Benton, Louisiana

This former one-room schoolhouse is now a museum in Benton Square.

The town of Benton is the parish seat of Bossier Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. The population was 2,035 at the 2000 census. The larger Bossier City is located south of Benton. The town maintains several historical buildings, including primitive cabins, a one-room schoolhouse museum, and the boyhood home of William Clark Hughes, a former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives in Benton Square located between the Bossier Parish School Board office and the First Baptist Church.

History

On April 3, 1999, a powerful F4-rated 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 Palmetto Country Club), Bay Hills, Woodlake South, Twin Lake Community, and many other newer lakefront homes located around Cypress Lake.

Geography

Benton is located at 32°41′41″N 93°44′26″W (32.694607, -93.740595)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (5.0 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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/km²). There were 834 housing units at an average density of 435.5/sq mi (167.7/km²). 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.

Notable residents

• Robert E. "Bob" Barton, state representative from Bossier Parish, 1996-2000
• Walter O. Bigby, late state representative and judge, graduated from Benton High School.
• Ford E. Stinson, former state representative, was a Benton native.
• Billy Bretherton, Entomologist who, with other members of his family, is an owner and licensee of Vexcon Inc, a pest control services company featured on the hit A&E series Billy the Exterminator

Schools

Benton, Louisiana has three public schools: Benton Elementary School, Benton Middle School, and Benton High School.