Benton Branch — Riverside Regional Library
🏢 Riverside Regional Library · Benton, Missouri
Benton Branch — Riverside Regional Library
The Benton Branch of Riverside Regional Library stands just steps from the 1912 Beaux Arts courthouse in Benton — the seat of Scott County — serving a community that traces its founding to 1822 and its naming to Missouri's pioneering U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton. The branch at 54 N Winchester Street is home to a Genealogy Room that draws family-history researchers from across the region.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 1pm–6pm |
| Wednesday | 1pm–6pm |
| Thursday | 1pm–6pm |
| Friday | 1pm–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–12pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 54 N Winchester St, Benton, MO 63736
Phone: (573) 545-3581
Website: riversideregionallibrary.org
Plus Code: 869G3CXP+CX (Benton, MO)
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📖 About Benton Branch — Riverside Regional Library
Benton, Missouri was laid out in 1822 and named for Thomas Hart Benton (1782–1858), one of Missouri's first U.S. senators and a towering figure of Jacksonian democracy who served 30 years in the Senate. The town has been the seat of Scott County since the county's organization, and its 1912 reinforced-concrete Beaux Arts courthouse — designed by architect Henry H. Hohenschild — remains a local landmark. The Benton Branch of Riverside Regional Library, located across from the courthouse, not only provides books, computers, and digital resources for Scott County residents but also maintains a Genealogy Room that makes it a hub for family-history research in southeastern Missouri. Through Missouri Evergreen, cardholders can search and borrow from hundreds of Missouri public libraries.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Located in Benton, county seat of Scott County, named for Missouri's pioneering U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton (served 1820–1850)
- Home to a Genealogy Room — a go-to resource for family-history and Scott County research
- Situated across from the 1912 Beaux Arts Scott County Courthouse, a local landmark
- Branch of Riverside Regional Library, part of Missouri Evergreen shared catalog
- Free digital access including Libby eBooks, hoopla, MOREnet databases, and HeritageQuest genealogy
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Benton Branch cardholders enjoy free digital resources through Missouri Evergreen and MOREnet statewide programs:
📚 Services
- Genealogy Room for family-history and local-history research
- Book lending and interlibrary loan through Missouri Evergreen
- Free public computers and Wi-Fi
- Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks via Libby and hoopla
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Access to MOREnet statewide databases including HeritageQuest
🎸 Programs
- Summer reading program for children and adults
- Youth storytimes and programming
- Community events coordinated with the Riverside Regional Library system
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southeast Missouri
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Thomas Hart Benton, and why is the town named after him?
Thomas Hart Benton (1782–1858) was one of Missouri's first two U.S. senators and a dominant figure of 19th-century American politics, serving 30 consecutive years in the Senate from 1820 to 1850. He was a champion of westward expansion — the phrase 'Manifest Destiny' is closely associated with him — and so popular in early Missouri that the town platted in 1822 was named Benton in his honor.
What genealogy resources are available at the Benton Branch Library?
The branch maintains a dedicated Genealogy Room for researching Scott County and regional family histories. Cardholders also have free online access to HeritageQuest (census records, genealogical monographs, local histories) and Missouri Digital Heritage through MOREnet's statewide program — both accessible from home with your library card.
Is the Benton Branch open on weekends, and what are its hours?
Yes — the Benton Branch is open Tuesday through Friday 1–6 pm and Saturday 9 am–12 pm; it is closed Sunday and Monday. For the most current hours, including holiday closings, call (573) 545-3581 or check riversideregionallibrary.org.
Can I return items from other Riverside Regional Library branches at Benton?
Yes. Riverside Regional Library operates six locations — Jackson (main), Altenburg, Benton, Oran, Perryville, and Scott City — and items can be returned at any branch, including Benton. The Missouri Evergreen shared catalog also allows you to request items from member libraries across Missouri for pickup at the Benton Branch.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.