Benton County History and Information

Benton County was created on 30 September 1836and was formed from Washington County. It was named after Thomas Hart Benton, the prominent U.S. Senator from Missouri. The county seat is at Bentonville. In 1862, the largest battle of the Civil War in Arkansas was fought at Elkhorn Tavern at Pea Ridge. Benton County is the home of the founder of Wal-Mart, Sam Walton, as well as the home of the trucking firm, J.B. Hunt. It is an area of Arkansas that continues to grow rapidly. The communities of Rogers, Gravette, Siloam Springs, Bella Vista, Centerton, War Eagle and Gentry are the largest.

Benton County is bordered by , Barry County, MO (north), Carroll County (east), Madison County (southeast), Washington County (south), Adair County, OK (southwest), Delaware County, OK (west), McDonald County, MO (northwest). Cities, Towns & Communities include , Avoca, Bella Vista, Bentonville, Bethel Heights, Cave Springs, Centerton, Decatur, Elm Springs, Garfield, Gateway, Gentry, Gravette, Highfill, Little Flock, Lowell, Pea Ridge, Prairie Creek, Rogers, Siloam Springs, Springtown, Sulphur Springs

The Official County Website is located at http://www.co.benton.ar.us/ . See Extended History for More information. Arkansas History Commission sources say an "1865 courthouse fire destroyed many early records." D.Y. Thomas mentiones a log courthouse built in 1837, a brick structure in 1840, and another brick courthouse built in 1873, but does not mention a fire.

• Benton County, Arkansas History Books at Amazon.com
• Search Historical Newspapers from Arkansas (1819 - 1999) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 125 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in more than 500,000 issues of over 2,500 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
• Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
• Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.

County Court Records

See Also Arkansas Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. .Arkansas History Commission sources say an "1865 courthouse fire destroyed many early records." D.Y. Thomas mentiones a log courthouse built in 1837, a brick structure in 1840, and another brick courthouse built in 1873, but does not mention a fire.

Benton County Clerk of Circuit Court has Court Records from 1837 and Land Records from 1837 and is located at 215 East Central, Bentonville, 72712; (479) 271-1015.

The circuit clerk is the clerk of the circuit, chancery court, and juvenile court and usually acts as the ex-officio recorder of the county. The administrative duties of the clerk are to maintain a record of all proceedings of the circuit, chancery and juvenile courts and to prepare the dockets for these courts. They are also the ex-officio county recorder; and is responsible for recording deeds, mortgages, liens, and surety bonds, and many other orders and instruments which involve property within the county

Benton County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1861 and Probate Records from 1866 and is located at 215 East Central, Suite 217,

Although probate court is a court of equity and is presided over by the chancery judge, prior to 1937 it was a function of the county court, and under the amended procedure, the county clerk still operates ad the clerk of the probate court

The circuit clerk is the clerk of the circuit, as clerk to the probate court, the clerk files all instruments making them a matter of record in descendent estate cases, and swears in all witnesses in contested estates. The clerk, also in this capacity, maintains all records relative to adoptions and guardianship cases within the county.

Although probate court is a court of equity and is presided over by the chancery judge, prior to 1937 it was a function of the county court, and under the amended procedure, the county clerk still operates ad the clerk of the probate court

Below is a list of online resources for Benton County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Benton County Court Records by clicking the link below:

• Benton County, Arkansas Court Books at Amazon.com
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which covers the State of Arkansas. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.
• Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
• Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.

County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Arkansas

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Arkansas Vital Records, 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205, Please allow up to approximately 4-6 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

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• Birth Certificates: Birth records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Vital Records does have a limited number of birth records prior to 1914. The birth records dated prior to 1914 were filed with Arkansas Vital Records after 1914. They have original copies of Little Rock and Fort Smith births dating from 1881.
  • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $12.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered of the same record at the same time. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $12.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
• Death Certificates: Death records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Arkansas Vital Records does have a limited number of deaths occurring prior to 1914 for Little Rock and Fort Smith dating from 1881. The Arkansas History Commission has a death index of deaths occurring in Arkansas from 1914 through 1949. This is only an alphabetical listing of deaths occurring in Arkansas. The History Commission does not have copies of the death records.
  • Cost: The cost of a certified death certificate is $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy issued at the same time for the same certificate. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1917. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any marriage records prior to 1917.
  Divorce records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1923. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any divorce records prior to 1923. Records of marriage & divorce proceedings are available from the Benton County clerk of Probate Court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates .
  • Cost: Arkansas Vital Records maintains a file of marriage and divorce coupons. These coupons are acceptable with organizations that require a certified record. The cost of a marriage or divorce coupon is $10.00 for each copy. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee.
• Order In Person: The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office. If you want the copy the same day, our hours for same day service are 8:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Monday – Friday. The office is located at 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205.
• Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address: Vital Records, PO Box 8184, Little Rock AR 72203-8184. Please include return address on envelope and application form. Processing Time takes 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you Order Online.
• Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

