Benson, Iowa
Unincorporated community
Benson, Iowa is located in Iowa
Benson, Iowa
Benson, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°32′32″N 92°32′31″W / 42.54222°N 92.54194°W / 42.54222; -92.54194
CountryUnited States
StateIowa
CountyBlack Hawk
Elevation
906[1] ft (276[1] m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
GNIS feature ID464458[1]

Benson was an unincorporated community in Black Hawk County, in the U.S. state of Iowa.

Geography

Benson was located at 42°32′32″N 92°32′31″W / 42.54222°N 92.54194°W / 42.54222; -92.54194,[1] in Cedar Falls Township.

History

Benson in Black Hawk County, Iowa, in 1903

Benson was founded on the Illinois Central Railroad in Cedar Falls Township. In the early 20th century, Benson was home to a blacksmith shop, a general store, and a dairy.[2] Around this time, Benson was described as a "very small village" in The History of Black Hawk County, Iowa. The Benson school (#2 in the township) had two teachers.[3]

Benson's population was 25 in 1900.[4]

The community also had a lumber yard and a coal dealer. In 1906, the rail line at Benson was abandoned in favor of another Illinois Central Rail route, causing the closure of the depot in Benson. Despite a $15,000 lawsuit filed by three Benson businesses (citizens Lumber Company, S.C. Canfield Coal company, and Lee Canfield general merchandise), representatives from the Illinois Central Railroad maintained that business was not sufficient to keep the depot in operation.[5]

The population of Benson was 35 in 1920,[6] and in 1940 was 25.[7]

See also

Voorhies, Iowa

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Geographic Names Information System". edits.nationalmap.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Iowa State Gazetteer and Business Directory. R.L. Polk & Company. 1918.
  3. ^ Hartman, John C. (1915). History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and Its People, Volume 1. S. J. Clarke publishing Company. pp. 307, 316. ISBN 978-5-87894-535-6.
  4. ^ Cram's Modern Atlas: The New Unrivaled New Census Edition. J. R. Gray & Company. 1902. pp. 203–207.
  5. ^ Assembly, Iowa General (1906). Legislative Documents Submitted to the ... General Assembly of the State of Iowa. p. 265.
  6. ^ Company, Rand McNally and (1925). Premier Atlas of the World: Containing Maps of All Countries of the World, with the Most Recent Boundary Decisions, and Maps of All the States, Territories, and Possessions of the United States with Population Figures from the Latest Official Census Reports, Also Data of Interest Concerning International and Domestic Political Questions. Rand McNally & Company. pp. 188–190.
  7. ^ The Attorneys List. United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Attorney List Department. 1940. p. 293.


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