BlockBenton, Arkansas
23 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1890 and the latest in 1994. It stands in Bauxite Township. It lies in ZIP code area 72015. It stands on McNeil Creek. The Survey maps it on the Benton quadrangle. 35,014 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 407 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Benton
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 12 of 16 shown
Benton Commercial Historic Districtlisted 2008
Dr. T.E. Buffington Houselisted 2014
J. W. and Ann Lowe Clary Houselisted 1993
Gan Row Historic Districtlisted 1999
Gann Buildinglisted 1975
Gann Houselisted 1976
Hester-Lenz Houselisted 2004
Hyten, Charles "Bullet" Dean, Houselisted 2012
Independent Order of Odd Fellows Buildinglisted 2004
Old River Bridgelisted 1977
Royal Theatrelisted 2003
Saline County Courthouselisted 1976
Population over time
2 figuresBenton grew from 30,681 to 35,014 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 30,681 | |
| 2020 | 35,014 | +4,333 (+14%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
14 surveys from 23 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1890 USGS Benton quadrangle1:125000
- 1894 USGS Benton quadrangle1:125000, 5 printings
- 1938 USGS Benton quadrangle1:62500, 3 printings
- 1938 USGS Benton quadrangle1:48000
- 1944 USGS Benton quadrangle1:31680, 2 printings
- 1944 USGS Benton quadrangle1:62500
- 1944 USGS Benton quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1955 USGS Little Rock quadrangle1:250000
- 1956 USGS Little Rock quadrangle1:250000
- 1960 USGS Little Rock quadrangle1:250000
- 1964 USGS Little Rock quadrangle1:250000
- 1974 USGS Benton quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1985 USGS Little Rock quadrangle1:100000
- 1994 USGS Benton quadrangle1:24000
Fires near this place
119 since 1997Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 119 fires within 5 miles of Benton between 1997 and 2020, burning about 751 acres in total. 5 started naturally. 30 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 37 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 36 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 30 |
| Natural | 5 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 3 |
| Smoking | 3 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 3 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 2 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 September 2005 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 8.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 29 September 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 7.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 27 September 1999 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 26 September 2015 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 25 September 2015 | Smoking | 1.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 25 September 2015 | Misuse of fire by a minor | 20 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 23 September 2005 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 22 September 2015 | Smoking | 5.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 22 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 22 workings within 5 miles of Benton: 12 unknowns, 4 past producers, 3 producers, 2 prospects. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Aluminum, Clay, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Nickel. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben J.Field | Quartz | Unknown | ||
| C.E. Lowry, Trustee, Properties | Nickel, Cobalt | Prospect | Underground | |
| Gingles Deposit | Bentonite | Unknown | ||
| Hurricane Creek Deposit | Niobium (Columbium) | Occurrence | ||
| Republic Mining & Mgf. Co. | Iron | Unknown | ||
| Saline County | Aluminum, Iron, Silica, Titanium, Water, Free | Prospect | 1887 | |
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Unknown | ||
| Belvedere S & G Co. Pit and Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Hill Sand and Gravel, Inc. | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Hicks and Rodenbaugh Clay Banks | Clay | Unknown |
Storms near this place
60 of 134 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Benton in 134 storm reports between 1993 and 2024: 62 thunderstorm wind, 48 hail, 11 flash flood, 4 tornado. The reports record 11 deaths and 51 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1997 | Tornado (F4) | Benton | 10 killed, 40 hurt, $25,000,000 | The thunderstorm that produced the tornado across Clark and Hot Spring County earlier spawned another tornado in Saline County. The tornado touched down 5 miles southeast of Benton and traveled northeastward, damaging a number of homes and downing numerous trees and power lines. As the tornado approached Shannon Hills, the tornado expanded to 0.8 mile wide. Dozens of homes were either damaged or destroyed in the area around the Shannon Hills, Vimy Ridge and Sardis communities. 10 people were killed, with most victims inside their homes when the storm hit.The tornado exhibited characteristics of F2 to F3 strength prior to moving into the Shannon Hills area. After that, the tornado reached F4 intensity as it moved across the Shannon Hills area and eventually into Pulaski County. |
| August 1998 | Lightning | Benton | 1 killed | no account filed |
| February 2000 | Tornado (F1) | Benton | 9 hurt | A weak tornado was spawned in Saline County about 3.6 miles west-northwest of Benton. The tornado moved east into the Benton area, damaging homes and businesses. There were 66 homes with minor damage, 18 homes with major damage and 10 commercial buildings damaged. There were 9 injuries reported, with the injured treated and released from the hospital. The tornado also downed trees and power lines before dissipating 1.2 miles southwest of Bryant. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | 2 hurt | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Lightning | Benton | $300,000 | no account filed |
| April 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $75,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines. |
| April 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $50,000 | A tree was blown down on a house due to the strong thunderstorm winds. |
| July 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $50,000 | Thunderstorm winds damaged several roofs. |
