Benson, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benson
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Downtown Benson on North 60th Avenue Maple Street
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| Country | United States |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.14 sq mi (5.55 km2) |
| • Land | 2.14 sq mi (5.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 9,137 |
| • Density | 4,270/sq mi (1,646.3/km2) |
Benson is a cool, old neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska. It started as its own town called Benson Place in 1887. Later, in 1917, it became part of the bigger city of Omaha. A famous actor, Nick Nolte, even lived here when he was younger!
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History of Benson
How Benson Started
Benson was named after Erastus Benson. He was a smart businessman who bought and sold land. He also invested in new ideas, like the early inventions of Thomas Edison. These included the phonograph (an early record player) and the Kinetoscope (an early movie viewer).
In 1887, Erastus Benson bought a large piece of farmland. It was about 900 acres, which is like 680 football fields! He divided this land into building lots and called the new community Benson Place. Later, the name was shortened to just Benson. This new town was about 9 miles northwest of Omaha.
Becoming Part of Omaha
In the early 1900s, Omaha started growing and adding nearby towns. The people of Benson knew their town might be next. They wanted to make sure Benson had good public services. So, they built things like a new city hall and fire station in 1915. They knew that once Omaha took over, the bigger city would have to pay for these improvements.
On May 25, 1917, Benson officially became part of Omaha, Nebraska. At that time, Benson was about 1.4 square miles in size. Around 5,000 people lived there.
Fun at Krug Park
Benson was once home to an amusement park called Krug Park. It was located at 2936 North 52nd Street. Sadly, in 1930, the park had a serious roller coaster accident. This was the worst roller coaster accident in the country that year. The park eventually closed in 1940. Today, you can find Gallagher Park on the same spot where Krug Park used to be.
Benson's Historic District
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Benson Commercial Historic District
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Bank of Benson and John Sorenson Building
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 Location in Nebraska
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| Location | Centered along Maple St. between North 59th and North 63rd Sts., Benson, in Omaha, Nebraska |
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| Area | 13.2 acres (5.3 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 100005766 |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 2020 |
Benson has a special area called the Benson Commercial Historic District. This district is a collection of old buildings that are important to history. It's mostly along Maple Street, between North 59th and North 63rd Streets. In 2020, this area was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a place with important historical buildings.
Many buildings in Benson are very old and have interesting stories. Some of these include:
- Benson High School, located at 5120 Maple Street.
- The Masonic Temple at 5901 Maple Street. This building was built in 1926. It has a grand, old-fashioned style.
- The Bank of Benson, located at 6108 Maple Street.
- The Benson U.S. Post Office, found at 6223 Maple Street.
These buildings help tell the story of Benson's past.
