The Benton Hot Springs are in Mono County, California[2] around which grew the town of Benton[1] (also known as Old Benton,[1] and Hot Springs[3]). It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) west-southwest of Benton and 31 miles (50 km) north-northwest of Bishop, at an elevation of 5630 feet (1716 m).[1] It is part of the Benton census-designated place for statistical purposes.[4]

Benton Hot Springs
Benton Hot Springs
Map
LocationMono County, California
Coordinates37°48′01″N 118°31′44″W / 37.80028°N 118.52889°W / 37.80028; -118.52889
Elevation5,630 feet (1,720 m)[1]

The Benton post office opened at the place in 1886.[3] The name honors Senator Thomas Hart Benton, United States senator from Missouri.[3] The town saw its heyday from 1862 to 1889 as a supply center for nearby mines.[3] At the end of the 19th century, the town declined and the name Benton was transferred to Benton Station.[3]

Of the springs at the site, one was described in a 1915 book as issuing water at 135 °F (57 °C).[5]

Nearby

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Other springs are located nearby: Paert's Hot Springs and Taylor Springs, a little more than 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Benton Hot Springs.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Benton Hot Springs". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ Waring 1915, p. 200.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 1146. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  4. ^ "Benton, CA". TIGERweb. Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Waring 1915, p. 136.

Reference bibliography

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  • Waring, Gerald Ashley (1915). Springs of California. U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper. Vol. 338. U.S. Government Printing Office. doi:10.3133/wsp338.