Benton County, Arkansas was formed in 1836. Longtime known as the "Cornerstone of the State", Benton County is located in the extreme northwest corner of Arkansas and borders Missouri and Oklahoma. The region is geographically part of the Ozark Plateau. In the past this area was a Native American hunting ground for the Osage Indians, timberland, and a major fruit producer. More recently the county has become one of the fastest growing population and economic growth centers in the country.