The first tourist in Benton, was Hernando deSoto. A Spanish explorer, deSoto found the area rich with rivers, woodlands and vast opportunity when he traversed the area in 1541. It was not until 1833, when Benton became a settlement, and 1836, when it was formally chartered (and Arkansas became a state), that Benton began to take full advantage of its location in the center of the state and all the resources it would come to realize were available to it.
Today, Benton is a thriving community that continues to attract major retail and restaurant chains, as well as growing small businesses in its own downtown square and throughout the city. Once known as the aluminum capital when Alcoa and Reynolds plants were in operation, Benton is now establishing its reputation for being a welcoming small town with every big city option available.
Talking with Gary James, president and CEO of Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, is like speaking to an old friend. A man of easy demeanor and affable personality, James understands what attracts people to live, work, worship and stay in communities such as Benton.
“We have city leaders with a vision who listen to residents,” James said. “We prioritize the safety of everyone who lives, works and visits here and uses our streets, attends our schools and utilizes our businesses.”
One way the city of Benton has implemented its safety plan is to position a school resource officer in each of the 11 public schools within its city limits. To date, there are nine resource officers in schools, in addition to a captain and sergeant.
“Having their presence in our schools allows parents to feel better about the safety of their children while they are in school,” said Tom Farmer, Benton mayor. “In addition to our incredible educators, the school resource officers have become a fixture to our students and their families.”
Farmer also noted the city’s fire and police departments are consistently in the city’s public schools, teaching about safety, putting on programs, and talking with students about safety at school, home and in the community.
“Next year, our city will be fully staffed,” Farmer said. “It will be the first time in 20 years to have not only a fully staffed fire and police department, but we’ll also have all the positions filled in our parks and other departments. People are seeking us out now for employment. We are a place people want to work because we are collaborative and so team oriented.”
According to a 2021 feature in Money magazine, Benton was the 33rd best place to live in the United States. It was the least-expensive place to own a home on that list, and the overall cost of living in Benton ranks among the lowest of any place the magazine considered.
“Benton used to be a place where you went to school, then went off to college and never came back,” Farmer said. “Today, we are seeing more families moving into Benton because of the amenities we offer, as well as children who grew up here coming back and building their futures because they can find work here or have the option of living where they want and working remotely.
“We have so much to offer, and we are located just a short drive from Little Rock and Hot Springs, that citizens can have the best of everything right where they grew up.”
That includes an exploding business scene that incorporates everything from retail to health care options to bespoke and big-box restaurant chains. According to Farmer, it is the businesses in Benton that established its foundation and would not let it fade.
“When Alcoa and Reynolds began to shut down and people started to move away, our businesses made a decision to stay, no matter what,” he said. “The resiliency of our small-town business owners, who made sure they wouldn’t give up and maintained a never-quit attitude, is what solidified our commercial sector.
“When the plants closed and the rest of the businesses in our downtown left, [businesses] like Posey’s Automotive and Gingles refused to do so. They remained persistent and consistent and kept their doors open no matter what.”
“There were a lot of empty storefronts downtown on the square, but today there are none,” James said. “As soon as one becomes available, a business is moving in. We have a Rock N Roll Sushi on the square, along with White’s Furniture. It’s a great mix of established small businesses with national chain offerings.”
James also explained how Benton’s location is a significant draw for tourists both near and far.
“Interstate 30 is our Main Street,” he said. “It’s located right in the center of our city. We are right in the center between Little Rock and Hot Springs, and we’re in the center between Memphis and Dallas.
“For the people who live here, they have everything a bigger city can offer so they don’t have to look outside of the city limits for goods or services. For those visiting or traveling through, they can find shopping, restaurants, museums and plenty of things to do outdoors while they’re here.”
Being so family oriented, the city of Benton is focusing on improving and creating amenities for children and adults alike. With the Saline River flowing through it, Benton has ample opportunities to take advantage of its natural aspects. Stephanie Jones, director of the city’s parks and recreation department, explains how the department’s mission enhances the city’s overall appeal.
“We work to provide and maintain quality parks and green spaces, as well as offer enriching recreation activities to our residents,” she said. “Not only will these initiatives enhance our citizens’ health and well-being, but they also will promote economic vitality. We have the farmers market, two lakes, a river and tons of parks. There is plenty to do, and we are planning to add much more by 2040.”
