Bentonville, located approximately 25 miles north of Fayetteville, is primarily known as the birthplace of Walmart. Still headquartered there today, the multinational company has invested a lot back into the city, and is a major source of jobs. This likely helps contribute to the area's low unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is well below the national average.
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But the city has more to boast about than being home to a retail giant. Its school district has a 91.8% graduation rate and 54.8% of people living there own their homes. Bentonville has two residential historic districts, the West Central Avenue Historic District and the Third Street Historic District.
The city also has a quaint downtown lined with bars, restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops, and hosts many events throughout the year, including the annual Bentonville Film Festival.
Visitors can check out the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art for free; the sprawling outpost was founded by Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, and sits on the 120-acre Ozark forest that offers nature trails with stunning scenery.
Outdoor-oriented folks are in the right place. Bentonville has 22 parks covering 300 acres and over 50 miles of trails. Bentonville was recognized as a bike-friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists, and the city is known for its mountain biking destination, Slaughter Pen trails, and for hosting several cycling events each year. — Olivia Raimonde
