Marshall County is located in the Jackson Purchase Region of western Kentucky.  The Tennessee River flows along the northern boundary of the county while Kentucky Lake forms the eastern boundary.  Benton, the county seat of Marshall County, is located 121 miles northwest of Nashville, Tennessee; 193 miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri; and 213 miles southwest of Louisville, Kentucky.  Calvert City is 15 miles north of Benton and Hardin is 7 miles south of Benton.

Marshall County covers a total land area of 304 square miles.  Marshall County had an estimated 1994 population of 28,797 with 4,434 persons residing in Benton, 3,904 in Calvert City, and 702 in Hardin.

THE ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK
The total number of Marshall County residents employed in 1995 averaged 12,704.  Manufacturing firms in the county reported 3,252 employees; wholesale and retail trade provided 2,089 jobs; 1,451 people were employed in service occupations; state and local government accounted for 1,459 employees; and contract construction firms provided 947 jobs.

LABOR SUPPLY
There is a current estimated labor supply of 11,102 persons available for industrial jobs in the labor market area.  In addition, from 1998 through 2002, 12,141 young persons in the area will become 18 years of age and potentially available for industrial jobs.

TRANSPORTATION
Major highways serving Marshall County include Interstate 24; the Purchase Parkway; U.S. Highways 62, 68, and 641; and Kentucky Highway 80.  Twenty trucking companies provide interstate and/or intrastate service to Marshall County.  Paducah and Louisville Railway provides rail service to Calvert City.  The nearest commercial airline service is available at Barkley Regional Airport near Paducah, 34 miles northwest of Benton.  The Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Airport, 12 miles north of Benton, maintains a 4,000-foot paved runway to accommodate small aircraft.  The Marshall County-Calvert Riverport is located at  Calvert City in Marshall County.

POWER AND FUEL
Electric power is distributed in Benton by the Benton Electric System, in Calvert City by Jackson Purchase Electric Cooperative Corporation, and in Hardin by West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation.  Natural gas is distributed in Benton by Union Gas Company of Kentucky, in Calvert City by Western Kentucky Gas Company, and by Hardin Natural Gas System in Hardin.

EDUCATION
The Marshall County School System provides primary and secondary education to the county.  Seven institutions of higher learning are located within 76 miles of Benton.  Vocational training is available locally at the Marshall County Area Technology Center in Benton and at the West Kentucky Regional Technology Center, 26 miles northwest of Benton in Paducah.