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Below is a list of online resources for Benton County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Benton County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
• Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Arkansas newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
• Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
• Arkansas Marriages, 1779-1992
• Arkansas Marriages, 1820-1949
• Arkansas Marriages to 1850
• Arkansas Marriages, 1851-1900
• Arkansas Divorce Index, 1923-1939
• Benton County, Arkansas Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com

County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Arkansas

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Benton County, Arkansas are 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Benton County, Arkansas are Industry and Agriculture Schedules 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms

Below is a list of online resources for Benton County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Benton County Census Records by clicking the link below:

• Benton County, Arkansas Census Books at Amazon.com
• Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Arkansas and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Arkansas showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Arkansas showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at The Arkansas Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Benton County Maps. Email us with websites containing Benton County Maps by clicking the link below:

• Benton County, Arkansas Map Books at Amazon.com
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Arkansas

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Benton County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Benton County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
• Southern Claims Commission from the State of Arkansas (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Arkansas (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from southern units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
• Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67 from the State of Arkansas (The National Archives): NARA M1003. View, Print Copy & Save Original Applications for pardon submitted to President Andrew Johnson, 1865-67, by former Confederates excluded from earlier amnesty proclamations.
• Arkansas Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
• Arkansas Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Benton County, Arkansas Military Books at Amazon.com
• Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.

County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Tax records are available at the respective county courthouses and in the Arkansas History Commission. Nearly 600 tax books, original or microfilmed, for Arkansas counties are included in the collection at the Commission. Legislation was enacted in Arkansas which required that copies of early county tax records be sent to the state auditor in Little Rock. Where county records were lost, the state auditor's copies are especially valuable.

Personal property tax records have been published for a few counties. Tax lists, along with other sources, are being used to reconstruct the lost 1890 federal population census.

Below is a list of online resources for Benton County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Benton County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

• Benton County, Arkansas Tax Books at Amazon.com

County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Arkansas Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Benton County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Benton County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 796, Rogers, AR 72756-0796; E-mail
• Arkansas History Commission, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201; 501.682.6900
• Arkansas Genealogical Society, 1411 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box 908, Hot Springs, AR 71902-0908; Phone: 501-262-4513
• Arkansas Historical Society, 422 South Sixth Street, Van Buren, AR 72201
• Arkansas Family History Association, 609 Colynwood, Sherwood, Arkansas 72120; 501-835-7502
• Arkansas Historical Association, 416 Old Main, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; 479-575-5884, 479-575-2775 FAX
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
• Arkansas Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Arkansas

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Benton County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Benton County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Some church records for Arkansas churches are available at the Arkansas History Commission. These include published church histories, church records, newspapers, and manuscript collections.

Local county genealogical and historical organizations have copied, cataloged, and published records of local cemeteries. Most of these are in the collection at the Arkansas History Commission; many are in the DAR Library. Most of those in the DAR collection have been microfilmed by the FHL.

