The Great American Survey: A Slapdash Database of Historic Buildings

Founding:  1916 Parent county:  Morton Name origin :  Ulysses S. Grant, U.S. president Seat:  Carson (1916–) Land area:  1,659 square miles Population (2020):  2,301 Population (historic):  9,553 (1920); 10,134 (1930); 8,264 (1940) Periods of population growth:  pre-1920–1930 Subdivisions:  Four cities; two CDPs; 11 townships; two territories Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  276 (26%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  26.5% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  12.5% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  7.2% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,118 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,164 Average farmhouse size (1940):  4.6 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,502 Average farm size (1920):  235.7 acres Sources of settlement:  Russia, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois _________________________________________________________________________________   Carson   ...

Founding:  1883 Parent counties:  Griggs and Traill Namesake:  Edward Steele, Minneapolis businessman Seat:  Hope (1883–1885);  Sherbrooke (1883–1919); Finley (1919–) Land area:  712 square miles Population (2020):  1,798 Population (historic):  3,777 (1890); 7,616 (1910); 6,972 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1890–1910 Subdivisions:  Four cities; 20 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  347 (30.5%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  31% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  8.9% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  10.7% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,914 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $2,233 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6.3 rooms Number of farms (1920):  987 Average farm size (1920):  386 acres Sources of settlement:  Norway, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa _________________________________________________________________________________   Finley   Names...

Founding:  1881 (declared in 1873) Parent county:  Pembina Namesake:  Fort Ransom Seat:  Lisbon (1881–) Land area:  862 square miles Population (2020):  5,703 Population (historic):  5,393 (1890); 10,345 (1910); 10,983 (1930) Periods of population growth:  1880–1920; 2010s Subdivisions:  Five cities; two CDPs Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  852 (33.3%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  44.7% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  7.8% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  4.1% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,572 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,716 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5.9 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,343 Average farm size (1920):  301.8 acres Sources of settlement:  Norway, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Germany _________________________________________________________________________________   Lisbon   Namesake:  Lisbon, New York Founding:  1880 (pla...

Founding:  1867 Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  The Pembina River Seat:  Pembina (1867–1911); Cavalier (1911–) Land area:  1,119 square miles Population (2020):  6,844 Population (historic):  1,213 (1870); 14,334 (1890); 14,749 (1910); 14,757 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1870–1900; 1910s; 1930s; 1970s Subdivisions:  11 cities; 24 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  700 (18.1%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  29.2% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  9.7% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  8.1% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,568 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,526 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5.8 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,795 Average farm size (1920):  316.1 acres Sources of settlement:  Canada, Iceland, Minnesota, France, Germany, Ireland, and Norway ____________________________________________________________________...

Founding:  1884 (declared in 1873) Parent county:  Pembina Namesake:  Charles Cavaleer, Minnesota librarian Seat:  Langdon (1884–) Land area:  1,489 square miles Population (2020):  3,704 Population (historic):  6,471 (1890); 15,659 (1910); 14,554 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1890–1910 Subdivisions:  12 towns; 40 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  352 (15.2%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  24.4% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  9.8% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  10.3% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,518 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,722 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5.5 rooms Number of farms (1920):  2,014 Average farm size (1920):  378.8 acres Sources of settlement:  Canada, Norway, Minnesota, France, Russia, and Germany _________________________________________________________________________________   Langdon   Namesake:  Robert...

  Founding:  1883 Parent county:  Ransom Namesake:  H.E. Sargent, railroad official Seat:  Milnor (1883–1886); Forman (1886–) Land area:  859 square miles Population (2020):  3,862 Population (historic):  5,076 (1890); 9,202 (1910); 9,298 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1890–1910 Subdivisions:  Seven cities; one CDP; 32 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  481 (22.8%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  33% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  5.7% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  4.3% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,786 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,892 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,321 Average farm size (1920):  326.1 acres Sources of settlement:  Minnesota, Norway, Iowa, and Sweden _________________________________________________________________________________ Forman Namesake:  Cornelius Forman, platter Founding: ...

  Founding:  1910 Parent county:  Williams Namesake:  Perhaps the Laurentian Divide, which runs through the county Seat:  Crosby (1910–) Land area:  1,261 square miles Population (2020):  2,195 Population (historic):  6,015 (1910); 9,637 (1920); 9,636 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1910–1920; 2010s Subdivisions:  Four cities; 32 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  500 (30.9%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  27.3% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  10.9% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  3.2% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,284 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,580 Average farmhouse size (1940):  4.5 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,642 Average farm size (1920):  271.3 acres Sources of settlement:  Norway and Minnesota _________________________________________________________________________________ Crosby Namesake:  S.A. Crosby, North Dakota businessma...

