| Official Name: | Benton, Mississippi |
| Pushpin Map: | Mississippi#USA |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Name2: | Yazoo |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 11.82 |
| Area Land Km2: | 11.82 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 4.57 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 4.56 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population Total: | 415 |
| Population Density Km2: | 35.11 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 90.93 |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 315 |
| Coordinates: | 32.8225°N -90.2594°W |
| Postal Code: | 39039 |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 2804175 |
Benton is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Yazoo County, Mississippi. It was first named as a CDP in the 2020 Census which listed a population of 415.[2]
Mississippi Highway 433 passes through the community.
Benton was settled in 1828 by William P. Gadberry. The first county court was held in his log home.
The county seat was moved from Beatties Bluff to Benton in 1829. Benton developed quickly, and soon became the center of trade. Benton was chartered in 1836, and incorporated in 1846.[3] [4] [5] In 1849, the county seat was moved to Yazoo City, to which a Mr. Benton wrote at the time:
With the removal of the county seat, Benton began to decline and each year its population lessens, and the few houses left are dilapidated, dingy, decaying, and tumbling down. Its population is about forty or fifty. It has two or three small stores, which do a limited neighborhood business.[6]
The Yazoo County Agricultural High School - one of the largest and best of its kind in the state - was constructed in Benton in 1912. Benton High School was opened in 1930, and was used until the late 1990s. These educational facilities required new gravel roads to be constructed to Benton, which encouraged families to move back to the town. New stores were built, a deep well was dug, and a telephone exchange was established.[7]
The March Against Fear in 1966 passed through Benton. Martin Luther King Jr. and others camped at the Oak Grove AME Church south of the town, where they were given food and water by members of the church and by the Woods family, who owned property next to the church.[8] A historic marker is located there.
| White alone (NH) | 298 | 71.81% | |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 94 | 22.65% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 3 | 0.72% | |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1 | 0.24% | |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 0.24% | |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 1 | 0.24% | |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 10 | 2.41% | |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7 | 1.69% | |
| Total | 415 | 100.00% |
Benton Country Club is located in the town.
The town is served by the Yazoo County School District.[10] Residents are zoned to Yazoo County Middle School and Yazoo County High School. Benton Academy, a private school, is located here.
The town is served by the Benton Volunteer Fire Department.