the end of Interstate 540
between Bentonville
and the Missouri
state line. Although originally primarily an affluent retirement community, recent growth includes many young couples and families. Prior to incorporation, Bella Vista was "governed" by its Property Owners Association, a private organization performing all the normal functions of a local government.
Bella Vista has eight lake
s. 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.
Bella Vista Lake has a 1.8-mile (2.9 km) long walking/biking trail that goes around the lake. (The trail, however, is actually maintained by the City of Bentonville
.) Tanyard Creek
is another walking trail off Lake Windsor in the center of the village. It has a footbridge
and some waterfall
s except during dry times.
, the CDP had a total area of 66.4 square miles (172 km²). 65.6 square miles (169.9 km²) of it was land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (1.19%) was water.
of 2000, there were 16,582 people, 7,818 households, and 6,004 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 252.8 inhabitants per square mile (97.6/km²). There are 8,854 housing units at an average density of 135.0 per square mile (52.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.87% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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.
Bella Vista's Declarations and Protective Covenants is the "rule book" that governs the village. The Property Owners Association must follow this "rule book" composed of various articles. There are Class A and Class B members of Bella Vista Village. Class B refers to Cooper who gets 10 votes per lot owned and Class A refers to lots owners who receive one vote per lot owned. However, Cooper 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 the village’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 throughout the village.
Recently, the Village members have voted to incorporate as an official city. The POA still remains intact to service the recreational amenities but the City of Bella Vista has now assumed many of the functional and infrastructure responsibilities.
The Bella Vista Fire Department
logged 454 incidents in 2005. Total fire loss for 2005 in Bella Vista was $
216,700, due to a $208,000 building fire and an $8,700 vehicle fire.
(trash pick-up) service to Bella Vista residents. There also are two semi-annual pick ups of large items. Carroll Electric Cooperative
provides electricity for Bella Vista residents. Phone service is provided by SBC, and cable television
is provided by Cox Communications
. Village Waste Water provides sewer
service to portions of Bella Vista.
, golfing and watersports economy that comes alive every year. National Recreational Properties is currently advertising Bella Vista in television
infomercial
s. Actor
Erik Estrada
is their spokesman.
issues currently exist for Bella Vista, where traffic
levels are quickly increasing.
Google provides a map showing the spur route
Interstate 540
in Arkansas and the Interstate-standard US 71 in Missouri, which will eventually connect to become part of a long planned future Interstate 49
. Some local refer to this as a western bypass or bypass of the current US 71 that runs through Bella Vista. Many in Arkansas and Missouri, especially truckers, are desperate to see the highway fully connected and flowing due to current traffic congestion. On April 13, 2006 the AR Highway Commission approved the use of Tolls to finance construction.
Benton County, Arkansas
Benton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the population was 153,406. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 population is 221,339. The county seat is Bentonville. Benton County was formed on 30 September 1836 and was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. It previously was the largest unincorporated community in the state of Arkansas; however, in November 2006 it voted to incorporate and form a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
. The Bella Vista Property Owners Association estimates that there are currently 24,000 residents in the community, which covers about 65 square miles (168.3 km²). As of the 2010 census the current population is 26,461. The town has two USPS ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s: 72714 on the east side and 72715 on the west side. It is part of the Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
–Springdale
Springdale, Arkansas
As of the census of 2010, there were 69,797 people, 22,805 households, and 16,640 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 64.7% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 5.7% Pacific Islander, 22% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more...
–Rogers
Rogers, Arkansas
Rogers is a suburban city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 55,964. The city is located in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Area, in the northwest corner of the state.-History:...
, AR-MO
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Area
The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area as defined by the United States Census Bureau is a four-county area including three Arkansas counties and one Missouri county...
.
First established in 1965, the village is located on U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71 is a north–south United States highway. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstate highways. Currently, the highway's northern terminus is in International Falls, Minnesota at the Canadian border, at the southern end of the Fort...
at the end of Interstate 540
Interstate 540
Interstate 540 may mean:*Interstate 540 , a spur to Fort Smith, Arkansas and Bentonville, Arkansas*Interstate 540 , an incomplete loop route in Raleigh, North Carolina...
between Bentonville
Bentonville, Arkansas
Bentonville, Arkansas is a city in Northwest Bahamas, and county seat of Benton County, Arkansas, United States The population was 35,301 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and the Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
state line. Although originally primarily an affluent retirement community, recent growth includes many young couples and families. Prior to incorporation, Bella Vista was "governed" by its Property Owners Association, a private organization performing all the normal functions of a local government.
Recreation
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s. 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
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
lakes with "no wake" restrictions. Current POA boat permits are required as are Arkansas fishing licenses, when fishing Bella Vista lakes.
- Lake AnnLake Ann (Arkansas)Lake Ann is one of eight private lakes in Bella Vista, Arkansas....
is an all-water sport lake with 112.5 acre (0.45527175 km²) of surface area. Because it is 53.5 feet (16.3 m) deep with no power limit, water skiingWater skiingthumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
is allowed on Lake Ann. - Lake WindsorLake WindsorLake Windsor is one of the eight lakes in Bella Vista Village in Northwest Arkansas, United States ....
is the second largest of the lakes, covering 220 acre (0.8903092 km²) with a maximum depth of 79.5 feet (24.2 m). Lake Windsor is also an unlimited power lake, and water skiing is allowed. - Loch Lomond is the largest of all the lakes in the Village. It is 80 feet (24.4 m) deep and covers 477 acres (1.9 km²). 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 67 acres (271,139.6 m²) and is 50 feet (15.2 m) deep.
