View source for Benson County, North Dakota

{{Short description|County in North Dakota, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county             = Benson County
 | state              = North Dakota
 | ex image           = Benson County Courthouse 2009.jpg
 | ex image size      = 300px
 | ex image cap       = The [[Benson County Courthouse]] in Minnewaukan
 | type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | flag               = 
 | seal               = 
 | logo               = 
 | coordinates        = {{Coord|48.071743|-99.351152|region:US-ND_type:county|display=inline,title}}
 | founded            = March 9, 1883 (created)<br />June 4, 1884 (organized)
 | named for          = [[Bertil W. Benson]]
 | seat wl            = Minnewaukan
 | largest city wl    = Fort Totten
 | city type          = community
 | area_total_sq_mi   = 1439.396
 | area_land_sq_mi    = 1388.555
 | area_water_sq_mi   = 50.841
 | area percentage    = 3.53%
 | population_as_of   = 2020
 | population_total   = 5964
 | pop_est_as_of      = 2024
 | population_est     = 5756 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi      = 4.147
 | time zone          = Central
 | area codes         = [[Area code 701|701]]
 | district           = At-large
 | website            = {{URL|https://www.bensoncountynd.com/|bensoncountynd.com}}
 | footnote           = 
}}

'''Benson County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Dakota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 5,964,<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Benson_County,_North_Dakota?g=050XX00US38005 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> and was estimated to be 5,756 in 2024.<ref name="QF"/> The [[county seat]] is [[Minnewaukan, North Dakota|Minnewaukan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Find a County |url=https://ce.naco.org/?find=true |publisher=[[National Association of Counties]] |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref>

==History==
The county was created on March 9, 1883<ref>{{cite web|title=County History |url=https://www.nd.gov/government/state-government/county-history |website=www.nd.gov |publisher=State of North Dakota |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> by the [[Dakota Territory]] legislature, and was named for [[Bertil W. Benson]], a [[Dakota Territory]] legislator at the time. The county government was organized on June 4, 1884, and its boundary lines were altered by two legislative actions in 1885.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies |url=https://publications.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |website=publications.newberry.org |publisher=The [[Newberry Library]] |date=2006 |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref>

The [[White Horse Hill National Game Preserve]] and much of the [[Spirit Lake Tribe|Spirit Lake Indian Reservation]] is in the county.

==Geography==
Much of the east boundary line of Benson County is delineated by the shore of [[Devils Lake (North Dakota)|Devils Lake]], a closed-capture lake which in an overflow condition spills into the [[Sheyenne River]]. The North Fork [[Sheyenne River|Sheyenne]] River flows southeasterly through the lower southwestern portion of the county.

The terrain of Benson County consists of rolling hills dotted with lakes, ponds and drainages.<ref name="BCND">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Benson+County,+ND/@48.1839657,-99.738354,88298m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x52db69787de88d97:0x848e6fb228454fb5!8m2!3d48.088634!4d-99.4648442 ''Benson County ND''  Google Maps (accessed February 13, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east, and its highest point is on the lower portion of its west boundary line, at {{convert|1,624|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web|title="Find an Altitude" Google Maps - Benson County ND (accessed February 13, 2019) |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1439.396|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1388.555|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|50.841|sqmi}} (3.53%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 County Gazetteer Files – North Dakota|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_counties_38.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> It is the 19th largest county in North Dakota by total area.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Benson County, North Dakota |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/geo/chart/bensoncountynorthdakota/LND110220 |website=www.census.gov |access-date=March 29, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Towner County, North Dakota|Towner County]] – north
* [[Ramsey County, North Dakota|Ramsey County]] – northeast
* [[Nelson County, North Dakota|Nelson County]] – east
* [[Eddy County, North Dakota|Eddy County]] – southeast
* [[Wells County, North Dakota|Wells County]] – southwest
* [[Pierce County, North Dakota|Pierce County]] – west
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Image:US 2.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 2 in North Dakota|U.S. Highway 2]]
* [[Image:US 281.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 281 in North Dakota|U.S. Highway 281]]
* [[Image:ND-19 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 19]]
* [[Image:ND-20 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 20]]
* [[Image:ND-57 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 57]]
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Devils Lake State Parks (North Dakota)|Grahams Island State Park]] (part)
* [[Pleasant Lake National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Silver Lake National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[White Horse Hill National Game Preserve]]
* Volk National Wildlife Refuge<ref name=BCND/>
* [[Wood Lake National Wildlife Refuge]]
* Wurgler National Wildlife Refuge<ref name=BCND/>
{{div col end}}

