The community first called Gravel Hill — later Southside and now the Ralph Bunche community — is one of the oldest historically Black neighborhoods in Saline County.
In 1894, the Rhinehart family bought land on the western end of what is now Palm Street in Benton. They settled there, and the Gravel Hill Community was established soon after. Burl Rhinehart married Lola Canady and they had seven children — four boys and three girls. Their house was at the western end of Palm Street. Later, a portion of their land was sold to a railroad company. W.A. “Wes” Ashley bought land from former Benton mayor David Madison Cloud in 1904. The Cloud Addition was bounded by Oak, Pine, Dixie, West, Valley and South streets.
