Benton County, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benton County
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Benton County Courthouse in Camden
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Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
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 Tennessee's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Tennessee |
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| Founded | 1835 | |
| Named for | David Benton (early settler) | |
| Seat | Camden | |
| Largest city | Camden | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 436 sq mi (1,130 km2) | |
| • Land | 394 sq mi (1,020 km2) | |
| • Water | 41 sq mi (110 km2) 9.6%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,864  |
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| • Density | 40.26/sq mi (15.54/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| Congressional districts | 7th, 8th | |
Benton County is a county in the state of Tennessee, USA. In 2020, about 15,864 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Camden.
Benton County was started in December 1835 and officially set up in 1836. It is in northwest Tennessee, next to the western part of the Tennessee River. It is also about 30 miles south of the Kentucky border.
Besides Camden, other important towns include Big Sandy and Holladay. The area is well known for duck hunting and fishing. Long ago, people also grew sorghum here, but they do not anymore.
Contents
History of Benton County
Benton County was formed in 1835. It was made from a part of Humphreys County. The county was named after David Benton (1779–1860). He was one of the first people to settle in the area. David Benton also served in the military during the Creek War.
Geography of Benton County
Benton County covers a total area of about 436 square miles. Most of this area, about 394 square miles, is land. The rest, about 42 square miles, is water. This means about 9.6% of the county is water.
Neighboring Counties
Benton County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Stewart County (to the northeast)
- Houston County (to the northeast)
- Humphreys County (to the east)
- Perry County (to the southeast)
- Decatur County (to the south)
- Carroll County (to the west)
- Henry County (to the northwest)
Protected Natural Areas
Parts of Benton County are home to important natural areas. These places help protect wildlife and nature.
National Protected Areas
- Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (part of it is in Benton County)
State Protected Areas
- Big Sandy Wildlife Management Area (part)
- Camden Wildlife Management Area
- Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park
- Harmon Creek Wildlife Management Area
- Lick Creek Wildlife Management Area
- Natchez Trace State Forest (part)
- Natchez Trace State Park (part)
- New Hope Wildlife Management Area
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 4,772 | — | |
| 1850 | 6,315 | 32.3% | |
| 1860 | 8,463 | 34.0% | |
| 1870 | 8,234 | −2.7% | |
| 1880 | 9,780 | 18.8% | |
| 1890 | 11,230 | 14.8% | |
| 1900 | 11,888 | 5.9% | |
| 1910 | 12,452 | 4.7% | |
| 1920 | 12,046 | −3.3% | |
| 1930 | 11,237 | −6.7% | |
| 1940 | 11,976 | 6.6% | |
| 1950 | 11,495 | −4.0% | |
| 1960 | 10,662 | −7.2% | |
| 1970 | 12,126 | 13.7% | |
| 1980 | 14,901 | 22.9% | |
| 1990 | 14,524 | −2.5% | |
| 2000 | 16,537 | 13.9% | |
| 2010 | 16,489 | −0.3% | |
| 2020 | 15,864 | −3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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The population of Benton County has changed over the years. In 1840, there were about 4,772 people. By 2020, the population grew to 15,864 people.
In 2020, there were 15,864 people living in Benton County. These people lived in 6,762 households. About 3,832 of these households were families.
Local Media
Benton County has its own radio stations and newspapers. These help people stay informed and entertained.
Radio Stations
- WRJB-FM 95.9 "Magic 95.9 the Valley"
- WRQR-FM 105.5 (Henry Co) "Today's Best Music with Ace & TJ in the Morning"
- WTPR-AM 710 (Henry Co) "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
- WTPR-FM 101.7 (Henry Co) "The Greatest Hits of All Time"
Newspapers
- The Camden Chronicle
- Tennessee Magnet Publications
Towns and Communities
Benton County has several towns and communities. These are places where people live and work.
City
- Camden (This is the county seat, meaning it's the main town for county government.)
Town
Census-Designated Place
- Eva (A place that is like a town but not officially incorporated as one.)
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a city or town.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Benton (Tennessee) para niños