===Lakes===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* Broken Bone Lake
* Cranberry Lake
* Free Peoples Lake
* Horseshoe Lake
* Lake Murie
* Lake Yri
* Long Lake
* Sand Lake
* Shin Bone Lake
* Spring Lake
* Stink Lake
* Stony Lake
* Wood Lake
{{div col end}}
<ref name=BCND/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 2460
|1900= 8320
|1910= 12681
|1920= 13095
|1930= 13327
|1940= 12629
|1950= 10675
|1960= 9435
|1970= 8245
|1980= 7944
|1990= 7198
|2000= 6964
|2010= 6660
|2020= 5964
|estyear=2024
|estimate=5756
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014}}</ref><br>1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |publisher=University of Virginia Library |url-status=live |date=2007 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212224028/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|last=Forstall |first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nd190090.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=live |date=April 20, 1995 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219135447/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nd190090.txt |archive-date=February 19, 1999}}</ref><br>1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014 |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}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Benson County was $88,049.<ref>{{Cite web|title=County Median Home Price|url=https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/county-median-home-prices-and-monthly-mortgage-payment|publisher=[[National Association of Realtors]]|access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> As of the 2023 [[American Community Survey]], there are 1,922 estimated households in Benson County with an average of 3.04 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $68,049. Approximately 22.7% of the county's population lives at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]]. Benson County has an estimated 52.2% employment rate, with 22.1% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 88.5% holding a high school diploma.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Benson County, North Dakota |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bensoncountynorthdakota/PST045224 |access-date=March 29, 2025 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (91.9%), Spanish (1.1%), Indo-European (0.6%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.6%), and Other (5.8%). The median age in the county was 32.4 years.

'''Benson County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 1980<ref name=1980CensusScope>{{Cite web|title=Benson County, North Dakota — Population by Race |url=https://censusscope.org/us/s38/c5/chart_race.html |publisher=CensusScope |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> !! Pop. 1990<ref name=1990CensusScope>{{Cite web|title=Benson County, North Dakota — Population by Race |url=https://censusscope.org/us/s38/c5/chart_race.html |publisher=CensusScope |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> !! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Benson County, North Dakota |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=050XX00US38005 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> !! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Benson County, North Dakota |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US38005&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> !! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Benson County, North Dakota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US38005&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 5,606<br>(70.57%) || 4,408<br>(61.24%) || 3,533<br>(50.73%) || 2,861<br>(42.96%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |2,532<br>(42.45%)
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 1<br>(0.01%) || 0<br>(0.00%) || 7<br>(0.10%) || 1<br>(0.02%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |2<br>(0.03%)
|- style='background: #F4A460;
| '''[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)'''
| '''2,309<br>(29.07%)''' || '''2,760<br>(38.34%)''' || '''3,312<br>(47.56%)''' || '''3,631<br>(54.52%)''' || '''3,190<br>(53.49%)'''
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 1<br>(0.01%) || 3<br>(0.04%) || 1<br>(0.01%) || 3<br>(0.05%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |7<br>(0.12%)
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| — || — || 1<br>(0.01%) || 1<br>(0.02%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |0<br>(0.00%)
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 0<br>(0.00%) || 3<br>(0.04%) || 0<br>(0.00%) || 0<br>(0.00%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |1<br>(0.02%)
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| — || — || 55<br>(0.79%) || 86<br>(1.29%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |143<br>(2.40%)
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 27<br>(0.34%) || 24<br>(0.33%) || 55<br>(0.79%) || 77<br>(1.16%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |89<br>(1.49%)
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''7,944<br>(100.00%)''' || '''7,198<br>(100.00%)''' || '''6,964<br>(100.00%)''' || '''6,660<br>(100.00%)''' || style='background: #ffffe6; |'''5,964<br>(100.00%)'''
|}

