Benton, Kentucky

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Benton, Kentucky
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Benton, Kentucky


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Kentucky
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Marshall
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 10.2
area_land_km2 = 10.2
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 3.9
area_land_sq_mi = 3.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 4197
population_density_km2 = 411.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1065.3

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 130
elevation_ft = 427
latd = 36 |latm = 51 |lats = 19 |latNS = N
longd = 88 |longm = 21 |longs = 15 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 42025
area_code = 270
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 21-05824
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0486888
website =
footnotes =

Benton is a city in Marshall County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 4,197 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall CountyGR|6.

Shape-note singers gather annually at Benton on the fourth Sunday in May to sing from a tunebook called The Southern Harmony. This event, organized in 1884 and called "The Big Singing" or "Big Singing Day", is considered by many to be the oldest indigenous musical tradition in the United States. Benton is also known for an annual festival called "Tater Day" at which Marshall Countians gather on the court square to eat, listen to music and political speeches.

Geography

Benton is located at coor dms|36|51|19|N|88|21|15|W|city (36.855231, -88.354047)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.2 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,197 people, 1,767 households, and 1,111 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,065.3 people per square mile (411.3/km²). There were 1,922 housing units at an average density of 487.8/sq mi (188.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.97% White, 0.62% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 1,767 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,250, and the median income for a family was $52,396. Males had a median income of $39,097 versus $22,134 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,660. About 7.6% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links