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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Benton (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Benton. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Name Variations for Benton ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

In past government published Postal Guides, Benton was referred to as Benton Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Benton. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Benton.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Benton is located in Polk County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of Tennessee's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Polk County: Fannin (GA), Murray (GA), Cherokee (NC), Bradley, McMinn & Monroe.

Below are the counties that are near Benton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Benton:

  • Polk County     (The home county of Benton)
  • Bradley County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
    • Bellefounte
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Charleston
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • East Cleveland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • East Cleveland is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,608 people
    • Wildwood Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Wildwood Lake is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood Lake
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 3,124 people
    • Cleveland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • South Cleveland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • South Cleveland is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Cleveland
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 6,912 people
    • Countryside Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Countryside Village is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Countryside Village
    • Hopewell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Hopewell is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
    • Hopewell Estates
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Hopewell Estates is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Estates
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,874 people
    • Etola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Earnest ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Earnest is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earnest
    • Bent Tree Acres
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Bent Tree Acres is located in Bradley County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Tree Acres
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,309 people
  • Hamilton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
    • Howardville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Birchwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Apison
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Collegedale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Ooltewah
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Lakewood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lakewood is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood
      • Estimated population in 2011: 2,336 people
    • Auburn Hills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Auburn Hills is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn Hills
      • Estimated population in 2014: 929 people
    • Harrison Ferry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Harrison Ferry is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison Ferry
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 7,769 people
    • Harrison
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Lake Dweller
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Lakesite
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Lakesite is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakesite
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,866 people
    • Ryall Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Ryall Springs is located in Hamilton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryall Springs
      • Estimated population in 2014: 1,166 people
  • McMinn County
  • Meigs County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
    • East View
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • East View is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East View
      • Estimated population in 2014: 705 people
    • Beta
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Goodfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Decatur
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Cayuga Town ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Cayuga Town is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga Town
    • Calico
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Calico is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calico
      • Estimated population in 2014: 495 people
    • Cute ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Cute is located in Meigs County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cute
    • Sewee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Monroe County
  • Rhea County
  • Catoosa County (GA)
  • Fannin County (GA)
  • Gilmer County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
    • Santaluca
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Santaluca is located in Gilmer County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santaluca
    • Cherry Log
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Murray County (GA)
  • Whitfield County (GA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
    • Red Clay
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Parrett Crossing
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Parrett Crossing is located in Whitfield County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrett Crossing
      • Estimated population in 2019: 136 people
    • Cohutta
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Ruralvale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Plainview
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Plainview is located in Whitfield County (GA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
      • Estimated population in 2019: 318 people
    • Varnell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Waring
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cherokee County (NC)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Benton, see our County-by-County Page for Benton.

Cemeteries Near Benton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Benton.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Benton - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Benton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.

  • Memorial Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Nancy Ward Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Campbellite Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Baker Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Chestuee Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Lowery Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Mueller Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Mueller Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Parris Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Dunn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Purselley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Price Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (625 more) ...
    • Nicholson Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Union Grove Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Chilcutt Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Benton had a population of 165 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Benton had a population of 1,247 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.

  • Ocoee
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Patty
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Patty is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patty
  • Parksville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Parksville is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parksville
  • Climer
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Climer is located in Bradley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climer
  • Fetzerton ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Fetzerton is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetzerton
  • Luskville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Oldfort
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Reliance
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Tasso
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Tasso is located in Bradley County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tasso
  • Chable ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Chable is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chable
  • Carlock
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Carlock is located in McMinn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlock
  • Charleston
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Sylco
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Sylco is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylco
    • Calhoun
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Servilla
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Benton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Benton.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Benton ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Benton.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Benton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Benton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Benton.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<2> of Benton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Benton:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Benton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<4>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Benton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.