Arkansas

Benton

284,333

2020 population

1840

first census record

census records

About Benton

Benton, Arkansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,228. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 284,333.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 16 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern), Skirmish at Cross Hollow (Benton County), Battle of Leetown (Pea Ridge sub-action), and 155 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	284,333
2010	221,339
2000	153,406
1990	97,499
1980	78,115
1970	50,476
1960	36,272
1950	38,076
1940	36,148
1930	35,253
1920	36,253
1910	33,389
1900	31,611
1890	27,716
1880	20,328
1870	13,831
1860	9,306
1850	3,710
1840	2,228

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Benton

Military engagements that took place in Benton, Arkansas.

Battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern)

1862

Skirmish at Cross Hollow (Benton County)

1862

Battle of Leetown (Pea Ridge sub-action)

1862

Battle of Pea Ridge — Leetown

1862

Battle of Fort Wayne (Cherokee)

1862

Battle of Bentonville Detour

1862

Skirmish at Sugar Creek (February 1862)

1862

Battle of Pea Ridge — Elkhorn Tavern

1862

Battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern) – Day 2

1862

Battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern) — Leetown

1862

Battle of Pea Ridge

1862

Cane Hill approach from MO side

1862

Battle of Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge sub-action)

1862

Pea Ridge Arkansas

1862

Skirmish at Bentonville (1863)

1863

Skirmish at Rhea's Mill (Indian Territory border — 1864)

1864

Historic places in Benton

National Register of Historic Places listings in Benton, Arkansas.

Bertschy House

Bentonville

Pea Ridge National Military Park

Pea Ridge

Council Grove Methodist Church

Carl's Addition Historic District

Henry Furniture Store Building

Van Winkle's Mill Site

Rogers

Garfield Elementary School

Sulphur Springs Park Reserve

Bentonville Train Station

Bentonville

New Home School and Church

Bella Vista

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Other counties in Arkansas

Explore census history and historic records for more Arkansas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Benton County, Arkansas

This page charts the census history of Benton County, Arkansas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Arkansashistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Military engagements ›Notable people from Arkansas›

Frequently asked about Benton

When does Benton first appear in the US census?

Benton, Arkansas first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,228.

What is the population of Benton?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Benton had a recorded population of 284,333.

Were any battles fought in Benton?

16 documented military engagements took place in Benton, including Battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern), Skirmish at Cross Hollow (Benton County), Battle of Leetown (Pea Ridge sub-action).

How many historic places are in Benton?

155 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Benton, Arkansas.

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