Walmart Inc. was founded in 1962 in Arkansas by Sam Walton.
Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas, on July 2, 1962. He built the business around low prices, efficient operations, and stores located in smaller communities that were often underserved by large retailers.
The company grew from a regional chain into one of the world’s largest retailers. Its expansion included supercenters combining general merchandise with groceries, Sam’s Club warehouse stores, and a major e-commerce operation.
Walmart is sometimes confused with Walton’s earlier retail venture, the Ben Franklin variety-store franchise. Walton operated a Ben Franklin store before launching Walmart, but the Walmart chain itself began in Arkansas in 1962. The company was incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and adopted the name Walmart Inc. in 2018.