Centerton, Arkansas, was a tiny town in Benton County, in the state's northwest corner. Along with the rest of the Northwest Arkansas region, this city has seen massive population growth over the last few decades; going from under five hundred people to approximately 15,000 today. The area was originally a popular destination for Native American hunters and settlers seeking the local natural springs, including what is known today as McKissick Spring. Between the end of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, a period known as the Antebellum South era, a church and a school were built next to the spring and were named Center Point, for the community's location in the middle of Benton County. In 1900 the town was officially laid out and renamed Centerton.
The town shrank in the middle of the 20th century due to a slowing in the apple and railroad industries, but a surge in the poultry industry and the opening of what is now the top-performing Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market has turned this once tiny, struggling area into a successful city. Over the last decade, Centerton and the surrounding region has been one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. Sam Walton, patriarch of the Walton family and founder of Wal-Mart, and his family have invested heavily into the area's infrastructural and public works improvement. In September 2021, news broke that the Walton Family Foundation was providing $1.3 million to plant more than 6,600 trees in the city and several others surrounding it.
The Foundation has also provided financial support for the Northwest Arkansas Council-backed Life Works Here initiative. They offer qualified STEAM professionals who work remotely, a $10,000 grant for moving here. Aside from the money, which goes a longer way than might be expected given the low cost of living in the region, the initiative also offers a gift of an annual membership to one of the area's arts and cultural centers like Momentary, Amazeum, Crystal Bridges, TheatreSquared, and the Walton Arts Center. If the membership doesn't sound like an attractive offer, deal-takers can opt for a mountain bike to ride on one of the many beautiful trails scattered around Centerton.
Beaver Lake Loop is a local favorite, approximately four miles of lakeside trail, which has gained the hikers, picnic-goers, and bikers' stamps of approval. Another gorgeous nature trail is the Dry Creek Loop of Pigeon Roost Trail. It is a 4.6-mile loop that provides picturesque lakeside scenery, creek crossings, and a nicely maintained hiking trail.
During the warmer months, the Centerton Farmer’s Market has stall after stall filled with fresh produce, arts and crafts, body products, and specialties like artisanal honey, salsa, and apple butter. This weekly event is as much a community social event as it is a shopping excursion. The Crystal Bridges Art Museum is also something you wouldn’t want to miss, showcasing exhibitions of American Art, live performances, and more than five miles of trails winding through the site’s The Wal-Mart Museum offers a look into the history of the world’s largest corporation’s humble beginnings as a nickel-and-dime store.
Because so much growth has taken place in northwest Arkansas, many new homes have been built to accommodate the new residents, displacing many wildlife critters who can then invade your property and become nuisances. For residents of Centerton and the nearby areas, Natural State Wildlife Solutions is here to help. We offer humane solutions to your wildlife headaches so that you can get back to enjoying the property you've worked so hard to get.
Contact us today for an estimate and to discuss services so that we can get started right away.