BENCO Electric Cooperative

Blue Earth-Nicollet Cooperative Electric Association (BENCO) was founded on May 11, 1936. The first recorded meeting took place on June 12, 1937, at Mankato City Hall. The first pole on the BENCO system was set on June 27, 1938, in Traverse Township, Nicollet County. The line was energized on September 16, 1938. Faribault County Cooperative Electric Association was founded in 1936.

These two cooperatives consolidated into Blue Earth-Nicollet-Faribault Cooperative Electric Association (Frost-BENCO Electric) on January 1, 1980. Wells Electric Cooperative was founded in July 1935. Frost-BENCO and Wells Electric cooperative merged in January 1, 1988 and become Frost-BENCO-Wells Electric. In 1998, Frost-BENCO-Wells Electric became a Touchstone Energy® partner and began doing business as BENCO Electric.

Population

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Population

Population2000201020232028
BENCO Electric Cooperative102,666112,343120,213121,271

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Population by Age

Population201020232028
0-46,8336,4566,602
5-96,3836,5966,614
10-146,1826,5666,758
15-199,6038,9199,271
20-2414,79313,46213,255
25-298,2498,4847,528
30-346,7008,1197,482
35-395,6657,7337,881
40-445,9626,6287,691
45-496,9645,5996,475
50-547,5576,1395,544
55-596,9806,9156,038
60-645,6817,4016,360
65-694,0066,7166,820
70-743,1595,3806,005
75-792,6843,7084,658
80-842,3522,5303,129
85+2,5902,8633,160
18+89,18596,91097,372
Median Age333637

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Population by Race

BENCO Electric Cooperative2023
Total120,213.00
White Alone85.02
Black Alone5.11
American Indian Alone0.48
Asian Alone2.19
Pacific Islander Alone0.05
Some Other Race2.13
Two or More Races5.03
Hispanic Origin5.47
Diversity Index34.70

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Growth Rate

BENCO Electric Cooperative2023 - 2028
Population0.18%
Households0.34%
Families0.23%
Median Household Income2%
Per Capita Income3%

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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Housing

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Households

Population2000201020232028
Households38,64943,27247,30148,101
Housing Units40,90546,67751,05951,846
Owner Occupied Units32,86533,939
Renter Occupied Units14,43614,162
Vacant Units3,7583,745

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Home Value

BENCO Electric Cooperative20232028
Median Home Value$255,218$328,734
Average Home Value$292,799$366,740
<$50,0003,5492,060
$50,000 - $99,9991,9611,306
$100,000 - $149,9992,9001,096
$150,000 - $199,9993,454945
$200,000 - $249,9994,0212,865
$250,000 - $299,9995,2465,852
$300,000 - $399,9995,9389,903
$400,000 - $499,9992,7725,298
$500,000 - $749,9991,9893,368
$1,000,000 +293332

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Housing Year Built

Year RangeHouses Built
2010 or Later3,896
2000-20097,142
1990-19995,250
1980-19894,454
1970-19796,375
1960-19694,575
1950-19594,772
1940-19492,520
1939 or Before10,600

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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Income

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Income

BENCO Electric Cooperative20232028
Median Household$70,223$79,350
Average Household$94,765$108,086
Per Capita$37,596$43,181

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Household Income Base

BENCO Electric Cooperative2023
<$15,0003,892
$15,000 - $24,9992,939
$25,000 - $34,9993,438
$35,000 - $49,9995,989
$50,000 - $74,9998,606
$75,000 - $99,9996,641
$100,000 - $149,9998,331
$150,000 - $199,9994,631
$200,000+2,833

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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Employees

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Commute

CategoryCommuters
Workers 16+63,655
In-County Residents42,531
Out-of-County Residents20,792
Drive Alone49,065
Carpooled4,737
Public Transport693
Work at Home6,213
Less than 5 minutes3,096
5-9 minutes11,565
10-14 minutes14,635
15-19 minutes10,073
20-24 minutes5,972
25-29 minutes2,416
30-34 minutes3,677
35-39 minutes963
40-44 minutes936
45-59 minutes1,763
60-89 minutes1,268
90+ minutes1,079
Average Travel Time0

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Employees by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Employees70,794
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt473
Mining147
Utilities98
Construction3,606
Manufacturing8,687
Wholesale Trade2,663
  
Retail Trade9,723
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers1,942
Furn & Home Furnish Str183
Electronics & Appl Store268
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip1,072
Food & Beverage Stores2,589
Health/Pers Care Stores570
Gasoline Stations117
Clothing/Accessory Store537
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music921
General Merchandise Str1,523
Misc Store Retailers0
Nonstore Retailers0
  
Transportation/Warehouse1,204
Information2,918
  
Finance & Insurance2,279
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn1,197
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv360
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other722
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing1,172
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv2,358
Legal Services349
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises86
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt1,163
Educational Services8,598
HealthCare/Social Assist11,411
Arts/Entertainment/Rec1,029
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs5,608
Accommodation1,030
Food Srv/Drinking Places4,578
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin4,037
Auto Repair/Maintenance469
Public Administration Emp3,318

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

Educational Attainment (25+)

BENCO Electric Cooperative2023
Some High School2,348
Graduated High School17,966
Associates Degree11,323
Bachelor's Degree18,396
Graduate Degree8,928

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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Businesses

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Businesses by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Businesses4,991
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus110
Mining Bus3
Utilities Bus12
Construction Bus435
Manufacturing Bus199
Wholesale Trade Bus176
  
Retail Trade Bus615
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers Bus87
Furn & Home Furnish Str Bus22
Electronics & Appl Store Bus21
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip Bus78
Food & Beverage Stores Bus104
Health/Pers Care Stores Bus54
Gasoline Stations Bus16
Clothing/Accessory Store Bus69
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music Bus115
General Merchandise Str Bus50
Misc Store Retailers Bus0
Nonstore Retailers Bus0
  
Transportation/Warehouse Bus154
Information Bus131
  
Finance & Insurance Bus294
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn Bus74
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv Bus69
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other Bus150
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus227
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus314
Legal Services Bus61
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus11
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus144
Educational Services Bus150
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus509
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus111
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus288
Accommodation Bus44
Food Srv/Drinking Places Bus243
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus644
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus110
Public Administration Bus271

Source: ESRI, 2023-10-17

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