It is located approximately at 40°54′48″N 77°45′53″W / 40.91333°N 77.76472°W / 40.91333; -77.76472 along Buffalo Run Road (Pennsylvania Route 550), near Bellefonte.

It is named for General Phillip Benner who built the furnace along Spring Creek near the settlement of Rock.

Other wild game that inhabited the area prior to settlement were bears, gray wolves and cougars.

It is noted that these three animals were so abundant in the area that men dared not venture into the woods after dark.

[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 28.5 square miles (74 km2), all land.

[8] Also located in Benner Township are State Correctional Institution - Benner Township, which was constructed adjacent to SCI Rockview in the early 2010s, the Centre County Correctional Facility, and Pennsylvania State Police Troop G Rockview Station.