Benson Hospital has been serving the San Pedro Valley community since 1970. The original hospital was privately owned by James Hesser, M.D., and was located where the current public library is today (300 S. Huachuca St.) In 1963 the building was purchased by the Kartchner family and the San Pedro Valley Hospital District was formed. In April of 1966, plans began to build a new hospital at its present location.
Benson residents Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Getwiller donated 10 acres of land on the rise for the site of the present hospital. At last in early July 1970, the Benson Hospital was opened to receive patients. Almost immediately, filming of the movie Rage, starring George Scott and Richard Basehart, took place in the Benson area. Much of the movie was shot in the new Benson Hospital.
What started as a small community hospital meeting the simple needs of patients of this Southeastern Arizona area has grown to care for an overwhelming number of people in our Emergency Department. With the influx of hundreds of winter visitors and many new permanent residents, outpatient use in laboratory, radiology, and rehabilitation also have increased dramatically.