Benson, AZ
Stations: Willcox (35.5 miles), Sonoita (37.3 miles), Tucson (45 miles)
Population: 4,934 (2006)
Newspaper (weekly on Wednesday): San Pedro Valley News-Sun - (520) 586-3382
Radio station: The Cave - 97.7 FM - (520) 290-9797
Electric service: SSVEC - (520) 586-2238
Gas service: City of Benson - (520) 586-2245 or Southwest Gas - (877) 860-6020
Water, sewer and garbage service: City of Benson - (520) 586-2245
Local and long distance telephone service:
Cox - (800) 229-6542
Qwest - (800) 475-7526
SSVEC - (520) 586-2238
Internet service:
Cox - (800) 229-6542
Qwest - (800) 475-7526
SSVEC - (520) 586-2238
Television service:
Cox - (800) 229-6542
Qwest - (800) 475-7526
DIRECTV - (888) 777-2454
Dish Network - (888) 232-8689
Schools/College:
Benson Unified School District - (520) 720-6700
Visions Unlimited Academy - (520) 586-8691
Grace Christian Academy - (520) 586-2358
Cochise College - Benson Center - (520) 586-1981
Preschools:
Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) Preschool - (520) 586-4634
Grace Christian Academy - (520) 586-2358
Benson Primary School (for children with special needs) - (520) 720-6750
Shopping:
Safeway (w/Starbucks), Wal-Mart Supercenter, Ace Hardware, Benson Hardware, Dollar General, Radio Shack, Medicine Shoppe, Spur Western Wear, and a number of small businesses offering a variety of needs
Dining:
Denny’s, Jack in the Box, A&W, McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, Subway, Wendy’s, Beijing Chinese Restaurant, Benson Doughnuts, Old Benson Ice Cream Stop, a few Mexican restaurants and pizza places, several eateries with American and Greek fare
Banks:
Bank of America - (520) 586-2279
National Bank of Arizona - (520) 586-2228
Southeastern Arizona Federal Credit Union - (520) 586-7095
American Southwest Credit Union - (520) 586-8821
Hotels:
Best Western Plus Quail Hollow Inn - (520) 586-3646
Desert Rose Inn - (866) 943-4970
Days Inn - (520) 586-3000
RV parks:
Butterfield RV Resort and Observatory - (520) 586-4400
Cochise Terrace RV Resort - (520) 720-0911
Benson KOA - (520) 586-3977
Golf:
San Pedro Golf Course - (520) 586-7888
Turquoise Hills Gof & RV - (520) 586-7535
Gyms:
Frontier Fitness - (520) 586-3326
Curves - (520) 586-2477
Storage units:
B&L RV & Mini Storage - (520) 586-2379
Wilharm Self Storage - (520) 586-3146
Dillon’s Corral - (520) 586-9577
A-Z Storage Inc - (520) 586-2320
Veterinary services:
Benson Animal Hospital - (520) 586-2553
All Creatures - (520) 586-3777
Pet boarding and training: Critter Sitters - (520) 212-2233
Miscellaneous:
City of Benson - (520) 586-2245
Benson Public Library - (520) 586-9535
Benson Visitor Center - (520) 586-4293
Benson/San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce - (520) 586-2842
City of Benson Parks and Recreation Department - (520) 720-6044
Benson Hospital - (520) 586-2261
Whelan School of Dance - (520) 253-0292 or
Additional information:
Benson is conveniently located 45-60 minutes east of Tucson on I-10 and 30-45 minutes north of Sierra Vista/Ft. Huachuca on SR 90. Several housing developments have sprung up on SR 90 near I-10. St. David, Pomerene and Mescal/J-Six Ranch are more or less a part of Benson and offer more rural living options. Benson was slated for substantial growth prior to the economic downturn. Benson attracts a large number of winter visitors
due to its proximity to I-10, Sierra Vista/Ft. Huachuca and Tucson. With the expansion of the Willcox station, many agents have moved to the area in recent years. Benson also attracts members of the military stationed at Ft. Huachuca, as well as military retirees and civilian contractors.
Station work (Willcox):
Willcox station does a variety of things. They patrol east from Benson to the New Mexico border and south from those points to the Douglas and Naco areas of operation.
Willcox station conducts operations in three valleys, including the San Pedro Valley, the Sulphur Springs Valley and the San Simon Valley. Willcox station makes occasional runs to Graham County for other agency calls. The station offers ATV patrol, horse patrol, sensor operations, highway operations, a canine unit, ranch patrol and brushwork.
The station is responsible for the following three checkpoints: South of Sunsites on Hwy 191; 1-2 miles north of Tombstone on SR 80; and north of Whetstone on SR 90.