| July 1996 | Lightning | Benton | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $40,000 | Numerous trees were blown down. One of the trees landed on a car. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $40,000 | A large tree fell on a house in the Overview Subdivision. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $25,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $10,000 | A power pole was blown over onto parked cars on Military Road in Benton. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $10,000 | A billboard was damaged on I-30 in Benton. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $10,000 | Trees were blown down. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $10,000 | A tree fell on a mobile home. |
| May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Trees were blown down and resulting in some power outages as the falling trees damaged power lines. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Large tree limbs were thrown by the wind. Some siding was removed from a garage. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | A few trees were blown down. One of the trees landed on a house. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Trees were blown down in Benton. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | A few large trees were blown down. Mailboxes were blown over. |
| July 1994 | Hail | Benton | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees. |
| July 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees. |
| November 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds damaged a camping trailer. |
| April 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed some trees. |
| May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Some trees and power lines were knocked down. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed some power lines. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Some trees were blown down. |
| August 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed some trees. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $2,000 | A tree and large limbs were blown down, blocking a road. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $1,000 | Some shingles were blown off a roof. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $1,000 | Large tree limbs were blown down. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | Several trees were blown down blocking all lines of AR-Highway 5 and AR-Highway 35 in Benton. |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | A large tree and numerous powerlines were downed across Highway 35 southbound in Benton. |
| July 2024 | Heavy Rain | Benton | - | A 24 hour rainfall total of 4.53 inches was measured at Benton. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | Trees were down at Benton. |
| September 2022 | Flash Flood | Benton | - | The sheriff's office reported multiple roads underwater across the southern half of Saline county. |
| May 2021 | Flash Flood | Benton | - | ADEM reported that at least 4 homes and 8 cars were impacted by flooding in Saline county. Approximately 15 people have been rescued. Multiple roads were flooded throughout the county as well. |
| August 2020 | Flash Flood | Benton | - | A video showed water flowing over roads in Benton on social media, relayed by broadcast media. |
| April 2019 | Flash Flood | Benton | - | Benton police department reported flooding at the intersection of Highway 35 and Edison Rd. |
| April 2019 | Flash Flood | Benton | - | Water was over Edison Avenue at AR-35 with traffic backing up. |
| April 2019 | Hail | Benton | - | Received a few pictures of ping pong ball sized hail in Benton via Facebook. |
| July 2016 | Flash Flood | Benton | - | There was street flooding along the service road east of the I-30 Sevier St. exit. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | One tree was snapped near ground level. |
| July 2014 | Heavy Rain | Benton | - | Rainfall measured 1.80 inches in one hour. |
| November 2012 | Hail | Benton | - | There were numerous reports of hail, ranging from .25 to .75 inch in diameter, in the Benton area. Hail covered the ground in some places. |
| August 2012 | Heavy Rain | Benton | - | Rainfall measured 4.08 inches in 24 hours. |
| November 2011 | Heavy Rain | Benton | - | Benton recorded the wettest November ever. Rainfall of 15.00 inches broke the record of 13.13 inches set in 1988. |
| March 2011 | Hail | Benton | - | Golf ball size hail was reported in downtown Benton. |
| March 2011 | Hail | Benton | - | Penny size hail and winds estimated at 55 mph were reported in the Christy Acres Addition. |
| April 2008 | Flash Flood | Benton | - | Interstate 30 at exit 119 in Benton was flooded. |
| February 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | Sardis Road between Shannon Hills and southwest Little Rock was closed due to limbs and trees blocking the road. |
| October 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | Trees and power lines were reported down along Arkansas Highway 298, Arkansas Highway 5 North, Congo Road and Salem Road. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | Several trees were blown down and landed on a house in Benton. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | Trees down. |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree. |
| May 2003 | Tornado (F2) | Benton | - | A strong tornado was spawned mostly within the city limits of Benton. The tornado moved northeast, and heavily damaged buildings at an auto dealership. Minor damage was noted elsewhere in and near town. The tornado dissipated 5.6 miles northeast of town. |
| May 2003 | Flash Flood | Benton | - | Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding to occur in Benton. Several streets were closed due to the high water conditions for a short period of time. |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | Thunderstorm winds knocked down some trees and large limbs. |
| March 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | - | Thunderstorm winds caused some roof damage to several buildings in Benton. |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lena | 1.9 miles | 23 | |
| Whitlock (historical) | 2.8 miles | 23 | |
| Bauxite | 3.5 miles | 23 | |
| Gibbons (historical) | 3.8 miles | 23 | |
| Bauxite Junction | 4.0 miles | 23 | |
| Woodland (historical) | 4.6 miles | 23 | |
| Salem | 4.7 miles | 20 | |
| Sherwood Estates | 4.8 miles | 23 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Benton | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q79374 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 46394. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.