Benton, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benton, Tennessee
Town
The Drug Store (left) and Polk County News block in Benton
Location of Benton in Polk County, Tennessee.
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)
• 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
Area code(s)	423
FIPS code	47-05040
GNIS feature ID	1327567

Benton is a small town located in Polk County, Tennessee, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,523 people lived there. It is the county seat of Polk County. This means it is the main town where the county government offices are located.

Benton is also part of the larger Cleveland, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History of Benton

Benton was started in 1840. It became the county seat for Polk County, which had been created just one year before. The town was first a trading post. It was known as McKamy's stock stand.

The town was named after Thomas Hart Benton. He was a well-known politician and a US Senator from Missouri.

Nancy Ward's Legacy

Nancy Ward, also known as Nanyehi, was a very important Cherokee leader. She was called a "Beloved Woman" by her people. For many years, she helped with talks between the Cherokee, the British, and the Americans.

After the American Revolution, Nancy Ward had an inn in this area. She was eventually buried here. The Nancy Ward Chapter of the DAR is named after her. This group has marked the graves of Nancy Ward and her son, Fivekiller.

The 1983 Fireworks Incident

On May 27, 1983, a large explosion happened on a farm near Benton. This event involved an unauthorized fireworks operation. The blast was very powerful. It could be heard more than 20 miles (about 32 kilometers) away. The explosion caused damage to buildings and properties within several miles.

Geography of Benton

Benton is located at coordinates 35°10′27″N 84°39′13″W. The town is found just southeast of where the Ocoee River and the Hiwassee River meet. This is about 34 miles (55 km) upstream from where the Hiwassee River flows into Chickamauga Lake. Chickamauga Lake is part of the Tennessee River. The tall Unicoi Mountains are clearly visible to the east of Benton.

Roads and Travel

Benton is at the crossing of two important roads. These are U.S. Route 411 and Tennessee State Route 314.

• U.S. Route 411 connects Benton to Etowah to the north. It also goes south to Tennga, Georgia.
• Tennessee State Route 314 links Benton to Parksville. It also leads to the Cherokee National Forest and the Ocoee Dam area.

Benton is about 20 miles (32 km) east of Interstate 75.

Area and Nature

According to the United States Census Bureau, Benton covers a total area of about 2.3 square miles (5.96 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

One beautiful spot near Benton is Lake McCamy. There is a hiking trail there that leads to the lovely Benton Falls.

Population Information

2020 Census Details

The 2020 United States census counted 1,523 people living in Benton. There were 645 households and 438 families in the town.

The table below shows the different groups of people living in Benton based on the 2020 census:

See also

In Spanish: Benton (Tennessee) para niños