Bella Vista Genealogy Records

Bella Vista genealogy records are held by Benton County, with the Bella Vista Historical Museum providing local archives and the courthouse at Bentonville holding county records from 1859 for this north Benton County community.

Benton County Courthouse Records

Bella Vista is in Benton County. The Benton County Clerk's office is at 215 E. Central, Suite 217, Bentonville, AR 72712, phone (479) 238-0120. The Clerk holds marriage records from 1861 and probate records from 1859. A courthouse fire destroyed earlier records. Benton County was formed in 1836 from Washington County. Pre-1836 records for the Bella Vista area are in Washington County at Fayetteville. Birth and death records at the county level begin in 1914.

Bella Vista was developed beginning in the 1960s as a planned retirement and resort community in the Ozark highlands of north Benton County. It sits along the Missouri border. Because it is a relatively modern community, the deep genealogical roots in Bella Vista are primarily those of people who moved to the community rather than families that originated there. However, the land itself has been part of Benton County since 1836, and families who lived in this corner of the county in earlier decades will have their records at the Benton County courthouse in Bentonville.

The Bella Vista Property Owners Association maintains community records and historical documents for the planned community. These records are not courthouse genealogy records but may be useful for tracing residence history within Bella Vista from the 1960s onward.

Bella Vista Historical Museum and Library

The Bella Vista Historical Museum holds exhibits and archives documenting the community's history since its development as a planned resort and retirement community. The museum holds historical photographs, artifacts, and research materials relevant to families who lived in Bella Vista from the 1960s forward. The Bella Vista Public Library holds a local history collection and genealogy resources including online database access.

The Benton County Historical Society in Bentonville maintains county-wide historical archives, photographs, and documents. The Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 796, Rogers, AR 72757, serves the region and can assist with research requests. The Arkansas Department of Health holds birth and death records from 1914. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds Confederate and Union pension files and microfilmed county materials for Benton County. Federal records are at the National Archives at Fort Worth, 501 W Felix Street, Fort Worth, TX 76115, phone (817) 831-5620.

The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock holds Benton County records and genealogical collections relevant to Bella Vista area research.

Nearby Cities

Cities near Bella Vista with genealogy pages include Bentonville, Rogers, Centerton, Siloam Springs, Fayetteville, and Springdale. Bentonville is the Benton County seat and holds the courthouse. The northern border meets Missouri.