Benton County will be releasing a new beta version of its website on December 18th. A full release of the new site will be expected in the following weeks. The website appearance will be different with a new look and feel, menus will have changed, and if you have saved links these may redirect you to a different location. A new website also means that some functionality may be temporarily unavailable. This is an ongoing work in progress, so please expect to see continued changes in the next year.
The new website address/URL will be: www.bentoncountyor.gov.
What is happening?
Benton County is excited to announce the release of a new, updated version of its website. They will be soft launching the website on December 18th, 2023 with an expected full release in the following weeks. Although this is a beta version, the same functionality (content, links, documents) should be available.
Why is this happening?
Two years ago, the County launched a large initiative to engage employees, citizens, and consultants to determine the future of our website. This resulted in a top-to-bottom rewrite of our technology and content. Their aim is to modernize the technology, make the site more readable, and make it more accessible to everyone.
What is Changing?
They have redesigned many of the menus and pages to match current best practices of web design. One of the key elements is to make the site fully support mobile phones and devices. They have made core changes to improve the overall searchability of the site and to improve its interaction with search engines like Google. They have done extensive work to rewrite and consolidate content to follow our commitment of access for all and inclusion, equity and diversity. This includes a common look and feel throughout the website. And they have updated old links and out of date information to keep everything current and relevant.
Has the URL Changed?
Yes. The county domain will now be www.bentoncountyor.gov instead of www.co.benton.or.gov. However, the old URL will redirect you to the new one, so no action is required on your part.
How will this affect me?
Because the pages and menu structures have changed, if you have bookmarks or saved links, those will need to be updated to the new URLs. Things may have moved around a little bit, but all of the same information and tools you have used in the past are present on the new website.
If you have questions, feedback, or find problems with the website, please let the county know by emailing websupport@bentoncountyor.gov.
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