Benson, Arizona
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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 Template:Convert east-southeast of the city of Tucson.
History
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 Template:Convert 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.
Apache Nitrogen Products (originally Apache Powder Company) was formed in the 1920s. It was located just outside Benson and was a major employer. Apache Park and nine nearby houses on West 6th Street in Benson, built to house company management, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 as the Apache Powder Historic Residential District.<ref name="ndoc">Template:Cite web With Template:NRHP url</ref>
The city today is perhaps best known as the gateway to Kartchner Caverns State Park. It is also home to the acclaimed Singing Wind Bookshop, which specializes in books about the Southwest.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, Benson has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.12%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref>
Climate
[edit]Similar to other desert plains areas of Arizona, Benson receives little rainfall and is relatively hot. Some snow occasionally falls in the winter. There is a high degree of diurnal temperature variation, especially in transitional months such as October.
Demographics
[edit]Template:US Census population Benson first appeared on the 1890 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It did not appear on the 1900 census.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It reappeared again in 1910.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It did not return separately (as a village) in 1920, but the population for the Benson Precinct of Cochise County (825) was substituted (which included the village of Benson and adjacent area).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It formally incorporated as a town in 1924 and has returned on every census since 1930.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On March 26, 1985, voters approved a resolution upgrading Benson to city status.<ref>"Benson OKs City Status", March 28, 1985, Page 17, of the Arizona Republic: https://azcentral.newspapers.com/image/120138591/?terms=%22benson%22</ref>
As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 4,711 people, 2,084 households, and 1,346 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,822 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 89.3% White or European American, 1.3% Native American, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.7% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 19.9% of the population.
There were 2,084 households, out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the city, the population was 19.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,289, and the median income for a family was $36,364. Males had a median income of $34,013 versus $18,964 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,315. About 6.2% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
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The World University was located in Benson.
The Benson Unified School District is a K-12 public school serving the Benson area. Their mascot is the Benson Bobcat.
Cochise College has a branch located on Route 90.
Infrastructure
[edit]Transportation
[edit]Benson Airport is located Template:Convert northwest of the city center.
Interstate 10 serves the city with four exits; the highway leads northwest Template:Convert to Tucson and northeast Template:Convert to Willcox. Arizona State Route 80 leads southeast Template:Convert to Tombstone, and Arizona State Route 90 leads south Template:Convert to Sierra Vista.
Amtrak provides passenger rail service at 105 E. 4th Street, where it serves as a stop for the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle lines (as of 2024).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Freight railroads serving Benson are the Union Pacific Railroad and the San Pedro and Southwestern Railroad. Benson is also served by Greyhound between Phoenix and El Paso or Sierra Vista.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Benson Area Transit (BAT) is a bus service that covers Benson, St. David, Pomerene and Mescal.
Notable people
[edit]- Baxter Black, cowboy, poet, philosopher and former large-animal veterinarian
- Lupe Diaz, politician, Arizona House of Representatives (2021–present)
- Chad Curtis, former professional baseball player convicted of sexual assault
- Nick Gomez, actor
- Mitch Hoopes, formed NFL punter
- Harry Partch, composer, music theorist, and creator of musical instruments
- Nick Ramus, actor
- Jack Speiden, stockbroker and ranch owner
- Chuck Stevenson, racecar driver
In popular culture
[edit]- This city was one of the filming locations for Paramount's 1994 film Pontiac Moon.Template:Citation needed
- "Benson, Arizona" is the name of the theme song to the 1974 movie Dark Star. Dark Star Road in Benson is named in honor of the film.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- In a tip of the hat to Dark Star, the Avengers crossover story Operation: Galactic Storm commences here.Template:Citation needed
- The Spiritual Conference for Radical Fairies was held August 31–2 September 2, 1979, at the Sri Ram Ashram in Benson, the foundational event that began the Radical Faeries community.Template:Citation needed
- Rage, with George C. Scott, was filmed at the then-new Benson Hospital.Template:Citation needed
- "Benson Hedges" by the American band Fun, references the lead singer and his existential crisis in Benson.Template:Citation needed
- This city was one of the filming locations for the 2005 film Miracle at Sage Creek.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:Wikivoyage Template:Commons category
Template:Cochise County, Arizona Template:Cochise County Conflict Template:Authority control