Benson, North Carolina
Benson is a town of 4,282 people in Harnett County, North Carolina, founded in 1874.
Why visit Benson
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 23 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Benson Historic District and Benson Museum of Local History.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 32°F.
Weather in Benson
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Benson
Benson is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States, near the intersection of Interstates 95 and 40. Benson celebrates Mule Days on the fourth Saturday of September, a festival that attracts over 60,000 people each year. At the 2020 census, the population was 3,967.
From the Wikipedia article Benson, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks2
Benson Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in Benson, North Carolina
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
Restaurants and cafes23
Cornerstone Cafe & Coffee
Cafe · 0.6 mi
101 West Main Street, Benson
Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 08:00-14:00
Tacos Don Vargas
Restaurant · 0.8 mi
917 East Main Street, Benson
Mo-Su 08:00-21:00
China Eight
Restaurant · Chinese · 0.7 mi
704 East Parrish Drive, Benson
Daddy D's BBQ
Restaurant · 0.8 mi
203 South Walton Drive, Benson
Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-20:00
El Charro Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.1 mi
709 South Wall Street, Benson
Fainting Goat Brewing Company - Benson
Brewery and winery · 0.6 mi
102 West Parrish Drive, Benson
Fiesta Mexicana Downtown Benson
Restaurant · 0.7 mi
702 East Parrish Drive, Benson
Jenny's Sweet Creations
Bakery · 0.5 mi
221 East Main Street, Benson
11 more on the map.
Where to stay2
History
The town of Benson, which derives its name from early settler Alfred Monroe ("Mim") Benson, owes much of its historical development to the railroad line which passed through the present location in town in 1886 on its route between Fayetteville and Contentnea. More information on the history of Benson and the surrounding communities may be found at the new Benson Museum of Local History located at 102 W. Main Street, next to the Mary Duncan Library.
Mr. Benson's purchase of a 402-acre (1.63 km2) tract along the Smithfield-Fayetteville Road in 1874 initiated the settlement of the area now known as Benson. During the 1880s Benson sold portions of his original tract to incoming settlers, many of whom were farmers. Benson was incorporated in 1887 and soon attracted a number of entrepreneurs wishing to take advantage of this new town along an important transportation route.
A prominent early resident of the Benson area was John William Wood Sr. (December 28, 1855 - October 31, 1928) who rode to Benson each morning on a mule and wagon from his home at Peacocks Crossroads near Meadow. After having served on the Board of Education and as a county commissioner, where he was known to be a watchdog of the treasury, he was elected to a term in the State House of Representatives in 1927. Meadow School was built on land donated by him.
From the History section of Benson, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship5
Hannah's Creek Primitive Baptist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare3
Med Fast Urgent & Primary Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.0 mi
201 West Mann Street, Benson
Map of Benson
58 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 32°F | 3.6 in | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 58°F | 34°F | 3.2 in | 0.2 in |
| Mar | 66°F | 40°F | 3.7 in | 0.3 in |
| Apr | 75°F | 49°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 82°F | 58°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 67°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 71°F | 5.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 69°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 63°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 75°F | 50°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 66°F | 40°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 58°F | 35°F | 3.6 in | 0.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dunn 4 Nw (9 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
Harnett County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-06: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Barclaysville Field Airport (NC44) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 10 miles away.
- Smithfield 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
- Angier 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
- Clayton 19 mi north, about 31 min by car
- Fuquay-Varina 20 mi northwest, about 32 min by car
- Garner 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
- Archer Lodge 23 mi northeast, about 36 min by car
- Holly Springs 25 mi northwest, about 40 min by car
- Anderson Creek 25 mi west, about 40 min by car
- Knightdale 28 mi north, about 45 min by car
- Raleigh 31 mi north, about 50 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
- Main Street in Benson, Gerry D, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Benson United Methodist Church in Benson NC - panoramio, Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Flower at front of house in Benson North Carolina - panoramio, Chanilim714, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.