Bentonville Genealogy Records
Bentonville genealogy records are held at the Benton County courthouse, which is located in Bentonville as the county seat, giving researchers direct access to marriage, probate, and land records for the entire county from this city.
Bentonville at a Glance
Benton County Courthouse Records
Bentonville is the county seat of 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. The Circuit Court Clerk holds land records and court files. Birth and death records begin in 1914. Benton County was formed in 1836 from Washington County, and pre-1836 records for the Bentonville area are in the Washington County courthouse at Fayetteville.
Benton County is the fastest-growing county in Arkansas and one of the most populous in the state, but its genealogical roots run back to the 1830s settlement of northwest Arkansas. The founding families who came to the Bentonville area in the 1830s and 1840s were predominantly Scots-Irish settlers from the Appalachian states, and the courthouse records document those families from the county's formation. The courthouse fire that destroyed earlier records means that researchers must rely on parent county records in Washington County for the period before surviving Benton County records begin.
The Bentonville City Clerk at City Hall holds city records including ordinances and historical documents.
The Bentonville City Clerk maintains city records. The Benton County courthouse at 215 E. Central holds county genealogy records.
Local Archives and Libraries
The Benton County courthouse in Bentonville is the primary genealogy research destination for the entire county.
The Benton County courthouse at 215 E. Central in Bentonville holds marriage records from 1861, probate records from 1859, and land records for all of Benton County.
The Benton County Historical Society maintains a museum and archives in Bentonville with historical photographs, documents, and research materials covering the county's history. The Society can assist with research requests and holds compiled genealogies and local history publications relevant to Benton County families. The Bentonville Public Library at 125 W. Central Avenue, Bentonville, AR 72712, holds a local history collection and genealogy resources including online database access.
The Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 796, Rogers, AR 72757, serves the region and provides research assistance and quarterly publications. 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. Federal records are at the National Archives at Fort Worth, 501 W Felix Street, Fort Worth, TX 76115, phone (817) 831-5620.
Nearby Cities
Cities near Bentonville with genealogy pages include Rogers, Fayetteville, Springdale, Siloam Springs, Centerton, and Bella Vista. All of these except Fayetteville and Springdale are in Benton County and use this courthouse. Fayetteville and Springdale are in Washington County to the south.