Benson, Minnesota

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Benson is a small city in Swift County, Minnesota, located along the Chippewa River. It is the county seat and had 3,480 residents in 2020. The city covers about 3.0 square miles, almost all land.

Benson grew when the railroad arrived in 1870, becoming a busy trading center for about 100 miles. It was named after Ben H. Benson, a Norwegian settler, and was incorporated as a city in 1908.

Early hardships included a smallpox epidemic in 1872, a grasshopper plague in 1876, and a big fire in 1880. The first general store opened in 1869, and a post office has operated since 1870. The Benson Public Library began in 1911 after a generous donation, and Swift County Hospital opened in 1912. The town’s one-room schoolhouse is preserved in Ambush Park and is open to visitors. The current schools are Benson High School (established 1890) and Northside Elementary (1958).

Today, U.S. Highway 12 and Minnesota Highways 9 and 29 are major roads serving the city. Benson is home to the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC), which makes ethanol products, including E85 and food-grade alcohol. The city also owns Benson Municipal Airport, Veterans Field.