Benton County, Indiana

Founding: 1840
Parent county: Jasper

Namesake: Thomas Benton, Missouri senator
Seat: Oxford (1843–1874); Fowler (1874–)

Land area: 406 square miles

Population (2020): 8,719

Population (historic): 1,144 (1850); 5,615 (1870); 13,123 (1900); 11,886 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1900; 1940–1960

Subdivisions: Six cities; 11 townships

National Register listings: Six

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,587 (40.5%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 51.8%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 14.7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 2.7%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.4%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,806
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,318

Average farmhouse size (1940): 7.1 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,255
Average farm size (1920): 191.1 acres
Sources of settlement: Illinois and Ohio

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Fowler

Namesake: Moses Fowler, platter

Founding: 1872 (platting); 1872 (post office); 1875 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 2,337

Population (historic): 967 (1880); 1,429 (1900); 1,564 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1880–1910; 1920–1970; 1980–2000; 2010s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 360 (32.3%)

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Outstanding Buildings

1. William Smith House (c. 1860). 8481 South 125W. Grant. Razed.
2. William Greenwood Farm (c. 1890). 4415 South 200E. Oak Grove. Italianate.