Benton, an enslaver, was a political ally of John C. Calhoun, a U.S. senator from South Carolina, and also a slaveholder and planter.

Calhoun was increasingly interested in using the threat of secession as a weapon to maintain and expand slavery throughout the United States.

Benton, on the other hand, was slowly concluding that slavery was wrong and that the preservation of the union was paramount.

[4] After years of controversy and a State Supreme Court ruling in June 1900, the county seat was moved to Anniston.

Twelve minutes after the National Weather Service of Birmingham issued a tornado warning for northern Calhoun, southeastern Etowah, and southern Cherokee counties, the tornado destroyed Piedmont's Goshen United Methodist Church.

[5] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 116,441 people, 44,636 households, and 28,975 families residing in the county.

School districts include:[16] The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Calhoun is part of Alabama's 3rd congressional district, which is held by Republican Mike D. Rogers.