Benton, Tennessee

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Benton, Tennessee
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Polk County Courthouse in Benton


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Benton, Tennessee


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map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Tennessee
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Polk

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 5.9
area_land_km2 = 5.9
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.3
area_land_sq_mi = 2.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1138
population_density_km2 = 193.8
population_density_sq_mi = 502.1

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 226
elevation_ft = 741
latd = 35 |latm = 10 |lats = 23 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 39 |longs = 0 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 37307
area_code = 423
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 47-05040GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1327567GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Benton is a town in Polk County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,138 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Polk CountyGR|6.

Geography

Benton is located at coor dms|35|10|23|N|84|39|0|W|city (35.173185, -84.650000)GR|1. The town is situated just southeast of the confluence of the Ocoee River and the Hiwassee River, roughly convert|34|mi|km upstream from the latter's mouth along the Chickamauga Lake impoundment of the Tennessee River. The Unicoi Mountains rise prominently to the east of Benton.

Benton is centered around the junction of U.S. Route 411, which connects the town to Etowah, Tennessee to the north and Tennga, Georgia to the south, and Tennessee State Route 314, which connects Benton to Parksville and the Ocoee Dam area to the southeast. Benton is located approximately convert|20|mi|km east of Interstate 75.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,138 people, 468 households, and 301 families residing in the town. The population density was 502.1 people per square mile (193.6/km²). There were 513 housing units at an average density of 226.3/sq mi (87.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.86% White, 0.09% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 468 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,667, and the median income for a family was $31,146. Males had a median income of $24,667 versus $23,295 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,580. About 15.1% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.5% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

History

Benton was founded in 1840 as a county seat for Polk County, which had been established the previous year. The town, originally a trading post known as McKamy's stock stand, was named in honor of Thomas Hart Benton. [Marian Bailey Presswood, " [http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=P035 Polk County] ." "The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture", 2002. Retrieved: 31 March 2008.]

References

External links