Benton County, Tennessee

Benton County
Benton County
U.S. county
	Benton County Courthouse in Camden
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
	Tennessee's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 36°04′N 88°04′W / 36.07°N 88.07°W
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	1836
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)
• Total	15,864
• Density	40.26/sq mi (15.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	7th, 8th
Website	www.bentoncountytn.gov

Benton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,864.^[2] Its county seat is Camden.^[3] The county was created in December 1835 and organized in 1836.^[4]^[5]

Benton County is located in northwest Tennessee, bordering the western branch of the Tennessee River and 30 miles south of the Kentucky border. Aside from Camden, other major communities include agrarian communities Big Sandy and Holladay. It is known well in the area for its duck hunting and fishing industries, and in the past, was recognized for sorghum production, although it is no longer produced there.

History[]

Benton County was formed in 1835 from part of Humphreys County. It was named in honor of (1779–1860), who was an early settler in the county and a member of the Third Regiment, Tennessee Militia in the Creek War.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 436 square miles (1,130 km²), of which 394 square miles (1,020 km²) is land and 42 square miles (110 km²) (9.6%) is water.^[6]

Adjacent counties[]

Stewart County (northeast)
Houston County (northeast)
Humphreys County (east)
Perry County (southeast)
Decatur County (south)
Carroll County (west)
Henry County (northwest)

National protected area[]

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

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
(part)
Natchez Trace State Park (part)
New Hope Wildlife Management Area

Demographics[]

Historical population
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^[7] 1790-1960^[8] 1900-1990^[9] 1990-2000^[10] 2010-2020^[2]

Age pyramid Benton County^[11]

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 16,537 people, 6,863 households, and 4,886 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 8,595 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.44% White, 2.10% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,863 households, out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.00% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,679, and the median income for a family was $32,727. Males had a median income of $29,177 versus $19,038 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,646. About 11.90% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

Of the 16,459 people leaving in Benton County 0.03 percent are on some form of state advised probation.^{[citation needed]}

Media[]

Radio stations[]

WRJB-FM 95.9 "Magic 95.9 the Valley"
WFWL-AM 1220 "The Station You Grew Up With"
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

Communities[]

City[]

Camden (county seat)

Politics[]

Benton County, like most West Tennessee counties, is a historically Democratic county. The Democratic nominee for president carried the county in every election prior to 2008 with the exception of 1968, when the county was won by third party candidate George Wallace, and 1972, when it was won by Republican Richard Nixon. Like most rural counties in the South, Benton County has swung dramatically toward the GOP in the 21st century, and since 2008, it has been a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry this county was John Kerry in 2004.

show

Presidential election results

References[]

^ Johnathan K.T. Smith, "Benton County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 31 March 2013.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Benton County, Tennessee". quickfacts.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
^ "Tennessee: Individual County Chronologies". Tennessee Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ "Benton County". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Tennessee Historical Society. December 25, 2009. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
^ Based on 2000 census data
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-09.

External links[]

Coordinates: 36°04′N 88°04′W / 36.07°N 88.07°W / 36.07; -88.07

[tehc-1] Johnathan K.T. Smith, "Benton County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: 31 March 2013.

[QF-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Benton County, Tennessee". quickfacts.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2021.

[GR6-3] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.

[4] "Tennessee: Individual County Chronologies". Tennessee Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2015.

[5] "Benton County". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Tennessee Historical Society. December 25, 2009. Retrieved April 15, 2015.

[GR1-6] "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2015.

[7] "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2015.

[8] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 1, 2015.

[9] Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2015.

[10] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2015.

[11] Based on 2000 census data

[GR8-12] "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

[13] Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-09.

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Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	78.1% 5,668	21.1% 1,529	0.9% 63
2016	74.5% 4,716	23.3% 1,474	2.2% 138
2012	61.8% 3,850	36.3% 2,258	1.9% 118
2008	57.1% 3,696	40.8% 2,645	2.1% 138
2004	44.6% 3,161	54.6% 3,869	0.9% 60
2000	39.4% 2,484	58.6% 3,700	2.0% 127
1996	32.2% 2,395	58.3% 4,341	9.6% 714
1992	26.6% 1,625	63.7% 3,896	9.7% 593
1988	43.3% 2,167	56.4% 2,826	0.3% 16
1984	42.1% 2,481	57.6% 3,398	0.3% 18
1980	36.8% 2,281	61.5% 3,811	1.6% 101
1976	28.9% 1,678	70.4% 4,088	0.7% 40
1972	61.8% 2,614	35.0% 1,479	3.2% 135
1968	30.7% 1,468	22.2% 1,059	47.2% 2,255
1964	34.3% 1,363	65.7% 2,611
1960	45.2% 1,773	51.8% 2,030	3.1% 120
1956	36.2% 1,279	63.2% 2,231	0.6% 21
1952	34.6% 1,304	65.0% 2,452	0.4% 16
1948	32.6% 908	63.0% 1,757	4.4% 123
1944	38.3% 1,195	60.9% 1,901	0.9% 28
1940	29.8% 858	69.4% 1,996	0.8% 23
1936	27.2% 661	72.5% 1,762	0.3% 6
1932	22.5% 455	76.2% 1,540	1.3% 26
1928	43.1% 949	56.3% 1,241	0.6% 13
1924	38.5% 714	59.2% 1,097	2.3% 42
1920	44.0% 1,514	55.7% 1,914	0.3% 10
1916	37.6% 805	61.3% 1,313	1.1% 24
1912	31.6% 652	53.0% 1,095	15.4% 319

show v t Municipalities and communities of Benton County, Tennessee, United States
County seat: Camden
City	Camden
Town	Big Sandy
CDP	Eva
Unincorporated communities	Holladay‡ Post Oak
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties.
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