Editing Benton County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Benton County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | ex image             = Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Gilman, MN.JPG
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = [[Church of Sts. Peter and Paul-Catholic|Church of Saints Peter and Paul]] in [[Gilman, Minnesota]].
 | seal                 = Benton County mn seal.png
 | founded date         = October 27
 | founded year         = 1849 (created)<br />1850 (organized)<ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota Place Names|url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm?SendingPage=Region.cfm&county=5|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|access-date=March 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029051852/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm?SendingPage=Region.cfm&county=5|archive-date=October 29, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | seat wl              = Foley
 | largest city wl      = Sauk Rapids
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 413
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 408
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 4.8
 | area percentage      = 1.2%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 41379
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 41881 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 97.9
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.co.benton.mn.us
 | named for            = [[Thomas Hart Benton (senator)|Thomas Hart Benton]]
 | district             = 6th
}}

'''Benton County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the East Central part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 41,379.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bentoncountyminnesota/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 19, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Foley, Minnesota|Foley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>

Benton County is part of the [[St. Cloud metropolitan area|St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul|Minneapolis-St. Paul Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
Established in 1849 and organized in 1850, the county is one of the oldest in Minnesota.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota State Government Series - State Counties |url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/govseries/No3.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321232739/http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/govseries/No3.htm |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=March 2, 2007 |website=Minnesota House of Representatives}}</ref> It was named for [[Thomas Hart Benton (politician)|Thomas Hart Benton]], a United States Senator from Missouri.<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n68 49]}}</ref> Its county seat for many years was [[Sauk Rapids, Minnesota|Sauk Rapids]], at the confluence of the [[Sauk River (Minnesota)|Sauk]] and Mississippi Rivers. The county seat moved to [[Watab, Minnesota|Watab]] in 1856 and returned to Sauk Rapids in 1859. Sauk Rapids became the terminus of a railroad line in 1874, but was destroyed by [[1886 St. Cloud–Sauk Rapids tornado outbreak|a tornado]] in 1886. In 1897 the county seat moved to Foley, where it remains. As St. Cloud expanded into a metropolitan area, the southern part of Benton County became a suburb.

==Geography==
The [[Mississippi River]] flows southeast along Benton County's western border, and the [[Platte River (Minnesota)|Platte River]] flows south through the county's northwest corner, discharging into the Mississippi at the county's western border. The terrain consists of low rolling hills, wooded or devoted to agriculture.<ref name=BCM>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Benton+County,+MN/@45.6666482,-94.0199545,13035m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x52b46bd8acf3e071:0x68b360fb724a636!8m2!3d45.7211058!4d-93.9732855 ''Benton County MN''  Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019)]</ref> It generally slopes to the south and east, although its western portion slopes into the river valleys. The county's highest point is a small hill near the midpoint of the northern border, {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on}} north of [[Brennyville, Minnesota|Brennyville]], at {{convert|1,311|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22087 Benton County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 4, 2019)]</ref> The county has a total area of {{convert|413|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|408|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.8|sqmi}} (1.2%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102023/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> It is the fifth-smallest county in Minnesota by land area and fourth-smallest by total area. [[File:Benton Co 2016 No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Benton County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 61-64. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]
{{Stack|[[File:Sartell WMA Wiki Version.jpg|thumb|right|Soils of Sartell WMA neighborhood]]}}

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=26em}}
* [[Image:US 10.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 10 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 10]]
* [[Image:MN-15.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 15]]
* [[Image:MN-23.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 23]]
* [[Image:MN-25.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 25]]
* [[Image:MN-95.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 95]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=26em}}
* [[Mille Lacs County, Minnesota|Mille Lacs]] - east
* [[Sherburne County, Minnesota|Sherburne]] - south
* [[Stearns County, Minnesota|Stearns]] - west
* [[Morrison County, Minnesota|Morrison]] - north
{{div col end}}

===Lakes===
{{div col|colwidth=26em}}
* Donovan Lake (part)
* Graham Lake
* [[Little Rock Lake (Benton County, Minnesota)|Little Rock Lake]]
* Mayhew Lake
{{div col end}}
<ref name=BCM/>

===Protected areas===
{{div col|colwidth=26em}}
* Benlacs State Wildlife Management Area (part)
* Bibles State Wildlife Management Area
* Englund Ecotone Scientific and Natural Area
* Sartell State Wildlife Management Area
* Wisneski State Wildlife Management Area
{{div col end}}
<ref name=BCM/>

