Benson county is located in north central North Dakota on the western shores of Devils Lake with Minnewaukan as its county seat. The county population on July 1, 1999, was 6,781, a decrease of 417 over the 1990 census.
The county has the majority of acreage of the Devils Lake Sioux Indian Reservation and boasts two major areas of interest--Ft. Totten State Historic Site and Sully's Hill National Game Preserve, all located on the southern shores of the big lake.
Pothole lakes in the county include Pleasant Lake and Lake Ibsen on the north side and Long Lake on the west side. In addition, the Sheyenne River flows west to east through the southern portion of the county.