The county government was organized on June 4, 1884, and its boundary lines were altered by two legislative actions in 1885.

[4] White Horse Hill National Game Preserve and much of the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation are located within the county.

The North Fork Sheyenne River flows southeasterly through the lower SW portion of the county.

The terrain of Benson County consists of rolling hills dotted with lakes, ponds and drainages.

[5] The terrain slopes to the east, and its highest point is on the lower portion of its west boundary line, at 1,624 ft (495 m) ASL.

The third largest is Lallie Township (325), to the west of Fort Totten on the south shore of Devils Lake and within the reservation.

Prior to 2020, no Republican candidate had won the majority of the county's votes since Ronald Reagan in 1984.