North Dakota

Benson

5,964
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Benson

Benson, North Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 2,460. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,964.

Its recorded population peaked at 13,327 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 55 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Fort Totten Skirmish 1868, and 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,964
20106,660
20006,964
19907,198
19807,944
19708,245
19609,435
195010,675
194012,629
193013,327
192013,095
191012,681
19008,320
18902,460
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Benson

Military engagements that took place in Benson, North Dakota.

Fort Totten Skirmish 1868
1868

Historic places in Benson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Benson, North Dakota.

West Antelope Bridge
Flora
Grace Episcopal Church
Minnewaukan
Viking Lutheran Church
Maddock
St. Boniface Cemetery, Wrought-Iron Cross Site
Selz
Benson County Courthouse
Minnewaukan
Browse all North Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Dakota

Explore census history and historic records for more North Dakota counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Benson County, North Dakota

This page charts the census history of Benson County, North Dakota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Benson

When does Benson first appear in the US census?
Benson, North Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 2,460.
What is the population of Benson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Benson had a recorded population of 5,964.
When did Benson's population peak?
Benson's recorded population peaked at 13,327 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Benson?
1 documented military engagement took place in Benson, including Fort Totten Skirmish 1868.
How many historic places are in Benson?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Benson, North Dakota.
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