Benton, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benton, Tennessee
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The Drug Store (left) and Polk County News block in Benton
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Location of Benton in Polk County, Tennessee.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Polk |
| Founded | 1840 |
| Incorporated | 1915 |
| Named for | Thomas Hart Benton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.03 sq mi (7.85 km2) |
| • Land | 3.03 sq mi (7.85 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 741 ft (226 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,523 |
| • Density | 502.14/sq mi (193.90/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
37307
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| Area code(s) | 423 |
| FIPS code | 47-05040 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1327567 |
Benton is a town in Polk County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,532 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat.
Benton is included in the Cleveland, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Benton was founded in 1840 as a county seat for Polk County, which had been established the previous year. The town, originally a trading post known as McKamy's stock stand, was named in honor of politician and US Senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton.
Nancy Ward, a Cherokee known as Nanyehi, was a Beloved Woman, a leader among her people. For many years, she participated in negotiations with the British and Americans. After the American Revolution, she had an inn here and was finally buried here. The Nancy Ward Chapter of the DAR, named in her honor, has marked the graves of her and her son Fivekiller.
On May 27, 1983, the Benton fireworks disaster occurred on a farm southeast of the city. An explosion at a secret fireworks operation killed eleven, injured one, and caused damage within a radius of several miles, revealing the illegal business. This was by far the largest and most successful known illegal fireworks operation. The blast was heard more than 20 mi (32 km) away.
Geography
Benton is located at 35°10′27″N 84°39′13″W / 35.17417°N 84.65361°W (35.1742411, -84.6535468). The town is situated just southeast of the confluence of the Ocoee River and the Hiwassee River, roughly 34 miles (55 km) upstream from the latter's mouth along the Chickamauga Lake impoundment of the Tennessee River. The Unicoi Mountains rise prominently to the east of Benton.
Benton is centered on the junction of U.S. Route 411, which connects the town to Etowah to the north and Tennga, Georgia to the south, and Tennessee State Route 314, which connects Benton to Parksville, Cherokee National Forest, and the Ocoee Dam area to the southeast. Benton is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) east of Interstate 75.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), all land.
One of the scenic areas around Benton is Lake McCamy, where a hiking trail leads to the Benton Falls.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 250 | — | |
| 1880 | 183 | −26.8% | |
| 1890 | 165 | −9.8% | |
| 1960 | 638 | — | |
| 1970 | 749 | 17.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,115 | 48.9% | |
| 1990 | 992 | −11.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,138 | 14.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,385 | 21.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,523 | 10.0% | |
| Sources: | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,418 | 93.11% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5 | 0.33% |
| Native American | 8 | 0.53% |
| Asian | 1 | 0.07% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed | 61 | 4.01% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 29 | 1.9% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,523 people, 645 households, and 438 families residing in the town.
See also
In Spanish: Benton (Tennessee) para niños
