Actor John Malkovich hails from Benton, and many members of his family still live in the area.
Benton is a small town located in extreme South Central Illinois
Actor John Malkovich hails from Benton, and many members of his family still live in the area.
Benton is a small town located in extreme South Central Illinois. This thriving little community has a fascinating history as well as being a picturesque town where neighbors host each other for barbeques, children play outdoors and everyone in town cheers the local high school sports teams on to victory. If you are looking for a friendly place to live, then you have found it in Benton!
You can expect hot and humid summers, and most winters are cold, but the good news is that there is little snow or ice. The locals joke that if you just wait 24 hours after a major snowstorm, the snow and ice will melt and you can go on your way. You might want to plan your move here for any month except February, which is historically the worst month for snow and ice. This is a small town, and finding rental housing in Benton isn't difficult. The rental process is pretty simple here and is fairly typical of other small towns. There is rarely an application process. Find a place that you want to rent and provide the landlord with a check for the first and last month's rent. Most places require a security deposit but there is rarely a pet deposit or monthly pet fee. If you are renting in an apartment complex, they will probably run a soft credit check. If you anticipate a problem there, you can hopefully provide a couple of references to smooth the way for you and your furry companions. There are a variety of apartments and homes for rent, so you should be able to pick your favorite.
When dealing with towns of this size, you need to be aware that the neighborhoods are generally just the annexing of virtual ghost towns into the city as it gradually grew and spread out. This is true in Benton, and explains how it ended up with three neighborhoods. City Center: This area of town has a few small apartment complexes. If you are looking for a rental apartment in Benton, then this is the place you will most likely have luck. In this part of town, you can expect to find most of the local dining establishments, stores and other amenities. The homes here are generally 3- or 4-bedroom homes with a few smaller homes scattered about. A popular local restaurant is the Fish Company. Their catfish dinners are the stuff of local legend, and their chicken and chops are also scrumptious. Whittington: The big draw here is the Whittington Dance Barn, where you can listen to good old-fashioned gospel and swing music. As for rental housing, there is plenty here and most of it is going to be older 3- or 4-bedroom homes. Steel City: Don't let the name of this area fool you! This is the industrial park area, but it's also where the majority of the rural homes are in Benton. This area has many 3- to 6-bedroom single family homes for rent, some of them being larger than normal. Living here means you need a riding lawnmower for the yard, as they typically reach an acre or more in size. You will need to drive a bit to get to the majority of the amenities, but you can have a bonfire in your backyard be as loud as you like with your music!
Benton has an interesting and colorful history. While many towns would downplay ever having had a notorious gangster like Charlie Birger as a resident, Benton embraces it. The Jail where he was incarcerated has been turned into a museum and is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in America. Also on display is the gallows where Birger was hung. After you have tired of roaming around the past, you might want to take a look at the present-day amenities in Benton.The Benton Park is a very popular place for both hiking and picnics. Other local activities include fishing, boating and hiking at nearby Rend Lake. For those more inclined to go shopping, you will need to head a little ways south to find the closest mall, which is in Marion. If you are looking for dining options within Benton, The Full Moon is one of three local Chinese restaurants. Mexican food is well represented by Tequilas and Los Amigos. Pop's Barbeque on Main Street takes local honors for the best barbeque in town. One of the best Steel Guitar Shows in the nation is held each year in November at the Benton Civic Center. This 3-day event draws in musicians and visitors from all across the nation and has become of of the top autumn tourist draws in the area.
