Benson, IL

Benson is a quiet Woodford County community of around 400 residents, located about thirty miles northeast of Peoria. Founded in the 1870s along the old railroad line, the village was laid out on a diagonal to follow the tracks, giving its streets a distinctive slant compared to the standard Midwestern grid. It offers peaceful rural living surrounded by open farmland, with a straightforward drive to both Peoria and Bloomington-Normal.

ATTRNyttend / Public domain

Everyday town life centers along Front and State streets, where you will find the local library, Village Hall, the historical museum, and the American Legion hall all within a short walk of one another. Families enjoy outdoor spaces at Benson Community Park and Veterans Memorial Park, while local students attend Roanoke-Benson Junior High right in town. It is a friendly, slow-paced village where neighbors know each other and community staples are always close at hand.