Benton, Tennessee
Benton is a town of 1,560 people in Polk County, Tennessee, founded in 1840.
Why visit Benton
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 1 place to eat and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Little Mountain, Sand Mountain, Nancy Ward Tomb and Polk County Courthouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 89°F; January lows average 29°F.
Weather in Benton
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Benton
Benton is a town in Polk County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,532 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Polk County.
From the Wikipedia article Benton, Tennessee (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks3
Nancy Ward Tomb
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Tomb of Nancy Ward, her brother and her son in Benton, Tennessee, United States
Polk County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Tennessee, United States
William Wiggins House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Benton, United States of America
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes1
History
Benton was founded in 1840 as a county seat for Polk County, which had been established the previous year. The town, originally a trading post known as McKamy's stock stand, was named in honor of politician and US Senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton.
Nancy Ward, a Cherokee known as Nanyehi, was a Beloved Woman, a leader among her people. For many years, she participated in negotiations with the British and Americans. After the American Revolution, she had an inn here and was finally buried here. The Nancy Ward Chapter of the DAR, named in her honor, has marked the graves of her and her son Fivekiller.
On May 27, 1983, the Benton fireworks disaster occurred on a farm southeast of the city. An explosion at a secret fireworks operation killed eleven, injured one, and caused damage within a radius of several miles, revealing the illegal business. This was by far the largest and most successful known illegal fireworks operation. The blast was heard more than 20 mi (32 km) away.
From the History section of Benton, Tennessee on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Healthcare1
Map of Benton
20 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 29°F | 5.2 in | 0.2 in |
| Feb | 55°F | 33°F | 4.9 in | 0.6 in |
| Mar | 63°F | 39°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 47°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 80°F | 56°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 64°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 67°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 83°F | 60°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 48°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 61°F | 37°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 53°F | 32°F | 5.5 in | 0.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Cleveland Fltr Plt (8 mi away), 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
Polk County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-02-06: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-02: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-06-17: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2023-05-17: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-24: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
McMinn County Airport (MMI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Cleveland 12 mi west, about 20 min by car
- Athens 20 mi north, about 32 min by car
- McCaysville 21 mi southeast, about 33 min by car
- Apison 23 mi southwest, about 38 min by car
- Collegedale 24 mi west, about 38 min by car
- Varnell 26 mi southwest, about 42 min by car
- Chatsworth 28 mi south, about 46 min by car
- Soddy-Daisy 30 mi west, about 48 min by car
- Middle Valley 31 mi west, about 50 min by car
- Chattanooga 35 mi west, about 56 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, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Polk-county-courthouse-tn1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
- Nancy Ward Tomb Polk County Tennessee 1, Jamie Hargis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Benton-main-drugstore-tn1, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
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