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Benson,
North Carolina lies within the
Raleigh -
Cary metropolitan area in
Johnston County, where the
Piedmont Region meets the
Coastal Plain. The town, which takes its name in
honor of landowner M.C. Benson, covers 2.1 square
miles. Benson was home to nearly 3,000 residents at
the time of the
2000 Census.
Benson, NC sits at the convergence of
Interstates 40 and 95 in central North Carolina.
Raleigh, the historic capital city of NC, as
well as
Fayetteville and the renowned
Research Triangle Park, are all within a
one-hour drive. The country’s largest military
installation,
Fort Bragg, is in Fayetteville. The beaches of
the
Atlantic Ocean and the
Blue Ridge and
Smoky Mountains are also nearby.
The
Johnston County region abounds with cultural and
recreational activities suitable for the whole
family. Popular destinations include Atkinsons Mill,
Benson Museum of Local History,
Clemmons Educational State Forest,
Johnston County Heritage Center and the
Tobacco Farm Life Museum. Another interesting
site is the Bentonville Battleground State Historic
Site, which was the locale of the 1865
Civil War battle. In addition, the Ava Gardner
Museum honors the life and works of one-time
resident of the area,
Ava Gardner.
Several community
celebrations such as Fall Fest and
Mule Days bring residents and visitors together
annually. Benson Mule Days remains the largest
celebration in Johnston County and the oldest in NC.
The Mule Days celebration kicks off on the 4th
Saturday in September with a lively concert at the
Benson Singing Grove in downtown Benson, NC. The
weekend festivities include arts and crafts,
bluegrass shows, carnival rides, a mule pulling
contest, a parade and rodeos. Mule Days attracts
more than 50,000 people to its family friendly
activities each year.
Benson, North
Carolina features a temperate climate and rich soil
- the ideal atmosphere for a thriving agricultural
industry. Benson and the Johnston County area serve
as a significant source of cattle, corn, cucumbers,
hogs, poultry, soybeans and sweet potatoes. More
than twenty percent of Johnston County’s workforce
concentrates in the manufacturing sector. Local
manufacturing companies providing employment
opportunities include
Caterpillar,
Eaton Corporation and
Novo Nordisk. Many residents also find addition
sources of work by commuting to surrounding areas
such as
Wake County.
Johnston Community College is the only higher
learning facility within the county. Johnston
Community College, located on a 100-acre campus in
Smithfield, affords residents access to
associate degree programs and other specialty
training courses. Wake County also serves as an
important resource for higher education. Wake County
is home to
North
Carolina State University (NCSU),
Peace College and
Shaw University. The
Piedmont Triad Region, as a whole, is home to
more than 50 post-secondary institutions. Fifteen
percent of Benson, NC residents over the age of 25
earned a bachelor's or advanced college degree.
Benson,
North Carolina features a close-knit community
with a low rate of crime and an affordable cost of
living. This unassuming town affords a slower paced
lifestyle with the amenities of
Fayetteville,
Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park just an
hour away. Its delightful scenic backdrop and
temperate climate poise Benson as an ideal vacation
destination and an enviable place to call home. |
