In what year was Walmart founded?

Walmart was founded in 1962. Sam Walton and his brother James “Bud” Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas, on July 2 of that year.

The business began as a discount retailer focused on keeping operating costs low and passing savings to shoppers. Walton had already operated variety stores, including Walton’s Five and Dime, but the 1962 Rogers location launched the Walmart chain proper. The company expanded beyond Arkansas during the 1960s and was incorporated as Wal-Mart, Inc., in 1969.

A common mix-up is confusing Walmart’s founding with its incorporation or later name changes. The company became publicly traded in 1970 and adopted the name Walmart Inc. in 2018, but neither event marks the chain’s founding. Target also opened its first store in 1962, which can cause another memorable date mix-up.