Benton County Historical Society

Downtown Sauk Rapids has gone through many changes over the years with a lot of development and redevelopment. What's left today are just seven buildings in downtown that date back more than 100 years.

Brennyville is an unincorporated town in northern Benton County that was once the home to a large cheese factory.

One hundred years ago Americans were living in the time of prohibition, but that didn't mean the folks in Benton County weren't enjoying a little nip of alcohol.

During the days of prohibition, Benton County was just as established for running moonshine as Stearns County was, although most families in the county are still reluctant to talk about their past connections with Chicago gangsters. Ostby says one of the moonshine hotspots was Popple Creek and store/saloon.

Talk to anybody who lived in Benton County back in the 1950s ask them if they had ever been to Fruthville.

It's hard to imagine now but at one time there was a small community that existed along Highway 23 about halfway between St. Cloud and Foley.

Anyone who attended school prior to the early 1970s likely remembers country schools.

FOLEY -- Benton County is celebrating a big anniversary. 170 years ago this week on January 7th in 1850 they held their very first county commissioners meeting. Benton County Historical Society Executive Director Mary Ostby says at that time the county was much larger than what we know today...

One of the oldest homes in Sauk Rapids has a new owner. The Benton County Historical Society has recently bought the Robinson-Stanton house at 202 Second Avenue South.

For nearly 80 years, the Rice Village Hall has been everything from the city council chambers to a dance hall.