Benton, Illinois

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Benton: Like many Southern towns, the courthouse sits center stage.

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Current weather forecast for Benton, IL

Population in July 2007: 6,934. Population change since 2000: +0.7%

Males: 3,198	(46.5%)
Females: 3,682	(53.5%)

Franklin County

Median resident age:	41.8 years
Illinois median age:	34.7 years

Zip codes: 62812.

Estimated median household income in 2005: $28,500 (it was $27,177 in 2000)

Benton	$28,500
Illinois:	$50,260

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $51,600 (it was $48,000 in 2000)

Benton	$51,600
Illinois:	$183,900

Benton, IL residents, houses, and apartments details

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Races in Benton:

White Non-Hispanic (98.3%)
Hispanic (0.5%)
Two or more races (0.5%)

2008 cost of living index in Benton: 76.1 (low, U.S. average is 100)

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Latest news from Benton, IL collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: German (16.3%), English (15.0%), United States (14.9%), Irish (12.5%), Italian (3.9%), Dutch (2.8%).

Current Local Time: CST time zone

Incorporated on 04/14/1875

Elevation: 470 feet

Land area: 5.35 square miles.

Population density: 1293 people per square mile

(low).

Home Value Estimate
Address:		Unit (optional):
City	State	Zip

For population 25 years and over in Benton

High school or higher: 76.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.8%
Unemployed: 6.1%
Mean travel time to work: 20.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Benton city

Never married: 18.2%
Now married: 58.3%
Separated: 1.6%
Widowed: 10.8%
Divorced: 11.0%

53 residents are foreign born

This city:	0.8%
Illinois:	12.3%

According to our research there were 23 registered sex offenders living in Benton, Illinois in early 2007.
The ratio of number of residents in Benton to the number of sex offenders is 301 to 1.

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000:

Benton:	1.8% ($875)
Illinois:	1.7% ($2,285)

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Evansville, IN (93.8 miles , pop. 121,582).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: St. Louis, MO (100.8 miles , pop. 348,189).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Chicago, IL (278.6 miles , pop. 2,896,016).

Nearest cities: West City, IL (1.9 miles ), Hanaford, IL (6.2 miles) , Buckner, IL (7.0 miles ), Orient, IL (7.2 miles ), West Frankfort, IL (7.3 miles ), Ewing, IL (7.3 miles ), Valier, IL (8.6 miles ), Christopher, IL (9.7 miles ).

Single-family new house construction building permits:

1996: 16 buildings, average cost: $84,000
1997: 12 buildings, average cost: $100,000
1998: 10 buildings, average cost: $64,400
1999: 11 buildings, average cost: $64,400
2000: 6 buildings, average cost: $170,000
2001: 6 buildings, average cost: $170,000
2002: 6 buildings, average cost: $170,000
2003: 10 buildings, average cost: $38,100
2004: 6 buildings, average cost: $79,800
2005: 6 buildings, average cost: $73,400
2006: 9 buildings, average cost: $66,400
2007: 12 buildings, average cost: $56,200

Number of permits per 10,000 residents

Average cost (in 1000s)

Latitude: 38.00 N, Longitude: 88.92 W

Daytime population change due to commuting: +884 (+12.8%)
Workers who live and work in this city: 1,047 (39.6%)

235 people in nursing homes
56 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)

Area code: 618

This city's Wikipedia profile

Benton, Illinois business and economic data: stores, dealers, real estate agents, wholesalers, restaurants...

Population change in the 1990s: -361 (-5.0%).

Historical population

Historical housing units

Most common industries for males:

Construction (8%)
Public administration (7%)
Transportation equipment (7%)
Food and beverage stores (5%)
Truck transportation (5%)
Mining (4%)
Department and other general merchandise stores (4%)

Most common industries for females:

Health care (18%)
Accommodation and food services (17%)
Educational services (17%)
Finance and insurance (7%)
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations (5%)
Public administration (3%)
Department and other general merchandise stores (3%)

Most common occupations for males

Other production occupations including supervisors (9%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (7%)
Retail sales workers except cashiers (6%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (6%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (6%)
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (6%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (5%)

Most common occupations for females

Secretaries and administrative assistants (7%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (6%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (6%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (5%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (5%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (5%)
Registered nurses (4%)