One of the parks Jones mentioned is Tyndall Park, which is almost 25 acres and includes the Gene Moss Building, a 1,500-square-foot multi-purpose building that includes a full-service kitchen, ice machine, restrooms, stage area, tables and chairs. Also there are five youth softball fields, a concession stand, two gazebos, seven pavilions, four tennis courts, two basketball courts, the 500-seat Juli Busken Memorial Amphitheater, a skate park, a splash pad and a walking trail.
Riverside Park, which is just off the east side of Interstate 30 and borders the Saline River, includes the senior activity center, the River Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Saline County’s Riverside Club, three soccer fields, eight softball fields, eight baseball fields and about three miles of paved walking trail.
“The city of Benton has 13 parks and we are planning to add more,” Jones said. “We have already completed three goals in our 2040 vision, which includes improvements to Lyle Park, which has access to the Saline River and includes a boat ramp and picnic tables; completing six miles of the blueway trail system for walking and biking; and an archery area.
“Our vision for our parks is to address the underutilized natural resources with public access and recreation. This future park system will connect neighborhoods throughout the city, bringing together all the five wards.”
The 2040 Vision for Benton Parks and Recreation calls for 16 miles of new trails for the Saline River Trail and a pickleball and tennis complex that will include 13 full-sized tennis and 15 pickleball courts. Just south of this site will be trails and boardwalks with access to biking facilities. Another complex will be just for soccer and will include six soccer fields, eight disc golf targets and 11,000 linear feet of trail system.
The Saline River Trail provides access to natural areas, as well as the Southwest Trail, which Pulaski, Saline and Garland Counties are working to develop to connect Hot Springs National Park, the Old River Bridge on the Saline River, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and the Arkansas River Trail System. According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation, this endeavor will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to safely enjoy outdoor recreation while providing an economic stimulus to local and regional economies.
Benton is also home to a semi-professional soccer club, the Arkansas Wolves which plays its home games at C.W. Lewis Stadium in Benton. The club is made up of a men’s first team that plays in the prestigious National Premier Soccer League, a women’s first team that plays in the United Women’s Soccer Division 1, and a second men’s team that plays in the United Premier Soccer League.
According to the Arkansas Wolves website, the purpose is to model the developmental paths of successful clubs around the world and that of U.S. Soccer by creating additional training and match opportunities for players at other clubs, in two-year age group increments. AWFC recognizes the importance of creating additional opportunities by placing players in an environment that will allow athletes of like ability to train together and be coached by the very best in the central Arkansas area.
“Soccer is getting bigger and bigger, and having this resource available will attract more teams and families to our area,” Jones said. “That means more people staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, shopping in our stores and experiencing our amenities. We couldn’t have accomplished any of this without the support of our citizens and the cooperation of our city and county governments.”
A California transplant, Jones singled out support from the community as one of the outstanding attributes of Benton and the catalyst for the positive changes seen here over the years.
“One thing I’ve noticed in this city is we have our residents’ support,” Jones said. “I think that with the mayor’s leadership our departments have been able to build trust with the community, and it has allowed us to progress as a city.
“We’ve already been able to develop a lot in a short amount of time. Our mountain bike park is set to be completed in early 2024, and the archery complex has been completed. We are putting our dollars towards renovations to make sure we upkeep things within the city.”
Farmer also noted additional amenities planned for the city, including a 106-RV park to be completed in the next two years. Adjoining it will be 19 acres of tent camping sites. Two hotels are making plans to break ground, and four big-chain restaurants are looking for real estate to clear and build upon. He also noted that for the past two to three years, the city of Benton has averaged 350 new home building permits per year.
The Benton Event Center and thriving community events ensures there’s always something happening in Benton.
“I think the No. 1 thing that happens here is everyone works together and works really hard,” James said. “Why do people want to move here and visit here? I go back to something the mayor always says: this is where your home is, whether you were raised here or moved here. We all try to make an effort to say, You’re welcome to be here, and your opinion matters. ‘We depend on each other. To become what we need to be, we must grow together.”
“Growing up in Little Rock and then moving down here 12 years ago, it’s a different world,” said Nikki Chumley, director of the Benton Event Center. “I mean, I tell people all the time how amazing it is here. You get to know the police officers and firefighters and your government leaders. You know who the superintendents are, and they know you by name. It’s a small town with all the big town amenities. There are fewer and fewer things we have to go somewhere else to find.”
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