# Benton, Louisiana

Benton is a town in, and the parish seat of, Bossier Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 2,048 in 2020. The town is named for 19th century U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton, a Democrat from Missouri and an ally of U.S. President Andrew Jackson.

## History

On April 3, 1999, a powerful F4 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 the country club), Bay Hills, Woodlake South, Twin Lake Community, and many other newer lakefront homes located around Cypress Lake. The population of Benton lakefront area nearly doubled between 2004 and 2008.

## Geography

Benton is located at 32°41′41″N 93°44′26″W﻿ / ﻿32.69472°N 93.74056°W﻿ / 32.69472; -93.74056 (32.694607, -93.740595).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km$^2$), all land.

## Demographics

Benton racial composition as of 2020 :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,083 | 52.88% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 719 | 35.11% |
| Native American | 11 | 0.54% |
| Asian | 26 | 1.27% |
| Other/Mixed | 116 | 5.66% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 93 | 4.54% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,048 people, 850 households, and 516 families residing in the town.

## Education

The community is in the Bossier Parish School District.
Benton Elementary School's attendance zone includes almost all of Benton. A small portion of Benton is within the boundary of Kingston Elementary School. All of Benton is in the attendance zones of: Benton Intermediate School, Benton Middle School, and Benton High School.
Bossier Parish is in the areas of Bossier Parish Community College and Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College.

## Notable people

* Robert E. "Bob" Barton, state representative from Bossier Parish, 1996-2000
* Walter O. Bigby, state representative and judge, graduated from Benton High School.
* Billy Bretherton, Entomologist and co-owner of Vexcon Inc, a pest control services company featured on the A&E series Billy the Exterminator.
* Dewey E. Burchett, Jr., state court judge from 1988 to 2008, born in Shreveport but resided in Benton
* Jesse C. Deen, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Benton, 1972 to 1988
* Larry Deen, sheriff of Bossier Parish from 1988 to 2012
* Mike Johnson, 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 2023; Republican member of the United States Congress from the 4th Congressional District; constitutional attorney in Benton
* J. A. W. Lowry, Bossier Parish politician in the late 19th century; died in Benton in 1899
* George Nattin, Jr., businessman and LSU Tigers basketball player, 1959-1962
* Henry Warren Ogden, Virginia-born planter in Benton; former member of the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 4th congressional district and Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives
* Ford E. Stinson, former state representative, was a Benton native.
* Jeff R. Thompson, former state representative for Bossier Parish, 2012-2014; judge of Division B of the 26th Judicial District Court in Benton