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 32.69472°N, -93.74056°W (32.694607, -93.740595). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 sqmi, all land.

Demographics

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