Benson County is named for Bertil W Benson, a Valley City merchant and land dealer who served in the House of Representatives.
Created: March 9, 1883
County Seat:
Minnewaukan 1884 – present
County Courthouse – Minnewaukan
Location: 311 B Avenue South / 3rd Street East
Built: 1900 – 1901
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque
Architect: W G Russell of Grand Forks
Contractor: D H Lord & Company
Description: The building faces north and is a two story brown colored brick and stone structure. The building is located on spacious grounds in the center of the city The building has a course stone base. On the north side is square brick tower with a large arched window on the second story and topped by parapet, pyramidal roof a white colored wood cupola.
Note: The first courthouse was located in the Arlington Hotel and then a one story courthouse was built in 1888. The cost of construction of the present courthouse was $40,000.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Benson County Courthouse
Courthouses:
N – Pierce County and Towner County
E – Ramsey County and Nelson County
S – Eddy County and Wells County
W – Pierce County
County Courthouse
Photos taken 2007 and 2009