Benson, Arizona
Benson is a city of 5,417 people in Cochise County, Arizona, founded in 1880.
Why visit Benson
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 21 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Apache Powder Historic Residential District, Benson Railroad Historic District, Kartchner Caverns State Park and San Pedro Golf Course.
June is the warmest month, with average highs of 99°F; December lows average 27°F.
Weather in Benson
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Benson
Benson is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 5,355. It was founded as a rail terminal for the area, and is located approximately 45 miles (72 km) east-southeast of the city of Tucson.
From the Wikipedia article Benson, Arizona (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks7
Apache Powder Historic Residential District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Historic area in Benson, Arizona
Benson Railroad Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
Historic district in Benson, Arizona
Hi Wo Company Grocery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
Historic building in Benson, Arizona, United States
Oasis Court
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Auto court in Arizona, United States
W. D. Martinez General Merchandise Store
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Historic building in Benson, Arizona, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
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Kartchner Caverns State Park
Park · 5.3 mi
State park in the US state of Arizona
2980 South Highway 90, Benson
Restaurants and cafes21
Denny's
Diner · American · 4.7 mi
825 North Ocotillo Road, Benson
Su-Th 05:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 05:00-00:00
9 more on the map.
History
The city was founded in 1880 when the Southern Pacific Railroad came through. It was named after Judge William S. Benson, a friend of Charles Crocker, president of the Southern Pacific. The railroad, coming overland from California, chose the Benson site to cross the San Pedro River. Benson then served as a rail junction point to obtain ore and refined metal by wagon, in turn shipping rail freight back to the mines at Tombstone, Fairbank, Contention City and Bisbee. For example, the railhead in Benson was about 25 miles (40 km) from Tombstone, and was the closest rail connection to it until 1882, when a feeder line was laid from Benson to Contention City.
The railhead in Benson was founded about a mile from a traditional crossing of the upper San Pedro River (known also as the Middle Crossing), used by the Southern Emigrant Trail and San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line. It was the site of the San Pedro Station of the Butterfield Overland Mail and a wagon depot, the San Pedro River Station, run since 1871 by William Ohnesorgen. In 1878 he had erected a toll bridge over which mining supplies were transported to the new mining camps such as Fairbank and Tombstone. Two years later this bridge marked the location of the railroad bridge that became the terminal site of Benson.
From the History section of Benson, Arizona on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship2
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Healthcare1
Map of Benson
62 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 27°F | 0.8 in | 0.2 in |
| Feb | 68°F | 30°F | 0.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 74°F | 35°F | 0.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 81°F | 41°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 90°F | 49°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 99°F | 58°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 98°F | 66°F | 2.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 95°F | 65°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 92°F | 58°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 84°F | 45°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 73°F | 34°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 64°F | 27°F | 0.9 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Benson 6Se (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Cochise County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-06-11: Lizard Fire (Fire)
- 2011-06-12: Monument Fire (Fire)
- 2011-05-09: Horseshoe Two Fire (Fire)
- 2009-05-18: Mule Pass Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Sierra Vista Municipal Airport (FHU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.
- Whetstone 14 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Huachuca City 20 mi south, about 32 min by car
- Tombstone 20 mi southeast, about 32 min by car
- Vail 23 mi west, about 36 min by car
- Sierra Vista 24 mi south, about 39 min by car
- Rincon Valley 25 mi northwest, about 40 min by car
- Corona de Tucson 27 mi west, about 43 min by car
- Sierra Vista Southeast 33 mi south, about 52 min by car
- Tanque Verde 34 mi northwest, about 56 min by car
- Tucson 36 mi northwest, about 58 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- SPV 2426, Benson, chief_huddleston, CC BY 2.0
- SPV 2408, Benson, chief_huddleston, CC BY 2.0
- Benson AZ Visitor Center 2, https://www.flickr.com/photos/petegregoire/, CC BY 2.0
- Amtrak Benson Arizona, https://www.flickr.com/photos/petegregoire/, CC BY 2.0
- Benson Arizona Banner, StellarD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Benson Motel, StellarD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Benson Visitor Center, a replica of the Benson railroad station, Richard N Horne, CC BY 4.0
- Benson AZ Visitor Center, StellarD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Apache Powder Company, Benson, Arizona used “Angel Buggies” to transport nitroglycerin. If you hit a bump, you became an angel immediately, Richard N Horne, CC BY 4.0
- Benson Underpass Signage, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Benson Underpass, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Benson, Arizona 143 W 6 St, Ammodramus, CC0
- Oasis Court (Benson) from N 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Benson, Arizona 223 E 3 St, Ammodramus, CC0
- Hi Wo Company Grocery from NE 2, Ammodramus, CC0
- Kartchner Big Room, Mike Lewis, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Colaspis nigrocyanea, CK2AZ, CC BY 4.0
- Hogna carolinensis male rear, ck2az, CC BY 4.0
- Eremoleon femoralis, CK2AZ, CC BY 4.0
- Eremocosta striata 300530154, CK Kelly, CC BY 4.0
- Eremocosta striata 300531152, CK Kelly, CC BY 4.0
- Eremocosta striata 300531091, CK Kelly, CC BY 4.0
- Cochemiea wrightii wilcoxii 12, CK2AZ, CC BY 4.0
- Cochemiea wrightii wilcoxii 11, CK2AZ, CC BY 4.0
- Cochemiea wrightii wilcoxii 5, CK2AZ, CC BY 4.0
- Echinocereus fasciculatus 35, CK2AZ, CC BY 4.0
- Echinocereus rigidissimus rigidissimus 9, CK2AZ, CC BY 4.0
- ISS065-E-287623 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-282147 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-287622 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-287625 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-282145 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-282144 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-282141 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-282143 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS030-E-106674 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-287624 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-282146 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-282142 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Cochemiea wrightii wilcoxii 9, Ian Lane, CC BY 4.0
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