==Climate and weather==
{{climate chart
|[[Foley, Minnesota]]
|2|21|0.65
|7|27|0.62
|20|39|1.55
|33|56|2.57
|44|69|2.95
|54|78|4.17
|59|82|3.31
|56|80|3.79
|47|70|3.46
|35|57|2.49
|22|39|1.38
|7|25|0.82
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name=WX>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMN0266|title=Monthly Averages for Foley MN|access-date=November 6, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Foley have ranged from a low of {{convert|2|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|82|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-43|°F}} was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of {{convert|107|°F}} was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|0.62|in}} in February to {{convert|4.17|in}} in June.<ref name=WX/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 418
|1860= 627
|1870= 1558
|1880= 3012
|1890= 6284
|1900= 9912
|1910= 11615
|1920= 14073
|1930= 15056
|1940= 16106
|1950= 15911
|1960= 17287
|1970= 20841
|1980= 25187
|1990= 30185
|2000= 34226
|2010= 38451
|2020= 41379
|estyear=2024
|estimate=41881
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Benton County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web |title=P2 Hispanic Or Latino, And Not Hispanic Or Latino By Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Benton County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Benton%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |website=Census Bureau Data}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|White (NH)
|35,821
|86.6%
|-
|Black or African American (NH)
|1,991
|4.81%
|-
|Native American (NH)
|184
|0.44%
|-
|Asian (NH)
|463
|1.12%
|-
|Pacific Islander (NH)
|8
|0.02%
|-
|Other/Mixed (NH)
|1,696
|4.1%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino
|1,216
|2.94%
|}

===2000 census===
[[File:BentonCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Benton County, from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 34,226 people, 13,065 households, and 8,518 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|83.9|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 13,460 housing units at an average density of {{convert|33|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 96.22% White, 0.78% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 47.8% were of [[German people|German]], 12.1% [[Polish people|Polish]] and 8.8% [[norwegian people|Norwegian]] ancestry.

There were 13,065 households, out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 27.10% under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 18.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,968, and the median income for a family was $51,277. Males had a median income of $33,214 versus $22,737 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $19,008. About 4.50% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.30% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=24em}}
* [[Foley, Minnesota|Foley]] (county seat)
* [[Gilman, Minnesota|Gilman]]
* [[Rice, Minnesota|Rice]]
* [[Royalton, Minnesota|Royalton]] (partial)
* [[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. Cloud]] (partial)
* [[Sartell, Minnesota|Sartell]] (partial)
* [[Sauk Rapids, Minnesota|Sauk Rapids]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=16em}}
* [[Alberta Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Alberta]]
* [[Gilmanton Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Gilmanton]]
* [[Glendorado Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Glendorado]]
* [[Graham Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Graham]]
* [[Granite Ledge Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Granite Ledge]]
* [[Langola Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Langola]]
* [[Mayhew Lake Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Mayhew Lake]]
* [[Maywood Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Maywood]]
* [[Minden Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Minden]]
* [[St. George Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Saint George]]
* [[Sauk Rapids Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Sauk Rapids]]
* [[Watab Township, Benton County, Minnesota|Watab]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Ronneby, Minnesota|Ronneby]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Brennyville, Minnesota|Brennyville]]
* [[Duelm, Minnesota|Duelm]]
* [[Fruitville, Minnesota|Fruitville]]
* [[Glendorado, Minnesota|Glendorado]]
* [[Granite Ledge, Minnesota|Granite Ledge]]
* [[Jakeville, Minnesota|Jakeville]]
* [[Mayhew, Minnesota|Mayhew]]
* [[North Benton, Minnesota|North Benton]]
* [[Oak Park, Minnesota|Oak Park]]
* [[Parent, Minnesota|Parent]]
* [[Popple Creek, Minnesota|Popple Creek]]
* [[Rum River, Minnesota|Rum River]]
* [[Silver Corners, Minnesota|Silver Corners]]
* [[Watab, Minnesota|Watab]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* Estes Brook
* [[Minden, Minnesota|Minden]]<!-- Same as "Hobart"?-->
<ref name=BCM/>

