Boppin' Around Benson, AZ | Solo Female Traveler Car Camping in the Arizona Desert
3,937
Published 2024-03-20
Benson, Arizona
Elevation: 3,586′
The City of Benson, Arizona has an elevation of 3,585 and with a current population of 5,355, is the third largest municipality in Cochise County. Benson is located approximately 45 miles southeast of Tucson, along Interstate 10, SR80, SR90, and the main line of Union Pacific Railroad.
Coordinates: 31°57′20″N 110°18′24″W
Country United States
State Arizona
County Cochise
Founded 1880
Government
• Type Council-manager
• Mayor Joe A. Konrad
• City Manager Vicki L. Vivian
Area[1]
• Total 41.69 sq mi (107.97 km2)
• Land 41.64 sq mi (107.84 km2)
• Water 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation 3,586 ft (1,093 m)
Population (2020)
• Total 5,355
• Density 130/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (MST (no daylight saving time))
ZIP code
85602
Area code 520
FIPS code 04-05770
GNIS ID 1248
Website bensonaz.gov
Benson is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 5,105.[2] It was founded as a rail terminal for the area, and located approximately 45 miles (72 km) east-southeast of the city of Tucson.
History
The city was founded in 1880 when the Southern Pacific Railroad came through. It was named after Judge William S. Benson, a friend of Charles Crocker, president of the Southern Pacific.[3] The railroad, coming overland from California, chose the Benson site to cross the San Pedro River. Benson then served as a rail junction point to obtain ore and refined metal by wagon, in turn shipping rail freight back to the mines at Tombstone, Fairbank, Contention City and Bisbee. For example, the railhead in Benson was about 25 miles (40 km) from Tombstone, and was the closest rail connection to it until 1882, when a feeder line was laid from Benson to Contention City.
The railhead in Benson was founded about a mile from a traditional crossing of the upper San Pedro River (known also as the Middle Crossing), used by the Southern Emigrant Trail and San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line. It was the site of the San Pedro Station of the Butterfield Overland Mail and a wagon depot, the San Pedro River Station, run since 1871 by William Ohnesorgen. In 1878 he had erected a toll bridge over which mining supplies were transported to the new mining camps such as Fairbank and Tombstone. Two years later this bridge marked the location of the railroad bridge that became the terminal site of Benson.
Apache Nitrogen Products (originally Apache Powder Company) was formed in the 1920s. It was located just outside Benson and was a major employer. Apache Park and nine nearby houses on West 6th Street in Benson, built to house company management, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 as the Apache Powder Historic Residential District.[4]
The city today is perhaps best known as the gateway to Kartchner Caverns State Park. It is also home to the acclaimed Singing Wind Bookshop, which specializes in books about the Southwest.[5][6][7]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Benson has a total area of 41.5 square miles (107.4 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.12%, is water.[8]
Climate
Similar to other desert plains areas of Arizona, Benson receives little rainfall and is relatively hot. Some snow occasionally falls in the winter. There is a high degree of diurnal temperature variation, especially in transitional months such as October.
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All Comments (21)
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Comment if you actually watched this to the end! I'm curious...
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I stayed in Benson about 10 days, 5 years ago. Nice town. Had many good times at the Arena bar.
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You look good in it. Bigger is better for sure. Picked up some xl thermals that actually fit me good. 1 st time watching from Reno
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Enjoyed all!! See ya on the next
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Always enjoy watching Invicta and the Teddy Bear outfit looks cool. A 3 hour Doordash video, like one if those ASMR Sleep videos is only another one of my suggestions, as it may eliminate boredom and another art form. Adventures Of Doordashing. That sounds exciting and people would probably fall asleep within 10 minutes.
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That's one thing that make birthdays fun, treating yourself. It takes a special kind of person to live in the desert, if you ask me. Benson seems like a fine place to stop and get some gas and a snack. I guess its a ranching community judging by the murals. And is there another video where you explain your life circumstance some, why your doing this ? I myself would camp where other cars frequent, maybe at a motel, Wal's, truck stop, campground or ?...but that's just me. "It takes a lot to laugh....it takes a train to cry"....take care !!
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Benson Arizona is cool and i enjoyed your video 🌼
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I LIVED IN BENSON FOR 20 YEARS AND I HAD TO MOVE BUT I STILL MISS BENSON I LIKE IT THERE
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I used to live in Benson, AZ in 2011. Back then Dickies used to be a Jack in the Box. Arizona is just one of those places that draws me back.
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Sometimes we need days when we just do and accomplish absolutely nothing and it's ok and we deserve it 💛
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I haven't been to Benson in ages! Everything is so peaceful there!
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Happy belated birthday 😊
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I have been working on a novel since 2015 too. Yeah, I'm working on the second paragraph right now.
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Lived there a year..it was enuff
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Check your local hardware stores. Lowes and Home depot. Spring is their busy time. You could get a seasonal job usually until July. I know Lowes paid pretty well because I worked there many years. Maybe get an added perk by having them allow you to stay there.:face-red-heart-shape:
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you need to put that cowboy hat back on.
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I believe there's a hunted hotel/museum in Douglas AZ not far from you. You'd get a viwes.
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