BENCO Electric Cooperative

BENCO Electric Cooperative Main Photo

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

Population2000201020252030
BENCO Electric Cooperative102,758112,432121,331122,609

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Population by Age

Population2025
0-46,424
5-96,854
10-146,982
15-1910,496
20-2412,934
25-298,023
30-347,383
35-397,427
40-447,756
45-496,750
50-545,776
55-595,813
60-646,537
65-696,646
70-745,756
75-794,120
80-842,732
85+2,921
18+96,693
Median Age36

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Population by Race

BENCO Electric Cooperative2025
Total121,331.00
White Alone84.51%
Black Alone5.34%
American Indian Alone0.5%
Asian Alone2.17%
Pacific Islander Alone0.07%
Some Other Race2.2%
Two or More Races5.22%
Hispanic Origin5.58%
Diversity Index35.50

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Growth Rate

BENCO Electric Cooperative2025 - 2030
Population0.21%
Households0.36%
Families0.16%
Median Household Income2%
Per Capita Income2%

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

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Housing

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Households

Population2000201020252030
Households38,69643,31747,80048,676
Housing Units40,94546,71751,60552,532
Owner Occupied Units31,50332,201
Renter Occupied Units16,29716,475
Vacant Units3,8053,856

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Home Value

BENCO Electric Cooperative20252030
Median Home Value$300,093$355,462
Average Home Value$341,550$401,646
<$50,0001,6751,844
$50,000 - $99,9991,4581,144
$100,000 - $149,9991,7621,088
$150,000 - $199,9992,6611,460
$200,000 - $249,9993,7812,329
$250,000 - $299,9994,4083,642
$300,000 - $399,9997,5528,284
$400,000 - $499,9993,6665,093
$500,000 - $749,9993,1525,125
$1,000,000 +480759

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Housing Year Built

Year RangeHouses Built
2010 or Later4,883
2000-20096,915
1990-19995,019
1980-19894,323
1970-19796,438
1960-19694,748
1950-19594,695
1940-19492,310
1939 or Before10,759

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

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Income

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Income

BENCO Electric Cooperative20252030
Median Household$71,710$77,884
Average Household$96,950$105,639
Per Capita$38,460$42,202

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Household Income

BENCO Electric Cooperative2025
<$15,0003,995
$15,000 - $24,9993,445
$25,000 - $34,9992,823
$35,000 - $49,9995,347
$50,000 - $74,9999,332
$75,000 - $99,9996,657
$100,000 - $149,9997,923
$150,000 - $199,9994,215
$200,000+4,063

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

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Employees

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Commute

CategoryCommuters
Workers 16+62,789
In-County Residents42,837
Out-of-County Residents19,572
Drive Alone46,725
Carpooled5,448
Public Transport767
Work at Home6,303
Motorcycle58
Bicycle244
Walked2,593
Other513
Less than 5 minutes3,690
5-9 minutes11,236
10-14 minutes14,213
15-19 minutes10,161
20-24 minutes6,171
25-29 minutes2,252
30-34 minutes3,196
35-39 minutes918
40-44 minutes719
45-59 minutes1,739
60-89 minutes1,312
90+ minutes879
Average Travel Time0

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Employees by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Employees71,637
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt388
Mining147
Utilities112
Construction3,604
Manufacturing9,119
Wholesale Trade2,323
  
Retail Trade9,164
  
Transportation/Warehouse1,185
Information2,978
  
Finance & Insurance1,937
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing1,133
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv2,735
Legal Services337
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises153
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt973
Educational Services9,166
HealthCare/Social Assist11,998
Arts/Entertainment/Rec1,239
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs5,477
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin4,134
Auto Repair/Maintenance509
Public Administration Emp3,592

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Educational Attainment (25+)

BENCO Electric Cooperative2025
<9th Grade1,161
Some High School2,346
GED2,362
Graduated High School18,462
Some College/No Degree14,240
Associates Degree12,307
Bachelor's Degree17,913
Graduate Degree8,850

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

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Businesses

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Businesses by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Businesses5,057
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus101
Mining Bus3
Utilities Bus14
Construction Bus431
Manufacturing Bus208
Wholesale Trade Bus168
  
Retail Trade Bus622
  
Transportation/Warehouse Bus143
Information Bus144
  
Finance & Insurance Bus279
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus235
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus318
Legal Services Bus57
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus11
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus143
Educational Services Bus157
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus543
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus118
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus301
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus734
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus117
Public Administration Bus269

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

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