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

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.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (9.6%) is water.

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

Racial and ethnic composition +Benton County, Tennessee – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)14,41214,05015,83415,56314,37896.72%96.74%95.75%94.38%90.63%Black or African American alone (NH)3673453483213162.46%2.38%2.10%1.95%1.99%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)9235168500.06%0.16%0.31%0.41%0.32%Asian alone (NH)223140621070.15%0.21%0.24%0.38%0.67%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census004xx0.00%0.00%0.03%Other race alone (NH)53511300.03%0.02%0.03%0.07%0.19%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census102173604xx0.62%1.05%3.81%Hispanic or Latino (any race)86721572913750.58%0.50%0.95%1.76%2.36%Total14,90114,52416,53716,48915,864 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

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

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.

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.

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%.

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

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 16,537 people, 6,863 households, and 4,886 families residing in the county. The population density was . 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 "B-95" 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)

Town Big Sandy

Census-designated places Eva Holladay

Unincorporated community

Post Oak

Politics

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Benton County, Tennessee

References

External links

Benton County, TN Government Web Site Benton County-Camden Chamber of Commerce Benton County Schools TNGenWeb