Bentonia, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bentonia, Mississippi
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Location of Bentonia, Mississippi
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 Bentonia, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Yazoo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.42 sq mi (3.69 km2) |
| • Land | 1.42 sq mi (3.69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 197 ft (60 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 319 |
| • Density | 224.02/sq mi (86.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
39040
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| Area code(s) | 662 |
| FIPS code | 28-05380 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405246 |
Bentonia is a small town in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. In 2020, about 319 people lived there. This town is famous for a special style of blues music called the Bentonia School of blues.
Contents
A Look Back: Bentonia's History
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Bentonia started as a town where people could send and receive mail. It was located along the Illinois Central Railroad tracks. The town was named after one of its first residents. Back in 1900, Bentonia had a population of 167 people.
The Home of Bentonia Blues
The "Bentonia School" or "Bentonia Blues" is a unique style of country blues music. It began right in Bentonia and the areas nearby. This style is known for its special guitar tuning and soulful singing.
Every June, Bentonia hosts the annual Bentonia Blues Festival. The main stage for the festival is set up in front of the Blue Front Cafe. This cafe is run by Jimmy "Duck" Holmes. When he was younger, Jimmy learned this special blues style from another Bentonia Blues musician, Jack Owens.
You can find three special markers in Bentonia that are part of the Mississippi Blues Trail. These markers celebrate the town's important role in blues music. One marker honors musician Skip James, another is for Jack Owens, and the third is at the famous Blue Front Café.
Where is Bentonia?
Bentonia is a small town that covers about 1.4 square miles (3.6 square kilometers) of land. It doesn't have any large bodies of water within its borders.
Getting Around Bentonia
The City of New Orleans train, run by Amtrak, goes through Bentonia. This train travels between New Orleans and Chicago. However, the train does not stop in Bentonia. The closest train station is in Yazoo City, which is about 16 miles north of Bentonia.
Learning in Bentonia
Students in Bentonia attend schools that are part of the Yazoo County School District. Younger students go to Bentonia Gibbs Elementary School. Older students attend Yazoo County Middle School and Yazoo County High School.
Famous Faces from Bentonia
Bentonia is home to several notable people, especially in the world of blues music:
- Jimmy "Duck" Holmes – A well-known blues musician.
- Skip James – An influential blues musician.
- Jack Owens – Another important blues musician.
- James Steels – A former professional baseball player for the San Diego Padres.
See also
In Spanish: Bentonia para niños