- Lake BrittanyLake BrittanyLake Brittany is one of the eight lakes in Bella Vista in Northwest Arkansas. It is located on the east side of Bella Vista. The dam is off Trafalgar Rd....
is 77 feet (23.5 m) deep, has a 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) surface area and is a limited-power lake. Although there is currently no launching ramp, the terrain is suitable for launching. - Lake Norwood, located just north of Bella Vista's Town Center, has 34.5 acres (139,616.7 m²) of surface area and is 75 feet (22.9 m) 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 60 feet (18.3 m) deep and has a 47 acres (190,202.4 m²) 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.
- Lake Bella Vista is located just off Highway 71. This lake covers 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) and is 8 feet (2.4 m) deep. Technically, Lake Bella Vista was acquired by the neighboring city of Bentonville and is not part of Bella Vista; the membership rights do not extend or apply to this lake.
Bentonville, Arkansas
Bentonville, Arkansas is a city in Northwest Bahamas, and county seat of Benton County, Arkansas, United States The population was 35,301 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.) Tanyard Creek
Tanyard Creek
Tanyard Creek is a stream that flows from Lake Windsor to Little Sugar Creek in Bella Vista, a city in northwest Arkansas. The entire stream is located within Benton County....
is another walking trail off Lake Windsor in the center of the village. It has a footbridge
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
and some waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s except during dry times.
Geography
Bella Vista is located at 36°27'50" North, 94°16'16" West (36.463850, -94.270974). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP had a total area of 66.4 square miles (172 km²). 65.6 square miles (169.9 km²) of it was land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (1.19%) was water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 16,582 people, 7,818 households, and 6,004 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 252.8 inhabitants per square mile (97.6/km²). There are 8,854 housing units at an average density of 135.0 per square mile (52.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.87% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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
The POA is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
who serve three-year terms. They set the direction and long-term objectives for the POA guided by the village’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 throughout the village.
Recently, the Village members have voted to incorporate as an official city. The POA still remains intact to service the recreational amenities but the City of Bella Vista has now assumed many of the functional and infrastructure responsibilities.
Public safety
Bella Vista Fire Department
The Bella Vista Fire Department is responsible for providing fire protection and emergency medical services in Bella Vista, Arkansas. The department, which is led up by Fire Chief Steve Sims, is a career department, working on a paid basis with 33 paid/full time firefighters , who also function as...
logged 454 incidents in 2005. Total fire loss for 2005 in Bella Vista was $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
216,700, due to a $208,000 building fire and an $8,700 vehicle fire.
Infrastructure
The POA provides water and sanitationSanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
(trash pick-up) service to Bella Vista residents. There also are two semi-annual pick ups of large items. Carroll Electric Cooperative
Carroll Electric Cooperative
Carroll Electric Cooperative is a non-profit rural electric utility cooperative headquartered in Berryville, Arkansas, with district offices in Bentonville, Huntsville, and Jasper, Arkansas....
provides electricity for Bella Vista residents. Phone service is provided by SBC, and cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
is provided by Cox Communications
Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...
. Village Waste Water provides sewer
Sanitary sewer
A sanitary sewer is a separate underground carriage system specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to treatment or disposal. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also carry industrial wastewater...
service to portions of Bella Vista.
Economy
Travel to Bella Vista and the surrounding areas increases greatly in the summertime. There are lots of vacation rental homes in the village as well as a fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, golfing and watersports economy that comes alive every year. National Recreational Properties is currently advertising Bella Vista in television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
s. Actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Erik Estrada
Erik Estrada
Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada is an American police officer and actor, known for his co-starring lead role in the 1977–1983 United States police television series CHiPs...
is their spokesman.
Education
There are two school districts serving the village. On the east side the Bentonville School District and on the west side Gravette School District. Also serving the village is a private preschool, Bella Vista Montessori Academy. New to the village is Cooper Elementary part of the Bentonville District, It serves school to half of Bella Vista's K-4 population. http://portal.bentonville.k12.ar.us/CES/default.aspxTransportation
InfrastructureInfrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
issues currently exist for Bella Vista, where traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
levels are quickly increasing.
Google provides a map showing the spur route
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
Interstate 540
Interstate 540 (Arkansas)
Interstate 540 in Arkansas is a spur of Interstate 40 between Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas; the Northwest Arkansas segment is proposed to become part of an expanded Interstate 49. I-540 provides an Interstate Highway path between Fayetteville and Little Rock via Interstate 40. This links the...
in Arkansas and the Interstate-standard US 71 in Missouri, which will eventually connect to become part of a long planned future Interstate 49
Interstate 49
Interstate 49 is currently an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is in Lafayette, Louisiana, at Interstate 10 while its northern terminus is in Shreveport, Louisiana, at Interstate 20.-Route...
. Some local refer to this as a western bypass or bypass of the current US 71 that runs through Bella Vista. Many in Arkansas and Missouri, especially truckers, are desperate to see the highway fully connected and flowing due to current traffic congestion. On April 13, 2006 the AR Highway Commission approved the use of Tolls to finance construction.
Notable residents
- Jim Sheets, first RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
elected to the Arkansas House of RepresentativesArkansas House of RepresentativesThe Arkansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the state. Each district has an average population of 26,734...
from Benton County, served 1967-1968