Benton County is located in the northwest corner of Arkansas; Benton County borders Missouri and Oklahoma and is part of the Ozark Plateau. The county has grown from a Native American hunting ground and a timberland and fruit resource to one of the fastest-growing and most economically vibrant counties in the country. The last few decades of the twentieth century brought rapid growth and a booming economy to Benton County. Between 1990 and 2000, the countys population grew fifty-seven percent. Also boosting the countys economy is Wal-Mart Stores Inc., headquartered in Bentonville. As the worlds top retailer, it is not only the countys but the worlds largest employer. Supporting their Wal-Mart accounts, many large and small businesses have moved in, bringing thousands of new residents from across the country. Other top employers in the county include J. B. Hunt Transport, Arvest Bank Group, McKee Foods, Peterson Farms, Simmons Foods, Franklin Electric Company, Gates Rubber Company, and La-Z-Boy.