Benton County, Tennessee

Benton County
Benton County
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	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)
• 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 David Benton (1779–1860), who was an early settler in the county and a member of the Third Regiment, Tennessee Militia in the Creek War.^{[citation needed]}

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
Natchez Trace State Forest (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]

2020 census

Benton County racial composition^[12]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	14,378	90.63%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	316	1.99%
Native American	50	0.32%
Asian	107	0.67%
Pacific Islander	4	0.03%
Other/Mixed	634	4.0%
Hispanic or Latino	375	2.36%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,864 people, 6,762 households, and 3,832 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census^[13] 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 people/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.

Media

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

Communities

City

Camden (county seat)

Politics

United States presidential election results for Benton County, Tennessee^[14]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	5,668	78.07%	1,529	21.06%	63	0.87%
2016	4,716	74.53%	1,474	23.29%	138	2.18%
2012	3,850	61.84%	2,258	36.27%	118	1.90%
2008	3,696	57.05%	2,645	40.82%	138	2.13%
2004	3,161	44.58%	3,869	54.57%	60	0.85%
2000	2,484	39.36%	3,700	58.63%	127	2.01%
1996	2,395	32.15%	4,341	58.27%	714	9.58%
1992	1,625	26.58%	3,896	63.72%	593	9.70%
1988	2,167	43.26%	2,826	56.42%	16	0.32%
1984	2,481	42.07%	3,398	57.62%	18	0.31%
1980	2,281	36.83%	3,811	61.54%	101	1.63%
1976	1,678	28.90%	4,088	70.41%	40	0.69%
1972	2,614	61.83%	1,479	34.98%	135	3.19%
1968	1,468	30.70%	1,059	22.15%	2,255	47.16%
1964	1,363	34.30%	2,611	65.70%	0	0.00%
1960	1,773	45.20%	2,030	51.75%	120	3.06%
1956	1,279	36.22%	2,231	63.18%	21	0.59%
1952	1,304	34.57%	2,452	65.01%	16	0.42%
1948	908	32.57%	1,757	63.02%	123	4.41%
1944	1,195	38.25%	1,901	60.85%	28	0.90%
1940	858	29.82%	1,996	69.38%	23	0.80%
1936	661	27.21%	1,762	72.54%	6	0.25%
1932	455	22.51%	1,540	76.20%	26	1.29%
1928	949	43.08%	1,241	56.33%	13	0.59%
1924	714	38.53%	1,097	59.20%	42	2.27%
1920	1,514	44.04%	1,914	55.67%	10	0.29%
1916	805	37.58%	1,313	61.30%	24	1.12%
1912	652	31.56%	1,095	53.00%	319	15.44%

References

^ Johnathan K.T. Smith, "Benton County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: March 31, 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c "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 May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ "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. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
^ Based on 2000 census data
^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 9, 2018.