America's Ghost Towns: Benton City

DISCLAIMER: Please do not enter any private property if not legally authorized to do so. If you are unsure about a property's legal status, please consult with the owner(s) before entering.

Benton City was settled in 1876, and was granted a post office that same year. By 1878, the town had a Masonic Lodge, the Benton City Institute, and its own newspaper.

However, the town suffered a metaphorical and financial blow in 1881, when it was bypassed by the International-Great Northern Railroad.

By 1904, the population was down to just over 300 residents, and ten years later, it was down to 200. The Benton City school closed in the mid-1930’s, and today, only a few ruins and the Benton City Cemetery are all that’s left from Benton’s “golden age”.

The Benton City Cemetery was established in 1870, and is now off-limits to the public, as it’s located on private property. However, the drone can provide us with a peek into what’s left of it. It’s a little unkept and overgrown, but it contains some fascinating bits of history. Here, at this abandoned, overgrown cemetery, lie the remains of pioneers, and veterans of Indian warfare, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and other historical conflicts.

Truly, the ghost town of Benton City is another forgotten but remarkable location that forms an enduring part of the history of our great state of Texas.

As always, thank you so much for joining me on this adventure. Please don't forget to like this video, and subscribe to the channel if you're enjoying my content, as well as clicking on the notification bell so you don't miss anything. Again, thank you for watching. I’ll see you on the next one.

Music: Garden View

Artist: Homeworld OST

References:

http://www.texasescapes.com/SouthTexasTowns/Benton-Texas.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benton_City,_Texas

Picture credits:

The John J. Germann Collection

Texas General Land Office

Видео America's Ghost Towns: Benton City канала Beyond Civilization (Xplore RC)