Benton County Cemeteries
Alpine Cemetery (Historical) War Eagle	Armstrong Cemetery Centerton	Austin Cemetery Spring Valley
Banks Cemetery Pea Ridge	Baptist Cemetery Bentonville So.	Barron Cemetery Centerton
Bayless Cemetery Garfield	Beavers Cemetery Gravette	Bella Vista Cemetery Bella Vista
Benton Co. Mem. Gardens Bentonville So.	Bentonville Cemetery Bentonville So.	Bethel Cemetery Gravette
Blagg Cemetery Siloam Springs	Blaylock Cemetery Avoca	Bland Cemetery Bentonville So.
Bland Cemetery (Historical) War Eagle	Bloomfield Cemetery Gentry	Bozarth Cemetery Cherokee City
Brady Cemetery Watts	Burch Cemetery 2 Mi. SW of Cave Springs	Butler Creek Cemetery Gravette
Butler Ford Cemetery Far SE Corner of County	Buttram Cemetery Pea Ridge	Callum Cemetery Cherokee City
Carter Cemetery (Historical) War Eagle	Cave Springs Cemetery Cave Springs	Centerton Cemetery Centerton
Cherokee City Cemetery Cherokee City	Clantonville Cemetery Eureka Springs	Coats Cemetery Cherokee City
Coffelt Cemetery Centerton	Crain Cemetery (aka Garrett) Private Property	Daniels Cemetery Hiwasee
Davis Cemetery Gallatin	Dean Cemetery Pea Ridge	Decatur Cemetery Decatur
Dixon Cemetery Cherokee City	Dodson Cemetery Bentonville So.	Douglas Cemetery Highfill
Dow Cemetery Colcord NE	Drakes Creek	Dug Hill Cemetery Bentonville No.
Eden Bluff Cemetery Indian Burial Ground	Fairmount Cemetery Gallatin	Falling Springs Cemetery Falling Springs
Flint Creek Cemetery Gallatin	Ford Cemetery Pea Ridge	Foster Cemetery Bentonville No.
Frisco Cemetery Rogers	GAR Gravette	Gamble Cemetery Centerton
Gentry Cemetery Gentry	George Cemetery Siloam Springs	Georgia Flat Cemetery Colcord NE
Goad Springs Cemetery Springdale	Gunter Cemetery Siloam Springs	Hart Cemetery Bentonville So.
Hatfield Cemetery (Historical) War Eagle	Henson Cemetery (Historical) War Eagle	Hickman Cemetery Bentonville No.
Hickory Creek Cemetery Sonora	Highfill Cemetery Centerton	Hillcrest Cemetery Gravette
Ingersoll Cemetery (Historical) Rogers	Jackson Cemetery Centerton	Jefferson Cemetery Bentonville So.
Keith Cemetery Hiwasee	Key Cemetery Rogers	Kindley Cemetery Bentonville No.
Lee Cemetery Gravette	Liberty Cemetery Pea Ridge	Little Flock Cemetery Bentonville No.
Logan Cemetery Gallatin	Lone Elm Cemetery Gallatin	Martin Cemetery War Eagle
Gallatin	Maysville Cemetery Colcord NE	McDaniel Cemetery Rogers
McReynolds Cemetery Rogers	Miller Cemetery Hiwasee	Mount Hebron Cemetery Bentonville So.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery Hiwasee	New Home Cemetery Bentonville No.	Oak Hill Cemetery (aka Siloam Springs) Siloam Springs
Oakes Cemetery Bentonville No.	Oakley Chapel Cemetery Bentonville So.	Old Best Cemetery Spring Valley
Ozark Cemetery Rogers	Pace Chapel Cemetery (Historical) Rogers	Parn Cemetery Centerton
Patterson Cemetery Pea Ridge	Pea Ridge Cemetery Pea Ridge	Phagan Cemetery No of Siloam Springs
Phillips Cemetery Centerton	Phillips Cemetery Sonora	Pleasant Grove Cemetery Bentonville So.
Pratt Cemetery Pea Ridge	Rambo Cemetery Sandstone Mountain	Rock Cemetery Sandstone Mountain
Rogers Cemetery Rogers	Ruddick Cemetery Garfield	Saint Vincent's Cemetery Avoca
Scott Cemetery Pea Ridge	Sharp Cemetery Springdale	Silent Grove Cemetery Springdale
Snoderly Cemetery Pea Ridge	Spring Creek Cemetery Springdale	Springtown Cemetery Gentry
Stanley Cemetery Rogers	Temperance Hill Cemetery Centerton	Tucks Chapel Cemetery Avoca
Twelve Corners Cemetery Pea Ridge	Valley View Cemetery Bentonville No.	Walnut Hill Cemetery Garfield
Wann Cemetery Colcord NE	War Eagle Cemetery  (aka Blackburn) War Eagle	Ward Cemetery Colcord NE
Webb Cemetery War Eagle	Wet Prairie Cemetery Colcord NE	Williams Cemetery Pea Ridge
Williams Cemetery (Historical) Rogers	Wilson Cemetery Sonora	Woods Cemetery Bentonville So.
Yell Cemetery Robinson

