BENTON, a city of Illinois, U.S.A., 8om. S.E. of St. Louis, the county seat of Franklin county, the leading coal-producing county of the State. It is served by the Chicago and Eastern Illi nois, the Illinois Central and the Missouri Pacific railways. The population was 7,201 in 1920 and was 8,219 in 1930 by the Federal census. Grain, livestock and fruits are the leading agricultural products. The manufactures include window display fixtures, har ness and saddlery and enamelled stoves.