Benton, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benton, New York
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Location in Yates County and the state of New York.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Yates |
| Area | |
| • Total | 44.44 sq mi (115.09 km2) |
| • Land | 41.47 sq mi (107.41 km2) |
| • Water | 2.96 sq mi (7.68 km2) |
| Elevation | 915 ft (279 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,836 |
| • Estimate
(2016)
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2,803 |
| • Density | 67.59/sq mi (26.10/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 36-06002 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978724 |
Benton is a small town located in Yates County, New York, in the United States. In 2010, about 2,836 people lived there. The town gets its name from Levi Benton, who was one of the first people to settle in the area.
You can find the Town of Benton in the northeast part of Yates County. It sits on the west side of Seneca Lake, just north of the village of Penn Yan.
Contents
Benton's Early History
Long ago, a village of the Seneca tribe called Kashanquash was located in what is now Benton. This was around the year 1779. Later, the land became part of a large land deal called the Phelps and Gorham Purchase.
The town of Benton was officially created in 1803. It was formed from a part of the Town of Jerusalem. Before it was called Benton, the town had a few different names. First, it was called "Vernon." But there was another town named Vernon, so they changed it to "Snell." Finally, they decided on "Benton" to honor Levi Benton, who was believed to be the first settler there.
Over the years, Benton's size changed. In 1818, some land was used to create the Town of Milo. Then, in 1851, more land was taken to form the Town of Torrey.
Several historic buildings in Benton are special because they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important to the history of the United States. Some of these include the Angus Cobblestone Farmhouse and the Whitaker House.
Where is Benton Located?
Benton covers an area of about 44.4 square miles (115 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with about 3.0 square miles (7.68 square kilometers) being water.
The northern border of Benton touches Ontario County. Part of its eastern border is along Seneca Lake, which also forms the border with Seneca County. Benton is part of the beautiful Finger Lakes region in New York.
Several main roads run through Benton. New York State Route 14 goes north and south along Seneca Lake. New York State Route 14A is another north-south highway in the western part of the town. You can also find New York State Route 364 crossing the southwestern corner of Benton.
Who Lives in Benton?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 3,357 | — | |
| 1830 | 3,957 | 17.9% | |
| 1840 | 3,911 | −1.2% | |
| 1850 | 3,456 | −11.6% | |
| 1860 | 2,462 | −28.8% | |
| 1870 | 2,422 | −1.6% | |
| 1880 | 2,413 | −0.4% | |
| 1890 | 2,291 | −5.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,179 | −4.9% | |
| 1910 | 2,032 | −6.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,797 | −11.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,845 | 2.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,879 | 1.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,866 | −0.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,093 | 12.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,159 | 3.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,981 | −8.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,380 | 20.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,640 | 10.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,836 | 7.4% | |
| 2016 (est.) | 2,803 | −1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the census from the year 2000, there were 2,640 people living in Benton. These people lived in 864 households, and 642 of those were families. The population density was about 63.6 people per square mile.
Many households (35.2%) had children under 18 living with them. Most households (62.5%) were married couples living together. About 20.5% of all households were made up of people living alone.
The average age of people in Benton was 40 years old. About 28.4% of the population was under 18. About 19.4% of the people were 65 years old or older.
The average income for a household in Benton was $37,500 per year. For families, the average income was $43,988. About 13.5% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 25.2% of those under 18.
Famous People from Benton
Benton has been home to a few notable people, including:
- Levi W. Barden – A former state senator in Wisconsin.
- Joshua Lee – A former member of the U.S. Congress.
- James R. Lyon – A former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
- Meredith Mallory – Another former member of the U.S. Congress.
Towns and Places in Benton
Benton has several smaller communities and interesting spots:
- Angus – A small community located in the southeastern part of Benton, right by Seneca Lake on NY Route 14.
- Bellona – A community near the northern border of the town on County Road 15.
- Bellona Station – This spot is southwest of Bellona. It was once a busy train station for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
- Benton – This is the main community, also called a hamlet, located on NY-14.
- Benton Center – Found west of the Benton hamlet, at the crossing of County Road 14 and NY-14A.
- Ferguson Corners – A location in the northwestern part of the town on County Road 2.
- Havens Corners – A community northwest of Penn Yan village and east of Benton Center on County Road 14.
- Kashong Point – A piece of land that sticks out into Seneca Lake, partly in the northeast of Benton.
- Penn Yan – A small part of the village of Penn Yan is located in the southern part of Benton on NY-14A.
See also
In Spanish: Benton (Nueva York) para niños
