Posted in North Dakota November 01, 2016 by

The Oldest Town In North Dakota That Everyone Should Visit At Least Once

Long before the railroad reached North Dakota and the towns started springing up, there were few settlements for quite a while. Most of today’s towns and cities in the state were founded after 1860, but this particular town came much earlier than that. It was the very first European settlement in the entire Dakota Territory (what is now North Dakota and South Dakota). Today, it remains as a peaceful small town just south of the Canadian border, and is both charming and historical.

Take a trip into a part of the state’s heritage by visiting this town:

Pembina has a population of just 592 residents.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
This town is considered fairly small compared to other North Dakota towns, but that hasn't always been the case. Back in 1860, the census stated that Pembina was actually the most populous place in the entire state. Before it was a town even, there was still settlers living here from as early as 1797.
Before it was a town, it was forts and trading hubs alongside the Red River.
Wikimedia
In this illustration from 1822, you can see two forts that served as places for trading furs by mostly French settlers. For a time, it was believed to be within Canada, but was later determined to be part of the United States. These early forts lead to the founding of the first permanent non-Native American settlement in the territory in 1812.
Today, there is plenty of charm and interesting sites to visit in Pembina.
Bill Z/Tripadvisor
If you're looking for great ways to see this history of the town and more, the Pembina State Museum - shown above - is a great option. It has fascinating exhibits with artifacts of the time, and explains how Pembina was settled. The tall tower is their observation deck that you can go up into yourself.
wonderal/Flickr
The view from up there is pretty awesome!
The beautiful Pembina River meets with the Red River in Pembina.
NDPRD/Flickr
This river forms the Pembina Gorge not far from the town.
NDPRD/Flickr
This place is loved by many for its stunning natural beauty and the great opportunities for all kinds of recreation. Even skiing is popular in the gorge!

Nearby is the second oldest town in North Dakota, Walhalla, which has a part of one of the last remaining trading posts from that era. If you’re going to visit Pembina, you should stop by there, too.

Outside of being historical, Pembina is also located among some beautiful scenery. See what towns in North Dakota have the best scenery in the state by clicking here.