North Dakotans are very familiar with small towns all over the state, but have you heard of these itty-bitty towns? All of these tiny towns in North Dakota have populations under 100 according to the US Census Bureau, and not many people know about them. They may be little, but most of them still have a tight-knit and thriving community. How many of them have you heard of before?

1. Great Bend
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Great Bend is a town in Richland County with a population of 60 counted in the last census. It's located in southeast North Dakota on the banks of the Wild Rice River. George Worner, a German immigrant, founded it in 1888 and was its postmaster as well as the owner of the general store. Later, he became a North Dakota congressman.
2. Hamilton
Andrew Filer/Flickr
This Pembina County town had 61 residents as of the last census. Though officially founded in 1882 when the railroad reached there, the post office in Hamilton had been in operation since 1879. Despite its tiny size, it is home to the Pembina County Fair, which is the oldest, longest-running fair in the entire state.
3. Douglas
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Douglas is located on the very southern edge of Ward County and has a current estimated population of about 60 people. It was founded in 1906 and is part of the Minot Micropolitan Statistical Area. There is a lake right next to it by the same name.
4. Dawson
Andrew Filer/Flickr
In the central North Dakota county of Kidder, you'll find one of the tiniest towns in North Dakota called Dawson. This place has just 61 residents and has only ever had a maximum of about 300 people ever living there at once. Dawson was named after its founder, J. Dawson Thompson, who founded it in 1882- a year after the town's first and only post office was built.
5. Sentinel Butte
Andrew Filer/Flickr
This itty bitty town on the western edge of the state has just over 60 residents. Sentinel Butte gets its name from a nearby butte and was founded in 1902 when the Northern Pacific transcontinental railroad came through. Though it is in one of the more remote places in North Dakota, some people pass through when they are visiting the nearby tourist town of Medora.

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6. Mantador
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Mantador is a little town west of Wahpeton in southeast North Dakota. The current population is estimated at 65 residents. The only reason Mantador became a town is because of a railroad company's law requiring a train depot to be built every 9 miles down the track. Mantador was originally one of these depots before growing into a small town, officially founded in 1893.
7. Golva
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Golva, a short version of Golden Valley County name, is a tiny town with an estimated 67 residents. Golva was founded in 1915 when homesteaders came through as well as the Northern Pacific Railroad. The last remaining homesteader, Mrs. George Emma Geary, died in 1978, two years before the first and only tree found in the area, giving the area the name of Lone Tree Township, died as well.
8. Balta
Andrew Filer/Flickr
This Pierce County town has just under 60 residents. The geographical center of the entire North American continent is 6 miles west of Balta. However, Rugby holds the fame of being the center town since Balta is so small. The actual center of the continent is closer to Balta than Rugby (the center is 15 miles from Rugby).
9. Hague
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Hague, located in Emmons County and not far from the South Dakota border, had 71 residents as of the last census. It is named after The Hague in Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. The post office has been in and still is in operation since 1902 when the town was founded.
10. Gardner
Andrew Filer/Flickr
The small town of Gardner is located north of Fargo and is part of Cass County. The population is estimated to have risen between the last census and now, from 74 to 77. Like most of these other small towns, it was founded after a post office was built and the railroad came through. The town was named after Stephen Gardner and officially founded in 1882.

Had you ever heard of any of these small towns in North Dakota before? Ever been to any of them, or do you live in one? These may be tiny, but they aren’t the tiniest. Check out the absolute smallest towns in ND right here.

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Tiny Towns In North Dakota

Leah | February 13, 2020

What is the smallest town in North Dakota?

Though there are many tiny towns in North Dakota, only one holds the record for being the absolute tiniest. Ruso, ND, founded 1906 lays claim to that title with only 4 residents. It's located in McLean County as part of central North Dakota. At peak population in 1910 it still only had 141 citizens.

What are the most charming small towns in North Dakota?

With such an abundance of small towns, there is certainly no shortage of small-town charm here. Some of the most charming ones include places like Kenmare, a town with just over 1,000 residents, located between beautiful lakes, and even displaying a historic Danish windmill in their city park. Another great example is Jud. The town's 72 residents beautified the city by painting murals on just about every wall in town.

What is the largest city in North Dakota?

On the contrary to North Dakota's littlest places, there are big cities here, too. The biggest one is also its most famous - Fargo. This sprawling city has almost 125,000 residents, making up for 17% of North Dakota's entire population. Add on the population of West Fargo and you have over 160,000 people living in the area. The city has a trendy downtown area and plenty of suburban sections that keep it busy and thriving all the time.

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Featured Addresses
Great Bend, ND 58075, USA
Hamilton, ND 58238, USA
Douglas, ND 58735, USA
Dawson, ND 58428, USA
Sentinel Butte, ND 58654, USA
Mantador, ND 58058, USA
Golva, ND 58632, USA
Balta, ND 58313, USA
Hague, ND 58542, USA
Gardner, ND 58036, USA