gannett.] PLACE NAMES TN THE FNTTED STATES. 43 
Belvedere; town in Marin County, California. From the Italian, meaning "beau- 
tiful sight," 
Belvidere; township and city in Boone County, Illinois, named by one oi tin- 
founders for his native place in Canada. 
Belzoni; town in Washington County, Mississippi, named for an Italian, Giambattuta 
Belzoni, a celebrated archaeologist. 
Bement; township and village in Piatt County, Illinois, named for a United States 
surveyor. 
Bemis Heights; village in Saratoga County, New York, named for Jonathan Bemis, 
innkeeper there during the Revolution. 
Benedicta; town in Aroostook County, Maine, named for Bishop Benedicta Pen- 
wick, who was an early proprietor. 
Benhur; village in Mariposa County, California, named for the character in Gen. 
Wallace's novel. 
Benicia; city in Solano County, California, namsd by General Vallejo for his wife. 
Benita; village in Kern County, California. A Spanish word meaning "nun." 
Ben Lomond; post-offices in Sevier County, Arkansas, Santa Cruz County, Cali- 
fornia, Issaquena County, Mississippi, and Mason County, West Virginia; named 
from the lake in Scotland. 
Bennett; town in Cedar County, Iowa, named for Chet Bennett, a railroad man. 
Bennett; point in Maryland, named for Richard Bennett. 
Bennett; tow r n in Lancaster County, Nebraska, named for a resident, 
Bennett Creek; village in Nansemond County, Virginia, named for Richard Bennett, 
governor in 1652-1656. 
Bennetts; wells on the westerly border of Death Valley, Inyo County, California, 
named for the Bennett party of immigrants, most of whom perished in the neigh- 
borhood in 1852. 
Bennettsville ; town in Marlboro County, South Carolina, named for a family 
prominent in the State. 
Bennington: town in Hillsboro County, New Hampshire, and county, and town- 
ship, and town in same county in Vermont, named for Governor Benning 
Wentworth, of New Hampshire. 
Benson; town in Johnston County, North Carolina, named for a prominent citizen. 
Benson; county in North Dakota, named for Hon. B. W. Benson, member of the 
State legislature and banker, of Valley City, North Dakota. 
Benson; town in Rutland County, Vermont, said by some to have been named for 
Judge Egbert Benson, one of the original proprietors. The Vermont Historical 
Society says that it was named by James Meacham, a proprietor, for a Revolu- 
tionary officer. 
Bent; county in Colorado, named for William Bent, first United States governor of 
New Mexico. 
Benton; counties in Arkansas, Indiana, and Iowa; village in Marshall County, 
Kentucky; town in Bossier Parish, Louisiana; county, and township and vil- 
lage in Carver County, in Minnesota; counties in Mississippi and Missouri; town 
in Grafton County, New Hampshire; and counties in Oregon and Tennessee; 
named for Senator Thomas H. Benton, of Missouri. Thirty other cities, tow ns, 
and villages bear this name, most of them in honor of the same man. 
Benton; town in Yates County, New York, named for Caleb Benton, the first settler. 
Bentonia; town in Yazoo County, Mississippi, named tor the maiden name of Mrs. 
Hal Green, a resident. 
Benwood; city in Marshall County, West Virginia, named for Benjamin Latrobe, 
an engineer on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. 
Benzie; county in Michigan. Probably named from the town of Benzonia, which 
was founded and named before the county. There are some, however, who think 
