Why visit Benton
Townapedia lists 2 parks and trails, 14 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Benton
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Benton
Benton is a home rule-class city and the county seat of Marshall County, Kentucky, United States. The current mayor of this city is Rita Dotson. The population was 4,756 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Benton, Kentucky (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes14
Sonic
Fast food · Burger · 1.4 mi
329 Main Street, Benton
Mo-Th 07:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-23:00; Su 09:00-22:00
2 more on the map.
Where to stay1
History
Benton was founded in 1842 by John Bearden and Francis H. Clayton. The town was named for Thomas Hart Benton, a senator from Missouri. Benton was then incorporated in 1845.
In 1908, Benton drove its African American residents out of town, becoming a sundown town along with the rest of Marshall County.
On January 23, 2018, a mass shooting occurred at Marshall County High School, near Benton, resulting in 19 injuries and 2 fatalities.
On December 10, 2021, the town was hit by the 2021 Western Kentucky Tornado.
From the History section of Benton, Kentucky on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship7
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Healthcare3
Map of Benton
45 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 23°F | 3.5 in |
| Feb | 50°F | 26°F | 5.5 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 34°F | 5.4 in |
| Apr | 71°F | 44°F | 5.9 in |
| May | 79°F | 53°F | 5.5 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 62°F | 4.9 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 65°F | 4.5 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 63°F | 3.6 in |
| Sep | 84°F | 55°F | 3.8 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 43°F | 3.8 in |
| Nov | 60°F | 34°F | 4.4 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 26°F | 5.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Benton (2 mi away), rain and snow from Kenlake Resort, NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Marshall County has had 25 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-05-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-04-03: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-24: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2025-02-16: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kyle-Oakley Field (CEY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Murray 16 mi south, about 26 min by car
- Paducah 22 mi northwest, about 35 min by car
- Metropolis 28 mi northwest, about 44 min by car
- Paris 38 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Martin 45 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Cairo 47 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Union City 48 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Hopkinsville 49 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Vienna 49 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Fort Campbell North 51 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Riley and Wolfe Grocery, Morgan's Shoe Store and other businesses, Tennessee Valley Authority, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.