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Benton County, Tennessee

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Benton County, Tennessee
County
Benton County Courthouse in Camden
Benton County Courthouse in Camden
Official seal of Benton County, Tennessee
Seal
Map of Tennessee highlighting Benton County
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Coordinates: 36°04′N 88°04′W / 36.07°N 88.07°W / 36.07; -88.07
CountryImage United States
StateImage Tennessee
Founded1835
Named forDavid Benton (early settler)[1]
SeatCamden
Largest cityCamden
Government
 • MayorMark Ward (R)
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
 • Estimate 
(2025)
16,183 Increase
 • Density40.26/sq mi (15.54/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts7th, 8th
Websitewww.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

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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

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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

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National protected area

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State protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18404,772—
18506,31532.3%
18608,46334.0%
18708,234−2.7%
18809,78018.8%
189011,23014.8%
190011,8885.9%
191012,4524.7%
192012,046−3.3%
193011,237−6.7%
194011,9766.6%
195011,495−4.0%
196010,662−7.2%
197012,12613.7%
198014,90122.9%
199014,524−2.5%
200016,53713.9%
201016,489−0.3%
202015,864−3.8%
2025 (est.)16,183[10] Increase2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[2]

Racial and ethnic composition

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Benton County, Tennessee – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[15] Pop 1990[16] Pop 2000[17] Pop 2010[18] Pop 2020[19] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 14,412 14,050 15,834 15,563 14,378 96.72% 96.74% 95.75% 94.38% 90.63%
Black or African American alone (NH) 367 345 348 321 316 2.46% 2.38% 2.10% 1.95% 1.99%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 9 23 51 68 50 0.06% 0.16% 0.31% 0.41% 0.32%
Asian alone (NH) 22 31 40 62 107 0.15% 0.21% 0.24% 0.38% 0.67%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [20] x [21] 0 0 4 x x 0.00% 0.00% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 5 3 5 11 30 0.03% 0.02% 0.03% 0.07% 0.19%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [22] x [23] 102 173 604 x x 0.62% 1.05% 3.81%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 86 72 157 291 375 0.58% 0.50% 0.95% 1.76% 2.36%
Total 14,901 14,524 16,537 16,489 15,864 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 15,864 people, 6,881 households, and 3,832 families residing in the county.[24]

The median age was 47.9 years. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.6 males age 18 and over.[24]

There were 6,881 households in the county, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.7% were married-couple households, 20.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[24]

There were 8,485 housing units, of which 18.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.4% were owner-occupied and 23.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.[24]

Fewer than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[25]

2000 census

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As of the census[26] 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

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Radio stations

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Newspapers

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Communities

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City

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Town

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated community

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Benton County, Tennessee[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 652 31.56% 1,095 53.00% 319 15.44%
1916 805 37.58% 1,313 61.30% 24 1.12%
1920 1,514 44.04% 1,914 55.67% 10 0.29%
1924 714 38.53% 1,097 59.20% 42 2.27%
1928 949 43.08% 1,241 56.33% 13 0.59%
1932 455 22.51% 1,540 76.20% 26 1.29%
1936 661 27.21% 1,762 72.54% 6 0.25%
1940 858 29.82% 1,996 69.38% 23 0.80%
1944 1,195 38.25% 1,901 60.85% 28 0.90%
1948 908 32.57% 1,757 63.02% 123 4.41%
1952 1,304 34.57% 2,452 65.01% 16 0.42%
1956 1,279 36.22% 2,231 63.18% 21 0.59%
1960 1,773 45.20% 2,030 51.75% 120 3.06%
1964 1,363 34.30% 2,611 65.70% 0 0.00%
1968 1,468 30.70% 1,059 22.15% 2,255 47.16%
1972 2,614 61.83% 1,479 34.98% 135 3.19%
1976 1,678 28.90% 4,088 70.41% 40 0.69%
1980 2,281 36.83% 3,811 61.54% 101 1.63%
1984 2,481 42.07% 3,398 57.62% 18 0.31%
1988 2,167 43.26% 2,826 56.42% 16 0.32%
1992 1,625 26.58% 3,896 63.72% 593 9.70%
1996 2,395 32.15% 4,341 58.27% 714 9.58%
2000 2,484 39.36% 3,700 58.63% 127 2.01%
2004 3,161 44.58% 3,869 54.57% 60 0.85%
2008 3,696 57.05% 2,645 40.82% 138 2.13%
2012 3,850 61.84% 2,258 36.27% 118 1.90%
2016 4,716 74.53% 1,474 23.29% 138 2.18%
2020 5,668 78.07% 1,529 21.06% 63 0.87%
2024 5,886 81.07% 1,317 18.14% 57 0.79%

See also

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References

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  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. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  13. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Tennessee - Table 15 - Persons by Race: 1980 AND Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-22. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  16. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Tennessee: Table 3,4,5,6 - Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 11-47. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Benton County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Benton County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Benton County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  21. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  22. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  23. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  24. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  25. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  26. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  27. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
[edit]

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

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