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TENNESSEE- BENTON COUNTY, TN- 4/16/98

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BENTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

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HISTORY of BENTON COUNTY
Benton County created on December 19, 1835
Formed from land that was part of Humphreys County
Camden is county seat
The Tennessee River forms the eastern border of the county
First county jail was erected in 1837

Fishing Record

 Flathead Catfish
Record catch 82 lbs
Caught in Big Sandy River

 

PEOPLE of BENTON COUNTY
Forrest was born near the site of Chapel Hill, Tennessee on July 13, 1821
He received little formal education
He owned a plantation near Memphis, and became a wealthy businessman and prominent citizen
Forrest became a private in Captain White's Company of Tennessee Mounted Rifles in 1861
A month later the state Governor asked Forrest to raise a force of Confederate cavalry
The rank of Brigadier General was attained by the middle of 1862
Forrest led a cavalry command during Bragg's invasion of Kentucky
He served with the Army of Tennessee at Chickamauga
A rank of Major General was attained in November 1863
An assignment to command cavalry in West Tennessee and Northern Mississippi was issued
Forrest made bold raids against Union army positions
He captured Union City and attacked Paducah, Kentucky in March of 1864
He fought with Sooy Smith and captured Fort Pillow
After Fort Pillow he returned to Mississippi and attacked Sherman's lines of communication
He crushed Sturgis and Union forces at Brice's Crossroads on June 10th
Forrest was placed in command of the District of Mississippi and East Louisiana in January 1865
He became Lieutenant General on February 28th
A defeat at Selma, Alabama caused Forrest to surrender his forces in May 1865
After the war Forrest worked in railroad speculation and ran several plantations
He died in Memphis on October 29, 1877
Nathan Bedford Forrest
County named for David Benton
Was a farmer
Played a significant part in the development of the county
Was instrumental in Benton County's split from Humphreys County
Fought in the War of 1812
Served in Third Regiment of Tennessee Militia in Creek Indian Wars		 Became a Politician in county
Born in Orange County, North Carolina, in 1782
David Benton Thomas Hart Benton
First women ever to cast her vote in any political election First woman to serve in an official capacity for the county Published the Central Democrat, the county's first newspaper
Mary Cordelia Hudson Mary Byrd Holladay Colonel William F Doherty

 

AIRPORT in BENTON COUNTY

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 275 Airport Dr
Camden 38320-6557
Longest Runway: 3,500 Ft
Runway Lights: Yes
Radio Communications: None
Benton County Airport

 

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS IN BENTON COUNTY

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Highland Mason Lodge #269

 

LANDMARKS in BENTON COUNTY
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Patsy Cline Memorial
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Big Sandy Wildlife Management Areas

 

BICYCLE ROUTES in BENTON COUNTY

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 Bicycle Trail "A"   

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 Abandoned railroad bed
Gravel surface
Flat grade
Some bad mud holes in road
Bicycles and four-wheelers can easily navigate
One wash-out near Faxon must be by-passed

 

BOAT DOCKS & RAMPS in BENTON COUNTY

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 Campground
Hook-ups and showers
Swimming pool
Boat ramp		 Boat dock
Pontoon, fishing, and paddle boat rentals
Fishing pier
Cottages

Birdsong Resort

 

HIGHER EDUCATION in BENTON COUNTY

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 Sponsored by Lambuth College
Arthur Okley Biological Field Station

 

GOLF in BENTON COUNTY

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 2252 Eva Rd
Camden 38320-7502
Magic Valley Golf Club

 

