BENTON, LA

Benton is a town in, and the parish seat of, Bossier Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 1,948 at the 2010 census but grew to 2,087 in 2018. The town is named for 19th century U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton, a Democrat from Missouri and an ally of U.S. President Andrew Jackson.

The larger Bossier City is located south of Benton. In Benton Square downtown near the Bossier Parish School Board office, the town maintains several historical buildings, including primitive cabins, a one-room schoolhouse museum, and the boyhood home of William Clark Hughes, who was the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1926 to 1928.

History

On April 3, 1999, a powerful F4 tornado roared through portions of the town killing six people and injuring 90. A mobile home park located south of town and homes near the Palmetto Country Club were devastated. Neighborhoods affected included Haymeadow Trailer Park, Palmetto Park/Palmetto Place (adjacent to the country club), Bay Hills, Woodlake South, Twin Lake Community, and many other newer lakefront homes located around Cypress Lake. The population of Benton lakefront area nearly doubled between 2004 and 2008.

The Palmetto Country Club opened in 1954. The Shreveport Kiwanis Invitational was held at the country club from 1965 to 1969. On December 31, 2014, the club closed after recruitment drives and restructuring of the membership plan failed to make the facility financially solvent. Owner John H. Ward and a partner had run the club since 2013. Ward invested $250,000 over the past year in a vain bid to keep the facility afloat. Ward added that Palmetto "is not alone in this struggle and two dominating factors are in play: memberships are decreasing nationwide, especially in the under-40 bracket; and the industry has been overbuilt making growth within golf clubs very difficult."

Geography

Benton is located at (32.694607, -93.740595).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,048 people, 850 households, and 516 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,035 people, 749 households, and 518 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,062.6 people per square mile (409.2/km). There were 834 housing units at an average density of 435.5 per square mile (167.7/km). The racial makeup of the town was 54.64% White, 42.16% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.10% of the population.

There were 749 households, out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 23.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,708, and the median income for a family was $31,953. Males had a median income of $29,423 versus $18,472 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,289. About 20.0% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.1% of those under age 18 and 26.1% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

Benton has six public schools: Benton Elementary School, Legacy Elementary School, Kingston Elementary,Benton Intermediate School, Benton Middle School, and Benton High School.

Notable people