Editing Benton Ridge, Ohio (section)

==History==
Benton Ridge was originally called Benton, and under the latter name was laid out in 1835 and named for [[Thomas Hart Benton (politician)|Thomas Hart Benton]] (1782–1858), a U.S. Senator from Missouri.<ref name="History 388">{{cite book|title=History of Hancock County, Ohio: Containing a History of the County, Its Townships, Towns|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofhancock01brow|year=1886|publisher=Warner, Beers|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofhancock01brow/page/388 388]}}</ref> Some of the earliest settlers of Benton Ridge are buried in Swartz Cemetery, which also has a Veteran's Memorial.<ref>{{cite web |title=Schwartz Cemetery Veterans Memorial |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=166990 |website=www.hmdb.org/ |access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref>  A post office called Benton Ridge has been in operation since 1837.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=OH&county=Hancock | title=Hancock County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=January 3, 2016}}</ref> The village was incorporated in 1875.<ref name="History 388" />

In 1994, the Benton Ridge postmaster Fairy Parkins was named Postmaster of the Year for the state of Ohio.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fairy I. Parkins was postmaster of Benton Ridge |url=https://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2024/11/21/fairy-i-parkins-was-postmaster-benton-ridge |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=The Bluffton Icon |publisher=The Bluffton Icon |date=21 November 2024}}</ref>

The Benton Ridge Telephone Company was founded in 1902, and is an [[Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier]] for 3 exchanges in west central Ohio.  It provides telecommunication services in rural communities, spinning off a cable TV and internet company in 1992 (WATCH), as well as a fiber based internet company (CFS) in 2010. The company was acquired by Cequel III in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Benton Ridge Telephone and Its Broadband Subsidiaries to be Acquired by Investment and Management Firm Cequel III |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221004006091/en/Benton-Ridge-Telephone-and-Its-Broadband-Subsidiaries-to-be-Acquired-by-Investment-and-Management-Firm-Cequel-III |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=Business Wire |publisher=Business Wire |date=October 4, 2022}}</ref>

On Nov. 1, 1941, just one month before the Japanese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], a [[B-25 bomber]] on a training mission flying out of [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], crashed nearby.<ref>{{cite news |title=History saved in Benton Ridge memorial |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/opinion/editorials/2024/11/06/editorial-history-saved-benton-ridge-memorial/stories/20241106021 |access-date=7 December 2024 |publisher=The Toledo Blade |date=6 November 2024}}</ref>

Solt Automotive Engineering, one of the oldest go-kart manufacturers in the USA, was located just outside of Benton Ridge.<ref>{{cite web |title=In memory of Jerry Solt (August 1934 – July 2020) |url=https://www.vroomkart.com/news/37552/in-memory-of-jerry-solt-august-1934-july-2020 |website=vroomkart.com |publisher=vroomkart international |access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref>