Benton/Aurora Profile

Benton/Aurora Community Profile

Including Aurora, Jonathan Creek, Malcolm Creek & King Creek

Our Benton, Kentucky Area section of ExploreKentuckyLake.com covers the city of Benton, Jonathan Creek, Aurora, King Creek and Malcolm Creek, which is generally located in southern Marshall County, Kentucky.

Benton is a town of about 4,300 people and located about 20 minutes from Kenlake State Park, 15 minutes from Jonathan Creek and Malcolm Creek.  Many lake-based businesses have a Benton address, even though that may not be in the city of Benton.

Also included in the Benton Area is the unincorporated community of Aurora.  Located about a mile from Kentucky Lake, this lake-town offers inexpensive lodging, some dining choices and a few retail and service-based businesses.  Aurora uses the Hardin, Ky. zipcode of 42048.

A Closer Look at Marshall County, Kentucky

Transportation

Major highways in Marshall County include Interstate 24, Interstate 69 (formerly the Purchase Parkway), US 641 and US 68.  For air travel, the nearest commercial airport is in Paducah, Ky., located about 45 minutes from Benton.  There is one small airstrip at Kentucky Dam Village State Park that offers a 4,800-foot runway for private aircraft.  For more information about this airstrip, call (270) 362-4271.

Demographics

Marshall County has the second-highest number of residents in the Kentucky Lake Area with 31,448 people calling it home.  There are three incorporated cities in Marshall County, Benton (the county seat), Hardin and Calvert City.  Other communities you might see include Draffenville, Gilbertsville, Aurora, Fairdealing, Brewers, and Briensburg.

The economy of Marshall County is a mix of industrial and tourism.  Calvert City has a large concentration of chemical plants and employs hundreds of people.  Marshall County is also the area's largest tourism market with tens of millions of dollars pouring into the local economy each year.

Education & Healthcare

The Marshall County School System consists of three elementary, one middle and one high school.  There are two private Christian schools in Marshall County - Christian Fellowship in Draffenville and New Covenant in Hardin.

The Marshall County Hospital has been providing acute healthcare to Benton and the surrounding area since 1964.  Since then, the hospital has grown to a new facility complete with an Intensive Care Unit (accredited by the JCAHO), a 24-hour emergency room, and ambulance service.  MCH also offers rehabilitation services, home health, and long term care. Marshall County Hospital is located at 615 Old Symsonia Road in Benton.

Government

Marshall County is governed by a judge-executive and district magistrates.  Hardin, Benton, and Calvert City is all governed by a mayor and city councilmen for each community.  There is an extensive network of volunteer firefighters, Disaster Emergency Service volunteers, and several local law enforcement officers.  Calvert City and Benton have their own police and fire departments, while ambulance service from Marshall County Hospital serves the entire county.