Benton City, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benton City
Ghost Town
Ruins of the Benton City Institute
Benton City Location in Texas
Country	United States of America
State	Texas
County	Atascosa County
Elevation ,	731 ft (222.8 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)

Benton City is a ghost town in Atascosa County, Texas, United States. It was sometimes called Benton. This old town is located along Atascosa Creek. It is about 3 miles east of Lytle and 27 miles southwest of San Antonio.

The Story of Benton City

Benton City was first settled in the 1840s. It was built on a path once known as the Old San Antonio Road. By 1880, the town was quite busy. It had many businesses, like cotton gins, a hotel, and grocery stores. There was also a newspaper, a drug store, and shops for blacksmiths and carpenters.

The town had a sawmill and a place to keep horses. Several churches and a Masonic Lodge were also present. A school helped educate the children. A stagecoach line regularly stopped in Benton City. It delivered mail a few times each week.

The town was likely named after Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Another possibility is Samuel Benton, who fought in the Texas Revolution. Samuel Benton had a son who lived in the area.

Why Benton City Disappeared

Benton City began to decline in the 1880s. A new railroad line was built in nearby Lytle. This meant stagecoaches were no longer needed. Also, the school district joined with Lytle's. Because of these changes, Benton City slowly became a ghost town. Its population went up and down before it finally disappeared.

Benton City Cemetery

The oldest cemetery in the area was started in Benton City in 1870. It is still there today. Many early settlers are buried here. These include families like Lytle, Jones, Calk, and McDonnell.

The cemetery is also the resting place for many veterans. These brave people fought in different wars. They include those from Indian warfare, the Civil War, and both World Wars. Sadly, many residents who died during a tuberculosis outbreak in the 1800s are also buried here.

Benton City Institute

The Benton City Institute was a very important school in the early days. Its ruins are the only building left standing in the town. The school building was constructed in 1875. It officially opened in 1876.

It was first called the Benton City Normal Institute. It was a private school run by educators. The state helped by adding funds to the tuition fees. John D. Morrison was the first person to run the school.

In 1876, a group called Atascosa Lodge 379, A.F. & A.M. (a Masonic Lodge) bought the top floor. They used it for their meetings. Classes for students were held on the lower floor. The school taught basic subjects. It also offered courses like accounting, law, music, and surveying. Later, the school became fully supported by taxes.

By 1878, boys and girls could both attend the school. Professor and Mrs. Bernard C. Hendrix from Kentucky owned and ran it. In 1889, the school's name changed to Benton School.

In 1909, the Masons moved their lodge to Lytle. The school then used the entire building. In 1910, it was renamed Old Rock School. It continued to be an important school until 1919. That year, its school district joined with Lytle's. The building was still used sometimes until 1934.

In 1970, the State of Texas recognized the site as a historic place. They placed a metal plaque there. However, this plaque has since been removed.

Images for kids

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  Benton City Cemetery

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  State Historic Marker