Benton races chart

Crime in Benton by Year
Type	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Murders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
per 100,000	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Rapes	5	2	4	3	3	4	4	5
per 100,000	70.3	29.1	58.1	43.6	43.8	58.7	57.9	72.2
Robberies	4	1	2	6	4	1	1	4
per 100,000	56.3	14.5	29.1	87.2	58.4	14.7	14.5	57.7
Assaults	45	38	26	20	16	20	29	48
per 100,000	632.8	552.3	377.9	290.7	233.7	293.4	420.0	692.6
Burglaries	96	94	72	68	73	81	62	86
per 100,000	1350.0	1366.3	1046.5	988.4	1066.2	1188.2	898.0	1241.0
Thefts	148	171	154	102	119	137	232	240
per 100,000	2081.3	2485.5	2238.4	1482.6	1738.0	2009.7	3360.4	3463.2
Auto thefts	9	3	11	22	27	18	23	13
per 100,000	126.6	43.6	159.9	319.8	394.3	264.0	333.1	187.6
Arson	3	0	0	1	2	0	1	1
per 100,000	42.2	0.0	0.0	14.5	29.2	0.0	14.5	14.4
City-data.com crime index (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 287.3)	387.6	336.6	306.4	273.3	275.0	294.7	358.6	454.0

(click on a table row to update graph)

Full-time Law Enforcement Employees in 2006: 9 (8 officers).

Officers per 1,000 residents here:	1.16
US city average:	3.00

Average climate in Benton, Illinois

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

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Benton-area historical tornado activity is near Illinois state average. It is 89% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 12/18/1957, a category 5 (max. wind speeds 261-318 mph) tornado 17.4 miles away from the Benton city center killed one person and injured 6 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.

On 12/18/1957, a category 4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 11.2 miles away from the city center killed 11 people and injured 200 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

Hospital/medical center in Benton:

FRANKLIN HOSPITAL (201 BAILEY LOVE, PO BOX 100)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Benton:

MARION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 19 miles; MARION, IL)
HERRIN HOSPITAL (about 19 miles; HERRIN, IL)
CROSSROADS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 20 miles; MOUNT VERNON, IL)

Political contributions by individuals in Benton, IL

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Benton:

WILLIAMSON COUNTY REGIONAL (about 19 miles; MARION, IL; ID: MWA)
MOUNT VERNON (about 22 miles; MOUNT VERNON, IL; ID: MVN)
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (about 29 miles; CARBONDALE/MURPHYSBORO, IL; ID: MDH)

Other public-use airports nearest to Benton:

BENTON MUNI (about 2 miles; BENTON, IL; ID: H96)
HARRISBURG-RALEIGH (about 30 miles; HARRISBURG, IL; ID: HSB)
PINCKNEYVILLE-DU QUOIN (about 31 miles; PINCKNEYVILLE, IL; ID: PJY)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Benton:

JOHN A LOGAN COLLEGE (about 19 miles; CARTERVILLE, IL; Full-time enrollment: 4,255)
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY-CARBONDALE (about 28 miles; CARBONDALE, IL; FT enrollment: 19,742)
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY (about 65 miles; CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO; FT enrollment: 7,227)
SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE (about 80 miles; BELLEVILLE, IL; FT enrollment: 7,333)
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY-EDWARDSVILLE (about 87 miles; EDWARDSVILLE, IL; FT enrollment: 10,038)
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA (about 89 miles; EVANSVILLE, IN; FT enrollment: 7,510)
UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE (about 96 miles; EVANSVILLE, IN; FT enrollment: 2,440)

Public high school in Benton:

Benton Cons High School (Location: 511 E MAIN ST; Grades: 9 - 12)

Public elementary/middle schools in Benton:

Benton Grade K-4 School (Location: 1000 MCKINZIE ST; Grades: PK - 4)
Benton Grade 5-8 School (Location: 1000 FORREST ST; Grades: 5 - 8)
Starquest Acad Reg Safe Prg School (Location: 410 W 5TH ST; Grades: 7 - 8)

Library in Benton:

BENTON P.L.D. (Operating income: $261,092; Location: 502 S. MAIN STREET; 38,830 books; 577 audio materials; 812 video materials; 78 serial subscriptions)

Click to draw/clear city borders

Notable locations in Benton: Airport Industrial Park (A), Franklin County Jail (B), Franklin County Courthouse (C), United Jewish Community Center (D), Benton Civic Center (E), Benton Public Library (F), Benton Township Gymnasium (G). Display/hide their locations on the map

Churches in Benton include: Benton Christian Church (A), Saint Joseph Catholic Church (B), First Church of Christ Scientist (C), First Church of the Nazarene (D), First Free Will Baptist Church (E), First United Methodist Church (F), North Benton Missionary Baptist Church (G), Church of God (H), East Benton Baptist Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemetery: Memorial Park Cemetery (1). Display/hide its location on the map

Park in Benton: Benton City Park (1). Display/hide its location on the map

Post office: Benton Post Office (A). Display/hide its location on the map

Tourist attraction: Franklin County Tourism Bureau (Museums; 209 West Main Street).

Hotels: Days Inn of Benton (711 West Main Street), Days Inn Benton IL (711 West Main Street), Benton Motel (407 North Main Street).

