Benton County is now Calhoun County According to Place Names in Alabama by Virginia O. Foscue - Calhoun County was first named for Thomas Hart Benton (1782-1858) from South Carolina, later a U.S. Senator from Missouri, who had fought here during the Creek Indian War of 1813-1814. Because Benton's political views by 1858 differed from those of most people in this area, the name was changed on January 29 of that year to honor John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, a spokesman for southern causes. The county seat was Jacksonville until 1899, when the present one, Anniston, was chosen.