In 1915 rev. William S. Baker and his wife, Mary, decided to make a summer resort out of thier land in Northern Araknsas. This was the birth of Bella Vista. The name was made up by a Mrs. George Crowder of Bentonville. In 1917 the Bakers sold the resort to the Linebarger Brothers of Dallas. They developed the resort and Bella Vista opened for tourist in June the same year. The business went very well during the 20's and during this time a golf course and a swimming pool were built. But the great depression and World War II resulted in that Bella Vista got less visitors and in 1952 the resort was sold to an other Texan, E.L. Keith. Keith fixed up the resort and in 64, he sold it to John A. Cooper, Sr. Cooper turned Bella Vista into, not only a summer resort, but also a home for retirees and wealthy. Thru out the course of the next 35 years Bella Vista grew from a small summer Resort to the town with a population of about 15 000 that it is today.

City Officials

Position	Name
Mayor	John Flynn
City Clerk	Wanda Krug
Assistant To Mayor	Wendi Hardina
District Judge	Ray Bunch
City Attorney	Jason Kelley
Police Chief	James Graves
Fire Chief	Steve Sims
Street Superintendent	Karen Hunt
Director Of Community Development	Doug Tapp
Information Technology Director	John Moeckel
Communications Director	Cassi Lapp
Council Member	Doug Fowler
Council Member	Craig Honchell
Council Member	Wendy Hughes
Council Member	Jerry Snow
Council Member	Larry Wilms
Council Member	James "Jim" Wozniak
Finance Director	Kim Hall
Human Resources Director	Glenda Kelderman