===2024 estimate===
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 5,756 people and 1,922 households residing in the county. There were 2,549 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.84|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 43.7% White ''(43.2% NH White)'', 0.5% African American, '''{{font color|#8B4513|52.8% Native American}}''', 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.0% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-detail.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |website=www.census.gov |access-date=May 13, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 5,964 people, 2,015 households, and 1,364 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Benson%20County,%20North%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 29, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|4.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,542 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 42.62% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.12% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], '''{{font color|#8B4513|53.92%}}''' '''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|{{font color|#8B4513|Native American}}]]''', 0.12% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.34% from some other races and 2.85% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 1.49% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Benson County, North Dakota |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/benson-county-north-dakota/050-38005/ |access-date=March 29, 2025 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 6,660 people, 2,233 households, and 1,628 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|4.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,950 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 43.38% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.02% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], '''{{font color|#8B4513|55.00%}}''' '''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|{{font color|#8B4513|Native American}}]]''', 0.05% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.15% from some other races and 1.40% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 1.16% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.0% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 18.0% were [[Germans|German]], 5.0% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 0.6% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 2,233 households, 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 20.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.1% were non-families, and 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.46. The median age was 31.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,479 and the median income for a family was $34,597. Males had a median income of $31,729 versus $25,253 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,545. About 26.1% of families and 35.6% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 48.3% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

===Population by decade===
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==Communities==
Cities and CDPs have population included as of 2020, and townships have the population as of 2020. The largest community by far is Fort Totten, followed by Leeds, Maddock and the county seat, Minnewaukan. There are nine cities in the county. The largest township by a 60% margin is Mission (935), which is on the south shore of Devils Lake and is popular for vacationing, as well as gambling at the Spirit Lake Casino and Resort. It is within the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation. It is followed by Wood Lake Township (471), immediately to the south of Mission Township and also included in the reservation. The third largest is Lallie Township (325), to the west of Fort Totten on the south shore of Devils Lake and within the reservation.

