Benton County is a county in Tennessee, United States, on the western branch of the Tennessee River, in the northwestern part of the state. It had a population of 15,864 at the 2020 census and covers 436 square miles (1,130 km2), centred near 36°04′N 88°04′W.
Camden is the county seat, and its postal code is 38320. The county has one city, one town, two census-designated places, and a scatter of small unincorporated communities. Benton County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Benton County
Benton County has one incorporated city, one incorporated town, two census-designated places (CDPs), and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities and crossroads carried over from historical county records. Tennessee has no civil townships, so places are listed without a township column.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | City · seat | 3,674 | 38320 |
| Big Sandy | Town | — | 38221 |
| Eva | CDP | — | 38333 |
| Holladay | CDP | — | 38341 |
| Post Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bain | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bass Bay | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Benton Cut | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bethel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Birdsong Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Black Center | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chalklevel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chaseville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cherry Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chestnut Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coxburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eagle Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Faxon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gismonda | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Halls | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Liberty | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lick Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lipe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McIllwain | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Moriah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prospect | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rockport | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sandy Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sawyers Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tin Cup | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wildlife Cove Village | Unincorp. | — | — |
Camden and Big Sandy are the county’s only incorporated municipalities; Eva and Holladay are census-designated places with no municipal government. Everything else on the list is an unincorporated community, hamlet, or rural crossroads with no separate census count.
ZIP Codes
- 38320 — Camden (also serves Post Oak and most of the county’s unincorporated interior)
- 38221 — Big Sandy
- 38333 — Eva
- 38341 — Holladay
Smaller unincorporated places such as Bethel, Chalklevel, and Sawyers Mill draw mail through one of these four post offices rather than carrying a ZIP code of their own.
Geography
Benton County sits between the Tennessee River’s western branch, which forms Kentucky Lake along the county’s eastern edge, and the rolling farmland of the western Highland Rim. Duck hunting and fishing on the river and its backwaters are the county’s best-known outdoor draws, and sorghum was once a local cash crop, though the last processing facility closed in 2001.
Benton County borders Henry County to the northwest, Stewart County and Houston County to the north and northeast, Humphreys County to the east, Perry County to the southeast, Decatur County to the south, and Carroll County to the west. See Henry County, Stewart County, Houston County, Humphreys County, Perry County, Decatur County, and Carroll County.
Demographics
Benton County had 15,864 residents at the 2020 census, spread over 394 square miles of land for a density of about 40 people per square mile. Camden, the county seat, is by far the largest community at 3,674 residents; Big Sandy is the county’s only other incorporated municipality. Median household income in the county runs well below the Tennessee median of $67,631, consistent with the county’s rural, agricultural and tourism-based economy.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing and government employment anchor the local economy: Jones Plastic and Engineering runs a plant in Camden, and Tennessee Valley Authority and DuPont’s titanium dioxide plant in nearby New Johnsonville, Humphreys County, employ a share of Benton County commuters. Agriculture remains important on the county’s rural land, and recreation tied to Kentucky Lake — fishing, duck hunting, and the Birdsong Resort area — draws visitors from across the region. Camden Speedway hosts local motorsports events.
History
Benton County was established in December 1835 and organized in 1836, named for David Benton (1779–1860), an early settler who served in the Third Regiment of the Tennessee Militia during the Creek War. The county’s economy long depended on sorghum syrup production, a trade that continued into the late 20th century before the last processing facility closed in 2001.
Getting There
U.S. Route 70 and State Route 191 cross the county through Camden and Big Sandy.
- Jackson, TN — 45 miles southwest
- Clarksville, TN — 65 miles north
- Nashville, TN — 85 miles east
- Paris, TN — 25 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is Nashville International Airport (BNA), about 85 miles east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Benton County, Tennessee?
It is in the northwestern part of the state, on the Tennessee River’s western branch, roughly 85 miles west of Nashville.
What is the population of Benton County?
15,864 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Benton County?
436 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 42 square miles is water.
What is the Benton County seat?
Camden is the county seat.
How many towns and communities are in Benton County?
One city (Camden), one town (Big Sandy), two census-designated places (Eva and Holladay), and around two dozen smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Benton County?
38320 (Camden), 38221 (Big Sandy), 38333 (Eva), and 38341 (Holladay).
What is Benton County known for?
Duck hunting and fishing on Kentucky Lake, and historically for sorghum syrup production.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.