HISTORIC HOME in BENTON COUNTY

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CHURCHES in BENTON COUNTY
First Methodist congregation organized in the county called Chapel Hill
First Church of Christ organized as Disciples of Christ in 1866
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Building erected 1937		 115.jpg (10997 bytes) wpe63.jpg (17752 bytes)
Organized October 29, 1961
Baker's Chapel Methodist Church Bethel United Pentecostal Church Bible Truth Missionary Baptist Church
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2251 Liberty Church Rd, Holladay 38341-2255		 wpe73.jpg (25874 bytes)
Organized 1911
Building erected 1958		 124.jpg (16053 bytes)
Building erected 1938
Cemetery established 1955
Blessed Hope Seventh Day Adventist Church Cedar Grove Church of Christ Cedar Grove Church
Organized before 1845 wpe76.jpg (22295 bytes)28b.jpg (11806 bytes)
120 Shiloh Church Rd, Camden 38320-7110
Established 1850, Rebuilt 1943		 wpe92.jpg (17907 bytes)
Chalk Hill Independent Missionary Baptist Church Chalk Level Baptist Church Christ Gospel Church
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Abandoned		 30.jpg (9352 bytes) 109.jpg (7151 bytes)
Abandoned
Church of Christ Church of God of Prophecy Church of God of Prophecy
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510 Wright Rd, Camden 38320-6156		 117.jpg (10416 bytes)
55 Crossroads Church Rd, Camden 38320-6949
Constituted December 3, 1849
Cemetery established 1965		 wpe71.jpg (19501 bytes)
12242 Birdsong Rd, Camden 38320
Church of the True Living God of Holiness Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church Dry Branch Church of Christ
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Established 1887		 29a.jpg (16760 bytes) wpe3D.jpg (26527 bytes)
Eagle Creek Baptist Church East View General Baptist Church Eva Baptist Church
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21 Pilot Knob Rd, Camden 38320
Organized 1914
Building erected 1951		 21.jpg (8729 bytes)
Eva Road Church of Christ Eva United Methodist Church Fairview Pentecostal Church
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425 Flatwoods Church Dr, 
Camden 38320		 5.jpg (9150 bytes)
Organized 1824
Building erected 1927
Building burned 1980
New building erected 1981
Faxon Baptist Church Flatwoods Missionary Baptist Church Flatwoods United Methodist Church
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Building erection completed July 9, 1989
Also houses Highland Masonry Lodge #269		 wpeA9.jpg (23806 bytes)
Organized before 1869		 149.jpg (9779 bytes)
4395 Highway 641 N
Camden 38320-6154
Friendship CME Church Harmon's Creek M E Church Harmony Missionary Baptist Church
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3135 State Route 69a, Camden 38320-6187		 192.jpg (15441 bytes)
Organized 1893
Building erected 1948
New addition 1992
Lakeshore United Methodist Assembly Liberty United Methodist Church Liberty United Methodist Church
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Lick Creek United Methodist Church Magic Valley Community Church McIllwain Pentecostal Church
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Building erected 1941
Cemetery established 1969		 wpe7C.jpg (17702 bytes)
Organized 1895
Reorganized 1923
New building erected 1959		 102.jpg (9399 bytes)
277 Wynn Ferry Rd, Big Sandy 38221-3229
Organized 1893
Rebuilt 1993
McRae's Chapel United Methodist Church Missionary Grove Baptist Church Mt Carmel Congregational United Methodist Church
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Old Mt Zion Church erected 1812
Destroyed by fire 1992
Existing building abandoned		 126a.jpg (7708 bytes)
Constituted 1843
Building erected 1967
Mt Carmel United Methodist Church Mt Zion Church Nelson Creek Primitive Baptist Church
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8125 Hwy 69A, Big Sandy 38221		 105.jpg (9587 bytes) 16.jpg (8578 bytes)
New Beginning Ministries No Name Church Old Union Missionary Baptist Church
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Founded 1854		 18a.jpg (6467 bytes)
Established 1845		 126.jpg (10179 bytes)
Building erected 1952
Cemetery established 1887
Palestine United Methodist Church Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church
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Building erected 1967		 125.jpg (8780 bytes)
First Church organized July 5, 1859
Existing building dedicated June 4, 1900
Pleasant Ridge Missionary Baptist Church Pleasant Ridge United Presbyterian Church Prospect General Baptist Church
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6971 Cedar Grove Rd, Big Sandy 38221-5024		 127.jpg (8082 bytes)
Founded 1927
Rebuilt 1976		 a50a.jpg (6761 bytes)
Organized 1825
Erected 1952
Ramble Creek Southern Baptist Church Rushing Chapel Pentecostal Church Rushing Creek Missionary Baptist Church
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Building erected 1980		 22a.jpg (14389 bytes)
3380 Shiloh Church Rd, Camden 38320-7123
Established 1867
Cemetery established 1954		 23.jpg (8428 bytes)
Sandy Point General Baptist Church Shiloh United Methodist Church Sugartree Baptist Chapel Church
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Organized 1946
First building erected 1947
Second building erected 1997
Thompson General Baptist Church William's Grove Missionary Baptist Church

