Benson, Arizona is located in the heart of historic Southern Arizona. Long known for its incredibly good weather, the town of Benson is an ideal “home port” from which to sample and experience the very best of the American West
Benson enjoys the benefits of being directly on an interstate highway and offers services and accommodations to many travelers as well as having a large winter population of retired people who enjoy the moderate climate and the friendly small town atmosphere.
The City of Benson is a growing community with a population of nearly 5,000 and a Trade Area of approximately 20,000. It is a community that offers the warmth and friendliness of a small town while at the same time providing quality education, medical, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Its close proximity to the Tucson, Arizona metropolitan area makes a wide range of specialized services available to the residents of Benson.
The City of Benson was incorporated in 1924, approximately 40 years after the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad through southeastern Arizona. Benson was named for Judge William B. Benson of California, a friend of the president of the railroad.
In the early 1900’s, the community grew along with the demand for copper and silver. These metals were mined in the San Pedro Valley and shipped to Benson for smelting and distribution via the railroad.
The railroad established Benson as a transportation hub and it remains a transportation hub to this day. In the early days of the automobile, it was an important stop along the region’s new east-west highway. Today, it provides important services to travellers on Interstate 10 (I-10) and functions as a gateway for tourists visiting southeastern Arizona.