Courts: Second Circuit Court SVCS (411 East Main Street), United States Government - U S Bankruptcy Court (301 West Main Street), Courts-Federal - Bankruptcy Court- Clerk's Office Information (301 West Main Street), United States Government - U S District Offices- Court Reporter (301 West Main Street), Courts-Federal - District Court- Clerk's Office Information (301 West Main Street).

Drinking water stations with addresses in Benton and their reported violations in the past:

BENTON (Population served: 8351, Purch_surface_water):

Past health violations:

MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In SEP-2002, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (NOV-26-2002), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-26-2002)

Average household size:

This city:	2.2 people
Illinois:	2.6 people

Percentage of family households:

This city:	62.1%
Whole state:	67.6%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners:

This city:	4.5%
Whole state:	4.8%

Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households)

Lesbian couples: 0.2% of all households
Gay men: 0.2% of all households

Residents with income below the poverty level in 1999:

This city:	17.5%
Whole state:	10.7%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 1999:

This city:	5.3%
Whole state:	5.1%

Benton compared to Illinois state average:

Benton, Illinois environmental map by EPA

Map Legend

Median house value below state average.
Black race population percentage significantly below state average.
Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.
Median age above state average.
Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.
House age above state average.
Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher below state average.

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Banks with branches in Benton (2007 data):

MidCountry Bank: Benton Branch at 605/607 West Main Street, branch established on 1968-11-01; Benton Branch at 61 Rend Lake Plaza, branch established on 1998-04-01. Info updated 2006-12-06: Bank assets: $1,039.8 mil, Deposits: $807.5 mil, headquarters in Marion, IL, negative income in the last year, Commercial Lending Specialization, 28 total offices
Bank of America, National Association: Benton Branch at 400 Public Square, branch established on 1937-08-02. Info updated 2006-10-10: Bank assets: $1,196,123.8 mil, Deposits: $759,600.6 mil, headquarters in Charlotte, NC, positive income, 5839 total offices, Holding Company: Bank Of America Corporation
State Bank of Whittington: State Bank Of Whittington at 200 North Main Street, branch established on 1919-08-05. Info updated 2006-11-03: Bank assets: $69.5 mil, Deposits: $62.7 mil, local headquarters, positive income, Consumer Lending Specialization, 3 total offices, Holding Company: Whittington Bancorp, Inc.
U.S. Bank National Association: Benton Branch at 701 Public Square, branch established on 1976-02-16. Info updated 2006-10-10: Bank assets: $217,802.3 mil, Deposits: $135,903.1 mil, headquarters in Cincinnati, OH, positive income, Commercial Lending Specialization, 2565 total offices, Holding Company: U.S. Bancorp

Educational Attainment

School Enrollment by Level of School

Benton mode of transportation to work chart

2004 Presidential Election results in Franklin County Illinois:

Most commonly used house heating fuel:

Local government employment and payroll (March 2002)
Function	Full-time employees	Monthly full-time payroll	Average yearly full-time wage	Part-time employees	Monthly part-time payroll
Sewerage	3	$13,284	$53,136	0	$0
Water Supply	7	$20,812	$35,678	0	$0
Firefighters	8	$24,354	$36,531	19	$850
Police - Other	5	$13,284	$31,882	14	$2,369
Police Protection - Officers	10	$28,782	$34,538	0	$0
Judicial and Legal	1	$2,028	$24,336	0	$0
Other Government Administration	7	$8,858	$15,185	0	$0
Streets and Highways	7	$18,819	$32,261	0	$0
Financial Administration	3	$6,826	$27,304	0	$0
Totals for Government	51	$137,047	$32,246	33	$3,219

Benton government finances in 2002:

Bond Fund - Cash & Deposits: $6,000
Charges - Sewerage: $751,000
Solid Waste Management: $228,000

Parks & Recreation: $39,000

All Other: $27,000

Housing & Community Development: $0
Construction - Central Staff Services: $281,000
Water Utilities: $78,000
Current Operations - Water Utilities: $779,000
Police Protection: $726,000

Regular Highways: $671,000

Sewerage: $529,000

Fire Protection: $438,000

General - Other: $438,000

Air Transportation: $302,000

Financial Administration: $145,000

Solid Waste Management: $140,000

Parks & Recreation: $57,000

General Public Buildings: $46,000

Judicial and Legal Services: $42,000

Protective Inspection and Regulation, NEC: $41,000
Employee Retirement - Total Federal Securities: $1,601,000
Total Cash & Deposits: $759,000

Total Other Securities: $736,000

Securities - Corporate Bonds (market): $572,000

Benefit Payments: $248,000

Interest Revenue: $143,000

From Local Government: $133,000

Local Employee Contribution: $45,000

Withdrawals: $25,000

From Other Government: $11,000
Federal Intergovernmental - All Other: $247,000
Water Utilities: $224,000