==Government and politics==
Benton County voters have tended to vote [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] for the past few decades. In 2016 [[Donald Trump]] won the county with 64.2%, the highest share of the vote for any presidential candidate since [[Franklin Roosevelt|Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in 1932.<ref>{{cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331162945/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |archive-date=March 31, 2018 |access-date=April 17, 2018 |website=Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Benton County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|15,260|7,084|480|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,382|7,280|598|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|12,872|5,640|1,546|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,849|8,173|597|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,338|8,454|547|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,043|8,059|282|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|7,663|6,009|1,236|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|4,835|6,006|2,392|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,053|5,156|4,162|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|6,060|5,861|119|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,830|4,922|131|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,513|5,272|997|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,099|6,235|631|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,652|4,282|492|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|3,470|4,022|524|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,818|4,679|23|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,324|4,175|16|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,591|2,609|16|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,856|2,587|33|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,297|3,632|86|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,988|2,258|18|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,491|2,742|28|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,783|3,111|919|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,329|3,901|120|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|2,373|2,732|21|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,629|572|1,687|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,920|554|230|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,020|945|113|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|468|562|890|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,001|765|84|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,205|433|38|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|849|751|46|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|778|867|24|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Populist|426|577|659|Minnesota}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+County Board of Commissioners<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Board |url=https://www.co.benton.mn.us/381/County-Board |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125223808/https://www.co.benton.mn.us/381/County-Board |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=Benton County, MN}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!District
|-
|
|Commissioner and Chairperson
|Scott Johnson
|District 1
|-
|
|Commissioner
|Ed Popp
|District 2
|-
|
|Commissioner
|Steve Heinen
|District 3
|-
|
|Commissioner and Vice Chair
|Jared J. Gapinski
|District 4
|-
|
|Commissioner and Chairperson
|Beth Schlangen
|District 5
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+State Legislature (2022)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[Minnesota Senate|Senate]]
|[[Jeff Howe]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senator Jeff R. Howe (13, R) |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1239 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125224450/https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1239 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=MN State Senate |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 13
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|Senate
|[[Aric Putnam]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senator Aric Putnam (14, DFL) |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1249 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125224803/https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1249 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=MN State Senate |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democrat]]
|District 14
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|Senate
|[[Andrew Mathews (politician)|Andrew Mathews]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senator Andrew Mathews (27, R) |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1222 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125225042/https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1222 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=MN State Senate |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 15
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[Minnesota House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Tim O'Driscoll]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Tim O'Driscoll (13B) |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15364 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125225305/https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15364 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=Minnesota House of Representatives}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 13B
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|House of Representatives
|[[Dan Wolgamott]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Dan Wolgamott (14B) |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15499 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125225543/https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15499 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=Minnesota House of Representatives}}</ref>
|[[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democrat]]
|District 14B
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|House of Representatives
|[[Shane Mekeland]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Shane Mekeland (15B) |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15500 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125225920/https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15500 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=Minnesota House of Representatives}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 15B
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+U.S Congress (2022)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Tom Emmer]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congressman Tom Emmer|url=https://emmer.house.gov/home|access-date=June 25, 2020|website=Congressman Tom Emmer|language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Minnesota's 6th congressional district|6th]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Amy Klobuchar]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar |url=https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624031119/https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/ |archive-date=June 24, 2020 |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=klobuchar.senate.gov}}</ref>
|[[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democrat]]
|N/A
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Tina Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.smith.senate.gov/|access-date=June 24, 2020|website=Senator Tina Smith|language=en}}</ref>
|[[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democrat]]
|N/A
|}

==See also==
* [[Great River Regional Library]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Minnesota#Benton County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Benton County, Minnesota]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.benton.mn.us/ Benton County Government’s website]
* [[Minnesota DOT|Minnesota Department of Transportation]]'s official highway map of [https://web.archive.org/web/20120910162600/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/cadd/county/benton.pdf Benton County]
* [http://www.BentonFairMN.com/ Benton County Fair]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180521032307/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnbchsm/ Benton County Historical Society and Museum] (in Sauk Rapids)
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnsartel/ Sartell Historical Society]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnbenton/ MNGenUSGen Web Site for Benton County, Minnesota] - genealogy
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200429235332/https://sites.rootsweb.com/~mnbenton/webdoc9.htm Sauk Rapids and Benton County - Images of America Series] - approximately 200 vintage photographs
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090324223618/http://www.mustangmapping.com/img/maps/fullcolormaps/benton/bentoncounty.pdf Benton County Map]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Benton County, Minnesota
|North  = [[Morrison County, Minnesota|Morrison County]]
|East   = [[Mille Lacs County, Minnesota|Mille Lacs County]]
|South  = [[Sherburne County, Minnesota|Sherburne County]]
|West   = [[Stearns County, Minnesota|Stearns County]]
}}

{{Benton County, Minnesota}}
{{St. Cloud metropolitan area}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|45.70|-94.00|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Benton County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties]]
[[Category:St. Cloud, Minnesota metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:1850 establishments in Minnesota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1850]]