What Every Small Town In North Dakota Had In The 1930s. It Was A Simpler Time.
Leah
Author
Before there were big box chain stores everywhere, and before technology started keeping everyone inside more often and outside in the world less often, there was a more community-driven aspect to all the towns. Specialty stores and businesses, for instance, are unfortunately becoming a thing of the past. Now, many seem to demand convenience over quality in many parts of their lives. Looking back at the small town history of North Dakota will make you realize just how much some things have changed.
The 1930s and 40s were a simpler time for towns in ND. These photographs from that time help portray what has changed, and how it used to be. So sit back and take a trip to the past, and maybe we can all reflect a bit on how things have changed.
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The times are always changing and there is not much we can do about that, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to wish they were a little like they used to be. Here are more vintage photographs of North Dakota to reminisce upon.
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Small Town History Of North Dakota
Where can I find more of the best photos in North Dakota?
It's fun to look back at old photos of North Dakota. Whether you lived through those times yourself or can get a glimpse into what your parents, grandparents, or great grandparents grew up with, a nostalgic trip to the past is well accompanied by photographs. Luckily, we've put together quite a few articles with photos from the turn of the century to just a few decades ago. Here are some of the earliest photos taken in the state, and in contrast, photos from the 1970s. You'll find links to more photos of the decades through that article. You can also find gorgeous photos of the Peace Garden State from today by clicking here.
How has North Dakota changed over the years?
If you think back to what was life like in North Dakota over the years, it has certainly changed. Some of the small towns in these photographs have long since disappeared with the times. Many towns sprung up as the railroad was built across the prairie headed west, and not all of them made it to today. The early farmsteads had sod houses and used horses and plows for their work. Now, farms here have modern homes and high-tech tractors that can even be driven by satellite. Still, the beauty of the prairie persists, and the morals held by North Dakotans over the years has yet to waver.
What are the oldest small towns in North Dakota?
You might wonder what towns in these historic photos of North Dakota have been around the longest and are still around today. The title of the oldest small town in the state goes to Pembina, having been established as a post and grown into a town long before North Dakota was even a state. The original trading post there was founded in 1797, and it's been around as a town ever since. It only has a population of 553. Not far from Pembina is Walhalla, the second oldest town in North Dakota. It was established in 1853 and has an estimated current population of 927.