Benton is located in southern Illinois in Franklin County (of which it is the county seat) south of Rend Lake between Mt. Vernon and Marion along Interstate 57.
In addition to having a 19,000-acre lake in its front yard, residents and visitors also enjoy the facilities at nearby Wayne Fitzgerald State Park. If golfing is your bent, Benton Country Club offers a challenge as well as beauty.
The Franklin County Garage 1910s Museum and the Old Franklin County Jail Museum preserve a bit of Benton history including some Civil War-era memorabilia.
The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 7,194, a decrease of 22 since 1990.