Bentonia, Mississippi

Illinois Central Railroad depot in Bentonia

Bentonia began as a postal town along the Illinois Central Railway. It is named for an early resident. Bentonia had a population of 167 in 1900.[3]

The "Bentonia School," "Bentonia-style" or "Bentonia Blues" is more accurately described as the unique, haunting, country blues style that originated in and immediately around the small town of Bentonia.[4] The annual Bentonia Blues Festival is held the third Saturday of June in downtown Bentonia.[5] The festival's Blues Stage is always set up in front of the world-famous Blue Front Cafe _{[sic erat scriptum]}, which is still operated by proprietor Jimmy "Duck" Holmes who, as a young man, largely learned the local style from Bentonia Blues master Jack Owens.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all land.

Bentonia's largest population count, 544, was recorded in 1970. Bentonia had sixty fewer residents in 2010 compared to 2000,[16] and the 2015 estimate is another fourteen fewer.[17] As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 500 people, 203 households, and 130 families residing in the town. The population density was 366.0 people per square mile (140.9/km²). There were 214 housing units at an average density of 156.6 per square mile (60.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 62.80% White, 35.80% African American, 0.20% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.

There were 203 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,458, and the median income for a family was $39,583. Males had a median income of $28,000 versus $26,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,440. About 23.3% of families and 27.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.5% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over.

The Town of Bentonia is served by the Yazoo County School District. Residents are zoned to Bentonia Gibbs Elementary School, Yazoo County Middle School, and Yazoo County High School.