Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 7 min5:25 am – 8:31 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 14 min7:17 am – 4:31 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People627 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 40.4274 householdsMedian household income $81,833Median home value $118,100Median rent $950 a month97% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $2,747 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting4.1% unemployment rate71% of adults are in the labour force, 348 employedMain industries: education and health care 24%, manufacturing 16%, transport, warehousing and utilities 10%Average commute 26 minutes85% drive alone, 4% car-pool, 10% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher95% finished high school, 7% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 98%, Spanish 1%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 86°F, lows 64°FColdest month January: highs 33°F, lows 15°F38 in of rain a year, on about 72 dayswettest month May22 in of snow a year, on about 15 days27 days above 90°F, 135 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Minonk station, 7 mi away
Parks and public landsRoanoke Park and Swimming Poolrecreation area · 5.4 miTall Oaks Country Clubrecreation area · 5.8 miFranklin Kenyon Preservestate conservation land · 13.3 mi · 151 acresPartridge Creek Marshstate recreation area · 17.9 miFarmdale Dam Recreation Arearecreation area · 21.9 mi · 702 acresJubliee College State Parkstate park · 26.2 miSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes2 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.2 on 28 Jun 200444 mi away, near Dayton, IllinoisMost recent: magnitude 3.6 on 15 Nov 202327 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Very LowWoodford County, IL, compared with all US countiesHighest-rated hazardsCold wave Relatively ModerateDrought Relatively ModerateSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality66% of days had good air in 2025241 of 365 days measured120 moderate, 3 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 1 unhealthy daysMedian index 44, worst day 154main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: McLean County, IL, 29 mi away
Internet at home86% of households have a broadband subscription68% have cable, fibre or DSL13% rely on a mobile data plan alone10% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterBensonserves 401 people from ground water1 health-based violation since 2021latest Apr 2025: lead and copper, treatment technique1 monitoring or reporting violation since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation764 ft233 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalAdvocate Eureka Hospital11.8 miPost officeBenson Post Officeunder a mileTown hallBenson Village Hallunder a milePoliceMinonk Police Department6.1 miFire stationBenson Community Fire Protection Districtunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 middleMiddleRoanoke - Benson Junior High Schoolunder a mileCollegeEureka College12.1 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportCentral Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal BMI29 miMajor airportChicago Midway International Airport MDW96 miInterstateI-394.9 miUS highwayUS 514.9 miAmtrakBloomington-Normal, IL BNL25 miCoachBloomingtonJefferson Lines25 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 61516 ZIP area.