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Brinsmade, North Dakota|Brinsmade]]
* [[Esmond, North Dakota|Esmond]]
* [[Knox, North Dakota|Knox]]
* [[Leeds, North Dakota|Leeds]]
* [[Maddock, North Dakota|Maddock]]
* [[Minnewaukan, North Dakota|Minnewaukan]] (county seat)
* [[Oberon, North Dakota|Oberon]]
* [[Warwick, North Dakota|Warwick]]
* [[York, North Dakota|York]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Fort Totten, North Dakota|Fort Totten]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Baker, North Dakota|Baker]]
* [[Fillmore, North Dakota|Fillmore]]
* [[Flora, North Dakota|Flora]]
* [[Harlow, North Dakota|Harlow]]
* [[Hesper, North Dakota|Hesper]]
* [[Isabel, North Dakota|Isabel]]
* [[Josephine, North Dakota|Josephine]]
* [[Lallie, North Dakota|Lallie]]
* [[Niles, North Dakota|Niles]]
* [[Pleasant Lake, North Dakota|Pleasant Lake]]
* [[Saint Michael, North Dakota|Saint Michael]]
* [[Tokio, North Dakota|Tokio]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Albert Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Albert]]
* [[Arne Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Arne]]
* [[Aurora Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Aurora]]
* [[Beaver Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Beaver]]
* [[Broe Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Broe]]
* [[Butte Valley Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Butte Valley]]
* [[East Fork Township, Benson County, North Dakota|East Fork]]
* [[Eldon Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Eldon]]
* [[Esmond Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Esmond]]
* [[Hesper Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Hesper]]
* [[Impark Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Impark]]
* [[Iowa Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Iowa]]
* [[Irvine Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Irvine]]
* [[Isabel Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Isabel]]
* [[Knox Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Knox]]
* [[Lake Ibsen Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Lake Ibsen]]
* [[Lallie Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Lallie]]
* [[Leeds Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Leeds]]
* [[Lohnes Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Lohnes]]
* [[McClellan Township, Benson County, North Dakota|McClellan]]
* [[Minco Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Minco]]
* [[Mission Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Mission]]
* [[Normania Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Normania]]
* [[North Viking Township, Benson County, North Dakota|North Viking]]
* [[Oberon Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Oberon]]
* [[Pleasant Lake Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Pleasant Lake]]
* [[Rich Valley Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Rich Valley]]
* [[Riggin Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Riggin]]
* [[Rock Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Rock]]
* [[South Viking Township, Benson County, North Dakota|South Viking]]
* [[Twin Lake Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Twin Lake]]
* [[Twin Tree Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Twin Tree]]
* [[Warwick Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Warwick]]
* [[West Antelope Township, Benson County, North Dakota|West Antelope]]
* [[West Bay Township, Benson County, North Dakota|West Bay]]
* [[Wood Lake Township, Benson County, North Dakota|Wood Lake]]
* [[York Township, Benson County, North Dakota|York]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Typical of many counties in the state where a significant share of the population is Native American, Benson County used to lean [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] in presidential elections. Prior to 2020, no [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate had won the majority of the county's votes since [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984. However, [[George W. Bush]] in 2000 & [[Donald Trump]] in 2016 both won a plurality of the county's votes. In 2020, Trump won a majority of the county's votes, gaining nearly 56% of the county's votes, and in 2024 he further increased his vote share, gaining over 58% of the votes.
{{PresHead|place=Benson County, North Dakota|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=November 10, 2024|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,084|319|33|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,111|143|44|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,363|553|94|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|515|594|862|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,210|922|138|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,540|680|145|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|1,870|246|2,040|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,621|2,194|57|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,170|3,650|97|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,020|3,343|1,000|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,485|2,898|37|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,726|2,261|23|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,920|2,216|195|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,192|1,353|39|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,340|1,851|12|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,259|2,181|3|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,489|2,566|5|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,707|1,772|164|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,050|1,635|36|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,689|1,973|63|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,149|1,119|319|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,729|1,599|35|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,316|1,691|24|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|874|1,126|625|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|850|1,059|263|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,055|952|147|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|1,002|1,196|48|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|773|1,569|32|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|868|1,235|54|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|929|842|240|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,094|822|45|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,163|795|44|North Dakota}}
{{PresFoot}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Benson County, ND |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st38_nd/schooldistrict_maps/c38005_benson/DC20SD_C38005.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813225851/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st38_nd/schooldistrict_maps/c38005_benson/DC20SD_C38005.pdf |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |access-date=July 23, 2022 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st38_nd/schooldistrict_maps/c38005_benson/DC20SD_C38005_SD2MS.txt Text], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st38_nd/c38005_benson/DC10SD_C38005_001.pdf 2010 map], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st38_nd/c38005_benson/DC10SD_C38005_SD2MS.txt 2010 text list]</ref>

K-12:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*  Dakota Prairie Public School District 1
* [[Devils Lake Public School District 1]]
* [[Fort Totten Public School District 30]]
*  Harvey Public School District 38
* [[Leeds Public School District 6]]
*  Maddock Public School District 9
*  Minnewaukan Public School District 5
*  New Rockford-Sheyenne Public School District 2
* [[North Star School District]]
* [[Rugby Public School District 5]]
* [[Warwick Public Schools (North Dakota)|Warwick Public School District 29]]
{{div col end}}

Elementary districts:
* [[Oberon Public School District 16]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in North Dakota#Benson County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Benson County, North Dakota]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://bensoncountynd.com Benson County– official website]
* Benson County maps, [https://dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/Benson_sheet1.pdf Sheet 1] (eastern) and [https://dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/Benson_sheet2.pdf Sheet 2] (western), ''North Dakota DOT''

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Benson County, North Dakota
|North     = [[Towner County, North Dakota|Towner County]]
|Northeast = [[Ramsey County, North Dakota|Ramsey County]]
|East      = [[Nelson County, North Dakota|Nelson County]]
|Southeast = [[Eddy County, North Dakota|Eddy County]]
|Southwest = [[Wells County, North Dakota|Wells County]]
|West      = [[Pierce County, North Dakota|Pierce County]]
}}

{{Benson County, North Dakota}}
{{North Dakota}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Benson County, North Dakota| ]]
[[Category:1884 establishments in Dakota Territory]]