 

CEMETERIES of BENTON COUNTY
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Established 1955
Benton Memorial Gardens Cemetery Cedar Grove Cemetery
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Established 1965
Palestine Cemetery Cedar Grove Church of Christ Cemetery Crossroads Cemetery
 
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Established 1827		 wpe6F.jpg (5157 bytes)
Dalton Cemetery East View Cemetery Howe Cemetery
wpe97.jpg (4340 bytes)Established 1912 wpe6F.jpg (8965 bytes)Established 1962 wpe83.jpg (3965 bytes)
Liberty Cemetery McRae's Chapel Cemetery Mt Carmel Cemetery
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Established 1867		 wpe6E.jpg (7078 bytes)
Established 1954
Pleasant Hill Cemetery Shilo Cemetery

 

CITY OF EVA in BENTON COUNTY
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Now serves as volunteer fire department		 wpe3C.jpg (6260 bytes)
Old Eva School Building Eva Post Office

 

POST OFFICES of BENTON COUNTY
Aaron Opened: January 10, 1889 Closed: July 9, 1890
Alice Opened: November 28, 1888 Closed: March 3, 1890
  Opened: May 1, 1890 Closed: February 4, 1896
Ariadne Opened: March 10, 1882 Closed: April 26, 1887
  Opened: March 9, 1888 Closed: June 21, 1894
Benton Hill Opened: September 28, 1860 Closed: July 18, 1866
Benton's Station Opened: July 17, 1871 Closed: June 4, 1873
Berry Opened: December 22, 1892 Closed: June 15, 1895
Big Sandy Opened: November 23, 1866 Closed: Still Operating
Brecheen Opened: June 24, 1899 Closed: April 13, 1905
Brevard Opened: March 14, 1898 Closed: September 29, 1906
Bristow Opened: January 2, 1890 Closed: August 14, 1902
Busted Opened: December 2, 1881 Closed: January 25, 1883
Chalk Level Opened: February 3, 1837 Closed: August 8, 1845
  Opened: June 14, 1895 Closed: January 8, 1897
Chalk River Opened: February 3, 1837 Closed: August 8, 1845
Chaseville Opened: December 23, 1847 Closed: September 22, 1866
  Opened: June 19, 1874 Closed: September 9, 1904
Chepultepec Opened: May 20. 1851 Closed: January 31, 1854
  Opened: September 28, 1854 Closed: April 22, 1856
  Opened: August 24, 1856 Closed: March 27, 1858
Cland Opened: May 17, 1897 Closed: August 8, 1845
Cotton Creek Opened: March 8, 1847 Closed: August 18 1850
Coxburgh Opened: September 29, 1857 Closed: February 20, 1867
  Opened: June 19, 1874 Closed: October 15, 1928
Danville Opened: September 28, 1960 Closed: July 25, 1866
  Opened: May 15, 1867 Closed: October 20, 1875
Devider Opened: February 12, 1889 Closed: September 27, 1902
Eagle Creek Opened: September 30, 1843 Closed: June 10, 1865
  Opened: May 17, 1928 Closed: June 3, 1953
Eggrerville Opened: February 14, 1889 Closed: August 14, 1902
Eli Opened: August 11, 1894 Closed: August 29, 1899
Enloe Opened: March 1, 1888 Closed: June 10, 1865
  Opened: May 12, 1900 Closed: October 23, 1903
Faxon Opened: April 27, 1881 Closed: November 30, 1887
  Opened: June 7, 1893 Closed: July 12, 1963
Flinch Opened: June 19, 1903 Closed: January 22, 1907
Flowers Opened: February 5, 1886 Closed: December 4, 1891
Garfield Opened: August 31, 1880 Closed: August 14, 1902
Holladay Opened: February 23, 1887 Closed: Still Operating
Langley Opened: September 26, 1887 Closed: June 16, 1882
Ledbetter Opened: February 24, 1881 Closed: July 21, 1887
Luteron Opened: April 23, 1887 Closed: February 24, 1891
Merryman Opened: March 11, 1886 Closed: June 10, 1886
Morgan's Creek Opened: May 6, 1846 Closed: June 20, 1867
McIllwain Opened: April 24, 1890 Closed: March 9, 1907
Noles Opened: March 2, 1900 Closed: May 31, 1904
Onward Opened: June 19, 1858 Closed: September 21, 1859
Pavatt Opened: May 24, 1894 Closed: August 20. 1902
Point Mason Opened: October 24, 1849 Closed: August 5, 1850
  Opened: September 2, 1857 Closed: September 22, 1866
Rock Point Opened: March 27, 1858 Closed: May 21, 1858
Rock Port Opened: August 15, 1857 Closed: June 20, 1867
  Opened: February 26, 1869 Closed: July 21, 1869
  Opened: June 10, 1866 Closed: December 11, 1889
Rushing's Creek Opened: November 7, 1851 Closed: March 25, 1857
Sand Springs Opened: March 30, 1858 Closed: June 19, 1858
Sandy Springs Opened: January 24, 1861 Closed: November 23, 1866
Sawyer's Mill Opened: April 30, 1868 Closed: October 27, 1868
  Opened: September 16, 1870 Closed: April 16, 1879
Sewanee Opened: July 29, 1848 Closed: November 11, 1851
Silburn Opened: May18, 1898 Closed: January 26, 1906 
Simon Opened: November 7, 1891 Closed: October 23, 1903
Sucks Opened: September 29, 1883 Closed: December 4, 1887
Sweetser Opened: August 27, 1888 Closed: November 3, 1897
Thompson's Point Opened: May 22, 1863 Closed: February 26, 1869
Umstead Opened: March 3, 1893 Closed: April 24, 1894
Voidton Opened: April 15, 1886 Closed: April 12, 1888 
Way Opened: February 1, 1889 Closed: August 15, 1912
Wheatly Opened: July 21, 1887 Closed: February 1, 1888
  Opened: April 12, 1888 Closed: October 15, 1904
Wills Point Opened: March 14, 1851 Closed: April 22, 1856
  Opened: September 2, 1857 Closed: June 5, 1866
Zach Opened: July 16, 1891 Closed: February 29, 1848 

