Benton County, Tennessee

Last updated

Benton County
County
Benton-county-courthouse-tn1.jpg
Benton County Courthouse in Camden
Benton-co-tn-seal.jpg
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Benton County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee in United States.svg
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°04′N88°04′W / 36.07°N 88.07°W / 36.07; -88.07
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee
Founded1835
Named after David Benton (early settler) [1]
Seat Camden
Largest cityCamden
Area
 • Total
436 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Land394 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Water41 sq mi (110 km2)  9.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
15,864 Decrease2.svg
 • Density40.26/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]

Contents

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. [6] [7] [8]

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. [9]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840 4,772—
1850 6,31532.3%
1860 8,46334.0%
1870 8,234−2.7%
1880 9,78018.8%
1890 11,23014.8%
1900 11,8885.9%
1910 12,4524.7%
1920 12,046−3.3%
1930 11,237−6.7%
1940 11,9766.6%
1950 11,495−4.0%
1960 10,662−7.2%
1970 12,12613.7%
1980 14,90122.9%
1990 14,524−2.5%
2000 16,53713.9%
2010 16,489−0.3%
2020 15,864−3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]
1790-1960 [11] 1900-1990 [12]
1990-2000 [13] 2010-2020 [2]
Age pyramid Benton County USA Benton County, Tennessee.csv age pyramid.svg
Age pyramid Benton County

2020 census

Benton County racial composition [15]
RaceNum.Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)14,37890.63%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)3161.99%
Native American 500.32%
Asian 1070.67%
Pacific Islander 40.03%
Other/Mixed 6344.0%
Hispanic or Latino 3752.36%

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 [16] 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

Newspapers

The Camden Chronicle

Communities

City

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated community

Politics

United States presidential election results for Benton County, Tennessee [17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 65231.56%1,09553.00%31915.44%
1916 80537.58%1,31361.30%241.12%
1920 1,51444.04%1,91455.67%100.29%
1924 71438.53%1,09759.20%422.27%
1928 94943.08%1,24156.33%130.59%
1932 45522.51%1,54076.20%261.29%
1936 66127.21%1,76272.54%60.25%
1940 85829.82%1,99669.38%230.80%
1944 1,19538.25%1,90160.85%280.90%
1948 90832.57%1,75763.02%1234.41%
1952 1,30434.57%2,45265.01%160.42%
1956 1,27936.22%2,23163.18%210.59%
1960 1,77345.20%2,03051.75%1203.06%
1964 1,36334.30%2,61165.70%00.00%
1968 1,46830.70%1,05922.15%2,25547.16%
1972 2,61461.83%1,47934.98%1353.19%
1976 1,67828.90%4,08870.41%400.69%
1980 2,28136.83%3,81161.54%1011.63%
1984 2,48142.07%3,39857.62%180.31%
1988 2,16743.26%2,82656.42%160.32%
1992 1,62526.58%3,89663.72%5939.70%
1996 2,39532.15%4,34158.27%7149.58%
2000 2,48439.36%3,70058.63%1272.01%
2004 3,16144.58%3,86954.57%600.85%
2008 3,69657.05%2,64540.82%1382.13%
2012 3,85061.84%2,25836.27%1181.90%
2016 4,71674.53%1,47423.29%1382.18%
2020 5,66878.07%1,52921.06%630.87%
2024 5,88681.07%1,31718.14%570.79%

See also

References

  1. ↑ Johnathan K.T. Smith, "Benton County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: March 31, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Benton County, Tennessee". quickfacts.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  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.
  6. ↑ "44769_003". teva.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  7. ↑ Hargett, Tre (January 2010). "47 County Names.pdf" (PDF). 2009-2010 Tennessee Blue Book | Tennessee Secretary of State.
  8. ↑ Borchert (January 27, 2010). "TN HJR0766 - HJR0766.pdf HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 766" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  12. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ Based on 2000 census data
  15. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 9, 2018.

36°04′N88°04′W / 36.07°N 88.07°W / 36.07; -88.07

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