Benson is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States, near the intersection of Interstates 95 and 40. Benson celebrates Mule Days on the fourth Saturday of September, a festival that attracts more than 60,000 people each year. In 2010, the population was 3,311, up from 2,923 in 2000.

The town of Benson, which derives its publicize from in advance settler Alfred Monroe (“Mim”) Benson, owes much of its historical proceed to the railroad parentage which passed through the gift location in town in 1886 upon its route amid Fayetteville and Contentnea. More information on the history of Benson and the surrounding communities may be found at the supplementary Benson Museum of Local History located at 102 W. Main Street, next to the Mary Duncan Library.

Mr. Benson’s buy of a 402-acre (1.63 km) tract along the Smithfield-Fayetteville Road in 1874 initiated the settlement of the area now known as Benson. During the 1880s Benson sold portions of his indigenous tract to incoming settlers, many of whom were farmers. Benson was incorporated in 1887 and soon attracted a number of entrepreneurs wishing to accept advantage of this extra town along an important transportation route.

A prominent before resident of the Benson Place was John William Wood Sr. (December 28, 1855 – October 31, 1928) who rode to Benson each morning upon a mule and wagon from his home at Peacocks Crossroads near Meadow. After having served on the Board of Education and as a county commissioner, where he was known to be a watchdog of the treasury, he was elected to a term in the State House of Representatives in 1927. Meadow School was built on land donated by him.