The town, originally a trading post known as McKamy's stock stand, was named in honor of politician and US Senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton.

The Nancy Ward Chapter of the DAR, named in her honor, has marked the graves of her and her son Fivekiller.

[citation needed] On May 27, 1983, the Benton fireworks disaster occurred on a farm southeast of the city.

An explosion at a secret fireworks operation killed eleven, injured one, and caused damage within a radius of several miles, revealing the illegal business.

Benton is centered on the junction of U.S. Route 411, which connects the town to Etowah to the north and Tennga, Georgia to the south, and Tennessee State Route 314, which connects Benton to Parksville, Cherokee National Forest, and the Ocoee Dam area to the southeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), all land.

[10][11][12] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,523 people, 645 households, and 438 families residing in the town.