Below is a list of online resources for Benton County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Benton County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Arkansas obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Arkansas newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Arkansas .
• Cemeteries of Benton County, Arkansas - From the ca 1974 Series
• Benton County, Arkansas Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Benton County, Arkansas Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Benton County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Benton County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search for Local Arkansas Researchers or Earn Money by becoming a Local Arkansas Researcher!
• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project - Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Benton County ] [ Arkansas ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• The Arkansas Family Group Sheet Project
• Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
• Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
• Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
• Benton County, Arkansas Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

Benton County and Bentonville are named in honor of Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. Senator from Missouri, who played a key role in persuading Congress to admit Arkansas to the Union on September 30, 1836, as the 25th state. The county was organized in 1836.

Benton County is 886 square miles with a perimeter of 142.25 miles. The topography is gentle rolling hills (Ozark Mountains). The average annual rainfall is 40 to 45 inches.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports a population of 153,406 in Benton County in 2000, with an estimated population of 172,003 in 2003 (a 12.1% increase). Bentonville is the county seat and had an estimated population of 26,397 in 2003, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The largest city is Rogers, with an estimated population in 2003 of 42,795. There are 17 incorporated cities and towns and  6 unincorporated towns in the County.

The County Judge is the chief executive officer for county government in Arkansas. In Benton County, the County Judge is elected for a term of two years. The Quorum Court is the legislative body of Benton County and is comprised of 13 members (Justices of the Peace), who also serve a two-year elected term. The County Judge and Justices of the Peace may be re-elected for additional two-year terms.

In 1960, the Army Corps of Engineers began work on Beaver Dam, impounding a major part of the White River and creating Beaver Lake. Beaver Lake is approximately 50 miles in length and covers approximately 31,700 acres, with about 483 miles of shoreline and an elevation of 1,120 feet. There are several U.S. Corps of Engineers parks and campgrounds surrounding Beaver Lake. The Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area (formerly known as the Beaver Lake State Park) is the only state park in the County.

Important agricultural crops include hay and pasture for livestock. In 2002, Benton County led the state and was third in the nation for broiler (poultry) production.

The largest manufacturing industries are Bekaert Corporation (steel tire cord); Clayton Mark (water system tanks, yard hydrants & water system accessories); Crane Company (carbon steel valves); Glad Manufacturing (Glad plastic bags & plastic cling wrap); Foam Molding Corporation (structural foam plastics & enclosures for electronic equipment); Kraft Foods (bulk cheese), Preformed Line Products Co. (pole line hardware for overhead power, splice cases & related products for telecommunications industry, rubber molding, injection molding, wire drawing & forming); Rogers Tool Works (carbide compacts for the oil industry, palletizing dies, blanks & carbide cutting tools, reamers, tool holders with inserts, drills, carbide wear parts & lathe tools); Superior Industries (aluminum road wheels); and Tyson's, Inc. (poultry processing & distribution centers, specialty frozen chicken items).

The largest service & retail employer is Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., which is headquartered in Bentonville. Numerous Fortune 500 companies (as well as smaller firms) have regional offices in Benton County to support their accounts at Wal-Mart.

Historical sites in Benton County include:
· Pea Ridge National Military Park (Battle of Pea Ridge during the Civil War)
· War Eagle Mill and War Eagle Bridge (water-powered grist mill)
· Cross Hollow (Civil War encampment & battle field)
· Monte Ne (resort town now covered by Beaver Lake near Rogers)
· Simon Sager Cabin (log cabin open to the public in Siloam Springs)
· 1875 Peel Mansion & Historic Gardens (built by Colonel Samuel West Peel in Bentonville)
· Hawkins House (museum in Rogers)

Famous people from Benton County include:
· Sam and Helen Walton (founders of Wal-Mart, Inc.)
· Betty (Blake) Rogers (Will Rogers' wife)
· Coin Harvey (built Monte Ne resort)
· Louise Thaden (famous pilot)
· Tom Morgan (writer for the Saturday Evening Post and Life Magazine)