Benton (town), Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benton, Wisconsin
|
|
|---|---|
Town hall
|
|
 Benton (town), Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
Benton (town), Wisconsin
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Lafayette |
| Area | |
| • Total | 28.00 sq mi (72.52 km2) |
| • Land | 28.00 sq mi (72.52 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 910 ft (280 m) |
| Population
(2010)
|
|
| • Total | 504 |
| • Density | 18/sq mi (7.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code(s) | 608 |
| FIPS code | 55-065-06850 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1582796 |
Benton is a small town located in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, United States. In 2010, about 504 people lived there. This was a bit more than the 469 people counted in 2000. The village of Benton is part of the town. Other small communities called Jenkinsville and Strawbridge are also found here.
Contents
Exploring Benton's Geography
Benton is in the very southwest corner of Lafayette County. Its southern edge touches the state of Illinois. To the west, it borders Grant County. The village of Benton is located a little east of the town's center.
Nearby cities include Cuba City, which is mostly in Grant County. It borders Benton to the north and west. The village of Hazel Green is also nearby, to the southwest.
The town covers about 72.5 square kilometers (about 28 square miles) of land. There is no water area within the town's official boundaries. The Galena River flows near Benton. This river eventually joins the mighty Mississippi River.
Benton's Population and People
In 2000, Benton was home to 469 people. There were 159 households, which means 159 groups of people living together. Most of these were families. About 39% of the households had children under 18 living with them. Most households were married couples.
The average household had about three people. The average family had a bit more than three people. The town's population included people of all ages. About 29% were under 18 years old. About 9% were 65 years or older. The average age in Benton was 36 years.
A Look at Benton's History
Before European settlers arrived, Native American tribes like the Pottawatomie and Winnebago traveled through the area. These tribes were the first to discover the rich lead deposits here. This area is part of the Driftless Area, which means it was not flattened by glaciers long ago.
When Europeans came to the region, Native Americans showed them where the valuable minerals were. This discovery later attracted many settlers to the area.
The first permanent European settlement in Benton happened in 1827. Andrew Murphy, his family, and a few others set up a home. For a few years, not many new settlers arrived. But after the Black Hawk War ended, the area became safer. The promise of lead mining also brought many more people to Benton.
Benton continued to grow. The need for lead during the Civil War (1861-1865) helped the town recover from an economic downturn in 1857. Farming also became very important to Benton's economy. By the late 1800s, Benton had churches, general stores, and many other businesses.
Today, Benton has changed from a mining town. Its economy is now mostly based on farming and modern businesses.
See also
In Spanish: Benton (condado de Lafayette, Wisconsin) para niños
