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History

History

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Pictured above is a mural painted on the side of "The Bell Building" in downtown Benton.  The mural’s story of Benton’s history begins with the 1400s when Native Americans inhabited the area and ends in 1900 when the trains were in their heyday and pottery was a thriving industry. Central to this timeline is the Saline River, which brought people to the area and was one reason why they stayed; the river is depicted in the background of the mural.  The building is located at the corner of West South Street and South Main Street.

To research family history, Marriage Licenses, or other Saline County history, please check out Saline County Geneaology Page:

Saline County Geneaology Page
or visit
Saline County History and Heritage Society
123 North Market Street
501-778-3770
SCHHS Website
   
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The present Saline County Courthouse was  completed in 1902 at a cost of $32,000 and was placed on the national register of Historic Places in 1976.  It is the third courthouse to be built on the courthouse square.  It is considered by many to be the most beautiful building in the county.

Arkansas once accounted for 97 percent of the country’s production of bauxite, used to make aluminum, and most of that came from Saline County.  When state geologist John C. Branner discovered the ore in 1887, a work crew was using it to surface a new road. 

Saline County is one of Arkansas’ fastest growing counties, with a population growth of 30.1% from 1990 to 2000.  The 2010 Census estimated the population to be 103,000.