General Support: $61,000
General - Interest on Debt: $82,000
Long Term Debt Beginning Outstanding, NEC: $1,355,000
Long Term Debt Outstanding - Full Faith & Credit - Other, NEC: $1,158,000
Long Term Debt Retired Unspecified - Other, NEC: $197,000
Miscellaneous - General Revenue, NEC: $232,000
Interest Earnings: $81,000
Other Capital Outlay - Sewerage: $318,000
Regular Highways: $141,000

Water Utilities: $100,000

Housing & Community Development: $39,000

Police Protection: $25,000

Central Staff: $21,000
Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $3,353,000
Revenue - Water Utilities: $908,000
State Intergovernmental - General Support: $1,262,000
Highways: $424,000

All Other: $137,000
Tax - Public Utilities: $475,000
Property: $419,000

NEC: $54,000
Total Salaries & Wages: $1,739,000

5.34% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($27,524 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	5.34%
Illinois average:	5.66%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2005 and 2006.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:

from Williamson County, IL	1.22% ($29,200 average AGI)
from Jackson County, IL	0.34% ($22,367)
from Perry County, IL	0.29% ($19,476)

5.24% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($28,619 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	5.24%
Illinois average:	5.99%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2005 and 2006.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:

to Williamson County, IL	1.39% ($30,598 average AGI)
to Jackson County, IL	0.39% ($20,607)
to Jefferson County, IL	0.29% ($27,643)

Strongest AM radio stations in Benton:

WDDD (810 AM; 10 kW; JOHNSTON CITY, IL; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
WGGH (1150 AM; 5 kW; MARION, IL)
WFRX (1300 AM; 1 kW; WEST FRANKFORT, IL; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
WMIX (940 AM; 5 kW; MOUNT VERNON, IL; Owner: WITHERS BROADCASTING CO OF ILLINOIS)
WILY (1210 AM; daytime; 10 kW; CENTRALIA, IL; Owner: W. RUSSELL WITHERS, JR.)
KXEN (1010 AM; 50 kW; FESTUS-ST. LOUIS, MO; Owner: BDJ RADIO ENTERPRISES, LLC)
KMOX (1120 AM; 50 kW; ST. LOUIS, MO; Owner: INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.)
WMCL (1060 AM; 3 kW; MCLEANSBORO, IL; Owner: DANA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)
WJPF (1340 AM; 1 kW; HERRIN, IL; Owner: ZRG OF ILLINOIS, INC.)
WSDZ (1260 AM; 20 kW; BELLEVILLE, IL)
WSM (650 AM; 50 kW; NASHVILLE, TN; Owner: GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY)
WCRV (640 AM; 50 kW; COLLIERVILLE, TN; Owner: BOTT BROADCASTING COMPANY/TENNESSEE)
WPAD (1560 AM; 10 kW; PADUCAH, KY; Owner: BRISTOL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)

Strongest FM radio stations in Benton:

WXLT (103.5 FM; CHRISTOPHER, IL; Owner: ZRG OF ILLINOIS, INC.)
WCIL-FM (101.5 FM; CARBONDALE, IL; Owner: LYLE BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
WDDD-FM (107.3 FM; MARION, IL; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
WQRL (106.3 FM; BENTON, IL; Owner: DANA COMMUNICATIONS CORP.)
WVZA (92.7 FM; HERRIN, IL; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
WQUL (97.7 FM; WEST FRANKFORT, IL; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
WISH-FM (98.9 FM; GALATIA, IL; Owner: GALATIA FM JOINT VENTURE)
WOOZ-FM (99.9 FM; HARRISBURG, IL; Owner: ZIMMER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
WAWJ (90.1 FM; MARION, IL; Owner: AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION)
WBMV (89.7 FM; MOUNT VERNON, IL; Owner: ILLINOIS BIBLE INSTITUTE, INC)
WIBV (102.1 FM; MOUNT VERNON, IL; Owner: BENJAMIN STRATEMEYER)
WDQN-FM (95.9 FM; DUQUOIN, IL; Owner: THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK, INC.)
WVSI (88.9 FM; MT. VERNON, IL; Owner: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY)

TV broadcast stations around Benton:

W15BU (Channel 17; JOHNSTON CITY, IL; Owner: THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK)
WSIL-TV (Channel 3; HARRISBURG, IL; Owner: WSIL-TV, INC.)
WSIU-TV (Channel 8; CARBONDALE, IL; Owner: BOARD OF TRUSTEES SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY)
WDKA (Channel 49; PADUCAH, KY; Owner: WDKA ACQUISITION CORPORATION)
WPSD-TV (Channel 6; PADUCAH, KY; Owner: WPSD-TV, LLC)
KFVS-TV (Channel 12; CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO; Owner: RAYCOM AMERICA, INC.)

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