Benton, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benton, Alabama
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Location of Benton in Lowndes County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Lowndes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.34 sq mi (0.87 km2) |
| • Land | 0.30 sq mi (0.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2) |
| Elevation | 141 ft (43 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 41 |
| • Density | 135.76/sq mi (52.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
36785
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| Area code(s) | 334 |
| FIPS code | 01-05692 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0113937 |
Benton is a small town in Lowndes County, Alabama, United States. In 2020, its population was 41 people. This was a slight decrease from 49 people counted in the 2010 census.
Contents
Where is Benton, Alabama?
Benton is located in Alabama at coordinates 32.306248 degrees North and 86.817551 degrees West.
The U.S. Census Bureau says the town covers about 0.3 square miles (0.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part (about 8.82%) being water.
A Look at Benton's History
How Benton Started
Benton was first settled in 1832. It was built on land owned by a person named James Maull. Because of this, it was first called Maull's Landing.
In 1834, the town was renamed and officially became Benton. It was named after Thomas Hart Benton. He was a U.S. Senator from Missouri. Senator Benton had served in the military under General Andrew Jackson during the Creek Campaign.
Benton's Role in the Steamboat Era
During the time when steamboats were very important for travel and trade, Benton was a busy stop. It was a major trading point along the Alabama River.
In 1855, James Maull's son, Edward, sold off more land lots. These new areas became part of the town.
Population Changes Over Time
The first time the U.S. Census recorded population for this area was in 1870. The Benton Beat, which was a larger area, had 2,627 residents. Many of these people were newly freed slaves.
By 1880, the area was divided into smaller sections. The Benton Beat's population dropped to 1,094. In 1890, it went down to 994. For the first time, the town of Benton itself was counted separately, with 265 people.
Decline and Reincorporation
Benton's official town status ended for a while after 1890. The town's population also decreased. This happened as people started using railroads more than steamboats. Also, many African American residents moved away.
The Benton area's population kept falling. It went from 1,049 in 1900 to 409 by 1950. After that, the county changed how it divided its areas.
In 1964, Benton became an official town again. By the 1970 census, it had 115 residents. By 1990, the population was just under 50. It has stayed around that number since 2010.
Benton is one of the smallest towns in Alabama. It is also one of only two towns in Lowndes County with a majority white population. The other is Lowndesboro.
Avoiding Confusion with Other Places
When people research family history, they might get Benton, Alabama, confused with another place. Calhoun County, Alabama was known as Benton County from 1832 to 1858. It was also named after Senator Thomas Hart Benton. However, it was renamed because Senator Benton had political views that were not popular in Alabama at the time. He was against slavery, which caused the county to change its name.
Benton's Population Details
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 265 | — | |
| 1970 | 115 | — | |
| 1980 | 74 | −35.7% | |
| 1990 | 48 | −35.1% | |
| 2000 | 47 | −2.1% | |
| 2010 | 49 | 4.3% | |
| 2020 | 41 | −16.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, a census counted 47 people living in Benton. These people lived in 18 different homes, and 14 of those were families. The town had about 153 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Benton (76.60%) were White. About 23.40% were Black or African American.
Out of the 18 homes, about 38.9% had children under 18 living there. Most homes (72.2%) had married couples living together. A small number (5.6%) had a female head of household without a husband. About 16.7% of homes were not families.
The average home had 2.61 people, and the average family had 2.87 people.
The population was spread out by age:
- 29.8% were under 18 years old.
- 34.0% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- 19.1% were between 45 and 64 years old.
- 17.0% were 65 years old or older.
The average age in Benton was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were about 123.8 males.
The median income for a household in Benton was $90,000. For families, it was $92,113. This means half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. The average income per person was $28,035.
About 7.5% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 14.3% of those under 18.
Famous People from Benton
- David Gordon Lyon: He was a professor at Harvard Divinity School. He also helped start the Semitic Museum.
- Bill Traylor: An African American self-taught artist.
- Zeke Wilson: A former Major League Baseball pitcher.
See also
In Spanish: Benton (Alabama) para niños