 

COMMUNITY CENTERS of BENTON COUNTY
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 Building erected 1908
Faxon Community Center

 

PARKS of BENTON COUNTY

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 Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park

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GENERAL INFORMATION:
ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS: North of I-40 near Camden on Hwy 91
A 90 acre park was created in 1929
Over 3000 acres now included in the park
665 foot Pilot Knob, a prominent point in the park, was used by riverboat pilots
Overlooks site of the Civil War Battle of Johnsonville
Features Tennessee River Folk Life Museum built in 1979
Monument commemorating Nathan Bedford Forrest adjacent to visitor center
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Cabins
Lodge (64 rooms)
RV Parking (38)
Hook-ups
Electric
Water
Restrooms
Showers
Tent Camping (15)
Back Country Camping
INDOOR ACTIVITIES:
Gift Shop
Museum
Visitors Center
 
WATER ACTIVITIES:
Boat Launching
Fishing
Swimming- Lake
Water/Jet Skiing
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:
Badminton
Ball Fields
Hiking (over 60 miles)
Horseshoes
Picnic Area
Playground
Shuffleboard
Volleyball

Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park

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 Boat launch area
Picnic area
Playground
Volley ball court

Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park Day Use Area

 

STATISTICS for BENTON COUNTY
Square Miles: 394
Miles of County Roads: 564.24
Acres 250,816
Highest Elevation  665 feet
SIZE of BENTON COUNTY
1950 11,495
1960 10,662
1970 12,126
1980 14,901
1990 14,524

POPULATION of BENTON COUNTY
Yearly Average Temperature 62.1 degrees
Yearly Average Rainfall: 49.73 inches
WEATHER for BENTON COUNTY

 

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