Benton History
A Look Back
The year 1541 brought the first Europeans to Arkansas. The expedition of Hernando DeSoto came through the state, traveled along the Saline River and through what would one day become the city of Benton.
It was not until 1815 that William Lockhart found himself in this area. He and his family were the first to settle here, and by 1819 about 10 more families had followed suit.
As a result of the increased population and significant growth, Saline County was formed.
The county’s name stemmed from the evident presence of a salt works, which established in 1827, was the major supplier of salt for the area as well as some neighboring states.
This year also brought the first water mill to the area that was to be utilized to grind corn. Due not only to the growth of Saline, but to Arkansas as a whole, the first post office was established in 1830, with Lockhart named postmaster.
A few miles from where Lockhart settled, a community began to form in 1833. Just a few years later in 1836, the city of Benton, named after Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, was officially chartered.
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