Benson, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benson
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Businesses on Pacific Avenue.
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Location of Benson
within Swift County, Minnesota |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Swift |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.12 sq mi (8.08 km2) |
| • Land | 3.10 sq mi (8.03 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,040 ft (320 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,480 |
| • Density | 1,122.94/sq mi (433.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
56215
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| Area code(s) | 320 |
| FIPS code | 27-05212 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394138 |
| Website | www.bensonmn.org |
Benson is a city located in Swift County, Minnesota, in the United States. It sits along the Chippewa River. In 2020, about 3,480 people lived there. Benson is also the county seat, which means it's the main town where the county government is located.
Contents
History of Benson
Benson was first planned out in 1870. This happened when the railroad tracks were built to reach that spot. Because it was the end of the railway line, Benson quickly became a busy place for trading. People from up to 100 miles away came to Benson to buy and sell goods.
The city got its name from Ben H. Benson, who was a Norwegian settler. Benson officially became a city in 1908.
The early years of the town saw some tough times. In 1872, there was a smallpox outbreak. A few years later, in 1876, a large number of grasshoppers caused problems for farmers. In 1880, a big fire destroyed an entire city block.
The first general store in Benson opened in 1869. A post office has been helping people send mail since 1870. The Benson Public Library was built in 1911, thanks to a generous gift. The Swift County Hospital was built in 1912 and could care for 19 patients. Benson's very first one-room schoolhouse is still standing. You can visit it as a historic site in Ambush Park. The current schools, Benson High School and Northside Elementary School, were built in 1890 and 1958.
Geography and Climate
Where is Benson?
According to the United States Census Bureau, Benson covers an area of about 3.02 square miles (7.82 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water.
Three main roads pass through the city. These are U.S. Highway 12 and Minnesota State Highways 9 and 29.
Benson's Weather
Benson experiences a wide range of temperatures throughout the year. Summers are generally warm, and winters are cold with snow. The city gets a good amount of rain, especially in the warmer months.
| Climate data for Benson, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1945–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 63 (17) |
61 (16) |
80 (27) |
97 (36) |
99 (37) |
104 (40) |
103 (39) |
103 (39) |
101 (38) |
93 (34) |
81 (27) |
60 (16) |
104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 41.3 (5.2) |
45.1 (7.3) |
62.2 (16.8) |
79.6 (26.4) |
89.7 (32.1) |
93.4 (34.1) |
93.6 (34.2) |
91.8 (33.2) |
88.8 (31.6) |
82.0 (27.8) |
62.3 (16.8) |
44.2 (6.8) |
96.2 (35.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 21.2 (−6.0) |
26.0 (−3.3) |
39.1 (3.9) |
55.7 (13.2) |
69.4 (20.8) |
79.3 (26.3) |
83.3 (28.5) |
80.9 (27.2) |
73.8 (23.2) |
58.5 (14.7) |
40.8 (4.9) |
26.5 (−3.1) |
54.5 (12.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 11.0 (−11.7) |
15.4 (−9.2) |
28.7 (−1.8) |
44.1 (6.7) |
57.6 (14.2) |
68.1 (20.1) |
72.2 (22.3) |
69.7 (20.9) |
61.6 (16.4) |
46.8 (8.2) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
17.4 (−8.1) |
43.7 (6.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 0.8 (−17.3) |
4.8 (−15.1) |
18.4 (−7.6) |
32.5 (0.3) |
45.9 (7.7) |
57.0 (13.9) |
61.0 (16.1) |
58.5 (14.7) |
49.4 (9.7) |
35.2 (1.8) |
21.5 (−5.8) |
8.3 (−13.2) |
32.8 (0.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −19.9 (−28.8) |
−15.7 (−26.5) |
−4.6 (−20.3) |
17.6 (−8.0) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
44.7 (7.1) |
50.4 (10.2) |
46.7 (8.2) |
33.5 (0.8) |
20.0 (−6.7) |
2.9 (−16.2) |
−13.2 (−25.1) |
−22.7 (−30.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −35 (−37) |
−35 (−37) |
−27 (−33) |
0 (−18) |
20 (−7) |
34 (1) |
41 (5) |
36 (2) |
21 (−6) |
10 (−12) |
−21 (−29) |
−28 (−33) |
−35 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.74 (19) |
0.81 (21) |
1.50 (38) |
2.59 (66) |
3.34 (85) |
4.10 (104) |
4.00 (102) |
3.77 (96) |
2.75 (70) |
2.45 (62) |
1.24 (31) |
0.82 (21) |
28.11 (715) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.3 (21) |
8.5 (22) |
7.1 (18) |
4.2 (11) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
5.7 (14) |
8.4 (21) |
42.6 (108.01) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 9.9 (25) |
11.4 (29) |
10.7 (27) |
3.3 (8.4) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
4.0 (10) |
7.4 (19) |
14.4 (37) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.8 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.7 | 11.0 | 12.3 | 9.8 | 9.5 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 101.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.6 | 4.8 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 5.3 | 22.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Population of Benson
The number of people living in Benson has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown and shifted:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 456 | — | |
| 1890 | 877 | 92.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,525 | 73.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,677 | 10.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,111 | 25.9% | |
| 1930 | 2,095 | −0.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,729 | 30.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,398 | 24.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,678 | 8.2% | |
| 1970 | 3,484 | −5.3% | |
| 1980 | 3,656 | 4.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,235 | −11.5% | |
| 2000 | 3,376 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 3,240 | −4.0% | |
| 2020 | 3,480 | 7.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 3,240 people living in Benson. The average age of people in the city was about 43.6 years old.
Alternative Energy
Benson is home to the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC). This company makes different types of ethanol products, including E85. Ethanol is a type of fuel that can be made from plants. The plant also produces a special kind of alcohol used in drinks.
Transportation
The city of Benson has its own airport. It's called the Benson Municipal Airport Veterans Field. This airport is owned and run by the city.
Notable People from Benson
Many interesting people have connections to Benson. Here are a few:
- Lyn Yvonne Abramson, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Edgar Dale, a Professor at Ohio State University. He was famous for developing the "Cone of Experience" theory, which helps explain how people learn.
- Saxe J. Froshaug, a politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Darwin Hall, an American politician who was also in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- David Hazewinkel, an Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler for the U.S. in 1968 and 1972. He coached wrestling in Benson.
- Alfred I. Johnson, a politician who was the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
- James A. Johnson, a successful businessman who led Fannie Mae and the Kennedy Center for the Arts.
- Mark Kennedy, an American politician and university president. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Becca Kufrin, an American television personality.
- Ole J. Kvale, a Lutheran minister and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Paul John Kvale, a staff editor for the Minneapolis Tribune and a politician in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Martha Ostenso, a novelist and screenwriter. She wrote many books, including Wild Geese, and lived in rural Benson as a child.
- Sandra Peterson, a politician who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
- Ernie Wheeler, a longtime educator in Benson and a former professional football player. He played for the Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburg Pirates.
Gallery
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Atlantic Avenue and 13th Street
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Pacific Avenue and 13th Street
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Former Municipal Building
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Railroad tracks between Atlantic and Pacific Avenues
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Post Office
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Swift County Courthouse
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Church of St. Francis Xavier
See also
In Spanish: Benson (Minnesota) para niños
