Benton, Arkansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Benton, Arkansas
settlement_type = City


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Saline County and the state of Arkansas


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Arkansas
subdivision_name2 = Saline
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 47.8
area_total_sq_mi = 18.4
area_land_km2 = 46.5
area_land_sq_mi = 17.9
area_water_km2 = 1.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.5
elevation_ft = 407
elevation_m = 124
population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 28,354
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 458.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1190.5
timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
latd = 34 |latm = 34 |lats = 15 |latNS = N
longd = 92 |longm = 34 |longs = 37 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
area_code = 501
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 05-05290GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0046394GR|3
footnotes =
website =

Benton is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Arkansas, United States.GR|6 According to a 2006 Special Census conducted at the request of the city government, the population of the city is 27,717, ranking it as the state's 14th largest city, behind Texarkana.cite web | date = June 21 2006 | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-05.csv | title = Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Arkansas | format = CSV | work = 2005 Population Estimates | publisher = U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division | accessmonthday = November 16 | accessyear = 2006] It is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city of Benton, first settled in 1833 and named after a Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, was formally chartered in 1836 when Arkansas became a state. According to the 2007 US Census, Benton has a population of 28,352

Geography

Benton is located at coor dms|34|34|15|N|92|34|37|W|city (34.570773, -92.577025).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.4 square miles (47.8 km²), of which, 17.9 square miles (46.5 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (2.71%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 21,906 people, 8,713 households, and 6,186 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,221.2 people per square mile (471.5/km²). There were 9,315 housing units at an average density of 519.3/sq mi (200.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.81% White, 4.46% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 1.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,713 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. There are 226 unmarried partner households: 208 heterosexual, 11 same-sex male, and 7 same-sex female. (Note: Census figures on numbers of same-sex couples may be inaccurate.) 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,503, and the median income for a family was $51,064. Males had a median income of $32,493 versus $22,386 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,797. About 5.8% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people with ties to Benton

*Wes Gardner - Former relief pitcher for the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and others.
*Cliff Lee - 2008 All-Star Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.
*Ewell Ross McCright - World War II POW.
*Joe Purcell - Arkansas governor for six days in 1979; former lieutenant governor and attorney general; lawyer in Benton.
*Charlie Rich - Multiple Grammy Award winning country artist.
*Willis Ricketts - Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1962.

References

External links

* [http://www.benton.ar.gov/ Benton, Arkansas]
* Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=979 Benton (Saline County)]