  Founding:  1891 Parent counties:  Buford and Flannery Namesake:  Erastus Williams, North Dakota politician Seat:  Williston (1891–) Land area:  2,077 square miles Population (2020):  40,950 Population (historic):  1,530 (1900); 14,234 (1910); 17,980 (1920); 19,553 (1930) Periods of population growth:  1890–1930; 1950s; 1970s; 2000–2020 Subdivisions:  Eight cities; 54 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  1,626 (8.7%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  37.8% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  10.7% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  6.8% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,073 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,007 Average farmhouse size (1940):  4.2 rooms Number of farms (1920):  2,437 Average farm size (1920):  208.6 acres Sources of settlement:  Norway, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Russia, and Germany ___________________________________________________________________________...

Founding:  1910 Parent county:  Ward Namesake:  Joseph Renville, French Canadian trapper Seat:  Mohall (1910–) Land area:  877 square miles Population (2020):  2,282 Population (historic):  7,840 (1910); 7,776 (1920); 7,263 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1910 Subdivisions:  Six cities; 24 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  339 (25.5%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  24.3% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  10.5% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  10.7% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,363 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,430 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5.3 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,174 Average farm size (1920):  356.8 acres Sources of settlement:  Minnesota, Iowa, Norway, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden _________________________________________________________________________________ Mohall Namesake:  M.O. Hall, owne...

Founding:  1885 Parent county:  Mercer Namesake:  Harry Oliver, North Dakota politician Seat:   Sanger (1885–1902); Center (1902–) Land area:  723 square miles Population (2020):  1,877 Population (historic):  464 (1890); 3,577 (1910); 4,262 (1930) Periods of population growth:  1880–1920 Subdivisions:  One city; two territories Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  138 (13.8%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  27.1% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  10.1% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  5.6% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,102 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,294 Average farmhouse size (1940):  4.7 rooms Number of farms (1920):  766 Average farm size (1920):  241.7 acres Sources of settlement:  Minnesota, Russia, Germany, and Iowa _________________________________________________________________________________ Center Namesake:  The city's loca...

Founding:  1907 Parent county:  Hettinger Namesake:  John Adams, railroad agent Seat:  Hettinger (1907–) Land area:  988 square miles Population (2020):  2,200 Population (historic):  5,407 (1910); 5,593 (1920); 6,343 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1910; 1920s Subdivisions:  Four cities; 17 townships; four territories Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  296 (20.7%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  31% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  16.9% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  5.5% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,174 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,306 Average farmhouse size (1940):  4.7 rooms Number of farms (1920):  897 Average farm size (1920):  235 acres Sources of settlement:  Minnesota, Wisconsin, Russia, and Norway _________________________________________________________________________________ Hettinger Namesake:  Hettinger Co...

Founding:  1907 (declared in 1901) Parent county:  Stark Namesake:  Mathias Hettinger, Illinois banker Seat:  Mott (1907–) Land area:  1,132 square miles Population (2020):  2,489 Population (historic):  6,557 (1910); 7,685 (1920); 8,796 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1910–1930 Subdivisions:  Three cities; 30 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  373 (25.4%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  26.5% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  7.2% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  9.9% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,360 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,498 Average farmhouse size (1940):  4.8 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,131 Average farm size (1920):  284.6 acres Sources of settlement:  Russia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Hungary _________________________________________________________________________________ Mott Namesake:  Uncertain ...

Founding:  1907 (declared in 1901) Parent county:  Billings Namesake:  Edward Bowman, South Dakota politician Seat:  Bowman (1907–) Land area:  1,162 square miles Population (2020):  2,993 Population (historic):  4,668 (1910); 4,768 (1920); 5,119 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1910; 1920s Subdivisions:  Four cities; 24 townships; two territories Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  338 (19.1%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  30.7% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  14.5% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  9.4% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $923 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $997 Average farmhouse size (1940):  4.4 rooms Number of farms (1920):  788 Average farm size (1920):  222.7 acres Sources of settlement:  Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Norway _________________________________________________________________________________ Bowman Namesake: ...

Founding:  1886 (declared in 1879) Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  Frederick Billings, Northern Pacific Railway president Seat:  Medora (1886–) Land area:  1,149 square miles Population (2020):  945 Population (historic):  1,323 (1880); 975 (1900); 3,126 (1920); 3,140 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1880; 1900s Subdivisions:  One city; two territories Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  100 (18.8%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  17.9% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  21.1% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  55.9% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $776 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $827 Average farmhouse size (1940):  3.9 rooms Number of farms (1920):  603 Average farm size (1920):  173.4 acres Sources of settlement:  North Dakota, Austria, Russia, and Minnesota ________________________________________________________________________...

Founding:  1912 Parent county:  Billings Namesake:  A descriptive name Seat:  Beach (1912–) Land area:  1,001 square miles Population (2020):  1,736 Population (historic):  4,832 (1920); 4,122 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1920 Subdivisions:  Three cities; 10 townships; four territories Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  350 (33.4%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  40.4% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  6.8% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  14.7% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,086 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,291 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5 rooms Number of farms (1920):  777 Average farm size (1920):  305 acres Sources of settlement:  North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Norway, Iowa, and Russia _________________________________________________________________________________ Beach Namesake:  Warren Beach, army survey...