Benton County, Mississippi

Benton County
County
The Old Benton County courthouse in Ashland
The Old Benton County courthouse in Ashland
Map of Mississippi highlighting Benton County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°49′N 89°11′W / 34.82°N 89.19°W / 34.82; -89.19
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1870
Named forSamuel Benton
SeatAshland
Largest townHickory Flat
Area
 • Total
409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Land407 sq mi (1,050 km2)
 • Water2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
7,646
 • Density19/sq mi (7.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitebentoncountyms.gov

Benton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,646.[1] Its county seat is Ashland.[2]

It is locally believed that residents convinced the post-Civil War Reconstruction government that Benton County was named after U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton, but the name actually honored Confederate Brigadier General Samuel Benton of nearby Holly Springs in Marshall County, nephew of the senator.

Benton County is included in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area.

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Benton County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.