Benson is located in Johnston County between Fayetteville and Smithfield along US Hwy 301 near Dunn, Erwin, Buies Creek, and Four Oaks. The State Annual Singing Convention was started in 1921 by five local citizens and is a weekend of gospel singing entertainment and competition. The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 3,336, an increase of 292 since 1990.
