Benson, Illinois

Benson
Location of Benson in Woodford County, Illinois.
Coordinates: 40°51′03″N 89°07′16″W / 40.85083°N 89.12111°W / 40.85083; -89.12111
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyWoodford
Area
 • Total
0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
 • Land0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
764 ft (233 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
412
 • Density2,522.2/sq mi (973.81/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip code
61516
Area code309
FIPS code17-05261
GNIS feature ID2398096
Websitewww.villageofbenson.com

Benson is a village in Woodford County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, Benson had a population of 412. It is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The village was established in 1874 with the construction of the Chicago, Pekin and Southwestern Railroad. The town was named after S.H. Benson of Streator, Illinois, the railroad's general freight manager. The grid layout of the town is aligned to the line of the former railroad, rather than the usual north-south orientation. A post office was established in 1873.

The Benson Water Tower was replaced with a modern water tower in the 1980s and has since been demolished.