Benton County is a county in Minnesota, United States, in the east-central part of the state, straddling the Mississippi River between St. Cloud and Little Falls. It had a population of 41,379 at the 2020 census and covers 413 square miles (1,070 km2) centred near 45°42′N 94°00′W.
Foley is the county seat, and its postal code is 56329. The county holds parts or all of 7 incorporated cities, 12 townships, one census-designated place and about a dozen smaller unincorporated communities and mobile-home-park subdivisions. Benton County observes Central time and carries FIPS code 27009.
Towns & Villages in Benton County
Benton County lists 27 named places: 7 cities (three of them shared with a neighboring county), one CDP, and 19 unincorporated communities and platted mobile-home-park subdivisions. City rows are labelled “City · seat” or “City”; the CDP is labelled “CDP”; everything else is “Unincorp.” Royalton, Sartell and St. Cloud each extend into Benton County but have most of their population and their post office in a neighboring county.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foley | City · seat | — | — | 56329 |
| Sauk Rapids | City | — | — | 56379 |
| Rice | City | — | — | 56367 |
| Gilman | City | — | — | 56333 |
| Sartell (partial) | City | — | — | — |
| St. Cloud (partial) | City | — | — | — |
| Royalton (partial) | City | — | — | — |
| Ronneby | CDP | — | — | — |
| Brennyville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Duelm | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Fruitville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Glendorado | Unincorp. | Glendorado | — | — |
| Granite Ledge | Unincorp. | Granite Ledge | — | — |
| Jakeville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mayhew | Unincorp. | Mayhew Lake | — | — |
| North Benton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Oak Park | Unincorp. | — | — | 56357 |
| Parent | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Popple Creek | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Watab | Unincorp. | Watab | — | — |
| Evergreen Village | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Fischers Garden Mobile Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Foley MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Foley MH Park South | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Glen Oaks MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rockwood Estates | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sherwood Manor | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Sauk Rapids is the county’s largest city and sits directly across the Mississippi River from St. Cloud, whose own city limits reach a short distance into Benton County’s southwest corner alongside a slice of Sartell. Royalton, in the county’s northwest, has most of its streets and its post office across the line in Morrison County.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | — | rural |
| Gilmanton | — | rural |
| Glendorado | — | Glendorado |
| Graham | — | rural |
| Granite Ledge | — | Granite Ledge |
| Langola | — | rural |
| Mayhew Lake | — | Mayhew |
| Maywood | — | rural |
| Minden | — | rural (Minden ghost town site) |
| Saint George | — | rural |
| Sauk Rapids | — | rural land surrounding the city |
| Watab | — | Watab |
ZIP Codes
- 56329 — Foley
- 56333 — Gilman (PO Box only)
- 56357 — Oak Park
- 56367 — Rice
- 56379 — Sauk Rapids
St. Cloud, Sartell and Royalton addresses inside Benton County use the ZIP codes assigned to those cities’ post offices, which sit outside the county line, and the county’s smaller unincorporated communities and mobile-home-park subdivisions share the ZIP of their nearest post office town.
Geography
Benton County covers 408 square miles of land and 4.8 square miles (1.2%) of water. The Mississippi River forms much of the county’s southern and southwestern edge, flowing past Sauk Rapids, Sartell and St. Cloud before continuing toward Minneapolis-St. Paul. The Platte River and several smaller creeks drain the county’s rolling, glacially formed farmland and woodlots in the north and east.
Benton County borders Morrison County to the north, Mille Lacs County to the east, Sherburne County to the south, and Stearns County to the west.
Demographics
Benton County had 41,379 residents at the 2020 census, up from earlier counts as the St. Cloud metro area has expanded eastward across the Mississippi. Sauk Rapids and Foley, the county seat, are its two largest communities. Benton County’s median household income runs below the Minnesota median of $85,086, reflecting a mix of manufacturing and agricultural wages outside the higher-earning St. Cloud core. At 413 square miles, the county’s overall population density is about 100 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing, healthcare and retail trade anchor Benton County’s economy, much of it tied to the adjoining St. Cloud metropolitan area across the Mississippi River. Sauk Rapids carries a retail and light-industrial base along the U.S. 10 corridor, while Foley and the county’s townships remain more agricultural, with corn, soybeans and dairy the leading farm products. The Benton County Fair, held annually in Sauk Rapids, is the county’s best-known community event.
History
Benton County was organized in 1850, one of Minnesota’s original counties, and named for Thomas Hart Benton, the long-serving U.S. senator from Missouri and an advocate for westward expansion. Sauk Rapids served as the first county seat. A tornado struck the town in April 1886, destroying much of its business district and killing dozens of residents; the county seat was relocated to Foley in 1897.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 10 crosses Benton County on a northwest-southeast diagonal, linking Sauk Rapids to St. Cloud and on toward the Twin Cities. Minnesota State Highways 15, 23, 25 and 95 provide the remaining county-to-county links.
- St. Cloud — 5 miles west of Sauk Rapids
- Little Falls — 25 miles north of Foley
- Minneapolis — 70 miles southeast of Foley
- Princeton — 20 miles southeast of Foley
St. Cloud Regional Airport, just across the county line in Stearns County, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Benton County, Minnesota?
It sits in east-central Minnesota, straddling the Mississippi River between St. Cloud and Little Falls, about 70 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
What is the population of Benton County?
41,379 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Benton County?
413 square miles (1,070 km2), including 408 square miles of land and 4.8 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Benton County?
Foley is the county seat; it succeeded Sauk Rapids in 1897.
How many towns are in Benton County?
Benton County has 7 cities (three shared with a neighboring county), one census-designated place, and about 19 unincorporated communities and mobile-home-park subdivisions.
What ZIP codes are in Benton County?
56329 (Foley), 56333 (Gilman, PO Box only), 56357 (Oak Park), 56367 (Rice) and 56379 (Sauk Rapids).
What river runs through Benton County?
The Mississippi River forms much of the county’s southern and southwestern boundary, passing Sauk Rapids, Sartell and St. Cloud.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.