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Little City by the Big Lake

Located on the West shore of Devils Lake, Minnewaukan was once eight miles from the shores of Devils Lake. It serves as the county seat and is the fourth largest city in our county with a population of 199 in the 2020 census. Minnewaukan is also home to the Farmer's Press, Benson County's offical newspaper.

Minnewaukan thrives in both summer and winter months with two fishing guide services in town to bring in some new faces. Locals and tourists alike can enjoy an ice cold beverage and a game of pool at Dakota Spirits, or swing down to Old 281 Tavern to enjoy a great meal.

There are two main community events in the city of Minnwaukan each year, Fishtival is always the first weekend in March and Rock the Lake is always the first weekend in August. Both are bound to be a blast no matter the weather and a great way to bring the community and surrounding areas together to support the little city of Minnewaukan!

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Fort Totten

The Spirit Lake Tribe reservation was established by Treaty between the United States Government and the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Bands in 1867. The Reservation is located in East Central North Dakota. The Reservation is comprised of Sisseton, Wahpeton and the Cut-Head bands of Yanktonais, who had already been placed on the Reservation. According to the Treaty of 1867 the boundaries of the Spirit Lake reservation are:

"Beginning at the most easterly point of Devil's Lake; thence along the waters of said lake to the most westerly point of the same; thence on a direct line to the nearest point on the Cheyenne River; thence down said river to a point opposite the lower end of Aspen Island, and thence on a direct line to the place of beginning."

Welcome to Leeds, ND!

The 450 residents of Leeds would like to welcome you to our peaceful, rural community.  Located along US Highway 2, Leeds is located 30 miles west of Devils Lake and within a short drive from the cities of Grand Forks and Minot.  Because of our convenient location, we are far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle of city life, yet close enough to enjoy the conveniences that the cities have to offer.      

Here in Leeds, children still play in the streets and folks wave to each other as they pass on the road.  There is a friendly atmosphere in which people care about their neighbors.  Many active service organizations allow people to get to know other residents as well as give back to the community.  Events are held often to give residents the opportunity to relax, have fun, and celebrate the many things that make Leeds a great place to live.   

Crime and pollution are virtually nonexistent in Leeds, providing a safe environment for raising children.  Property taxes are low and housing is affordable.  We have an award-winning school system and offer many recreational opportunities, making Leeds an unbeatable place for families.  If greeting your neighbors as you walk down the city streets and enjoying the safety and security of a rural community are things you enjoy, we invite you to explore our page and find out why we think Leeds is the BEST place to call home.

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Growing Something Good In North Dakota

Welcome to Maddock, ND.  We invite you to visit our site and see what sets Maddock apart!  We have beautiful parks and outdoor recreation areas where kids can still play carefree. Our Main Street still has family owned businesses where we welcome everyone. Our Business & Technology Center offers wi-fi, computer access, digital printing, lodging rooms and more.  There are plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors, whether you prefer hunting, fishing, farming or swimming.


The City of Maddock is located along ND Highway #30, situated between Minot, Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck.  We invite you to stop by and see all that Maddock has to offer you.

Oberon

A Midsummer Night's Dream!

This town was first known as Antelope; a moniker authors Vernell and Louise Johnson say came from the settlement’s location at “the northwest end of the famous Antelope Valley, where antelope were plentiful.” The town was renamed Barker when the post office was established in 1885, but in 1886 Postmaster Vernon Matthews changed the name to Oberon, a reference to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and the town was platted.

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The Evergreen CIty

Founded back in 1901, this year (2021) marks the city’s 120th birthday. One of the staple stops in the town is the Esmond Café, and it’s been there since the town’s inception.

Imagine living in an area where the closest ambulance service is 40 minutes away. That’s what the people of Esmond and the surrounding areas were dealing with for a few years. Now, thanks to volunteers, they have a Quick Response Unit. 

Originally dedicated back in 1973, the Randy Marthe Memorial Park was dedicated after Marthe lost his life in the Vietnam war.

Marthe was a well-known person in the city and when he lost his life. His classmates named the park in his honor.

Warwick

Home of the Warwick Warriors

Warwick was founded in 1907. Located 29 miles south of Devils Lake, Warwick is on the edge of the Spirit Lake Reservation. Warwick has a public school system servicing preschool aged students through seniors in High School. The average enroll for the Warwick school system is 240 students.

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Brinsmade

Small Town Shown on the Big Screen

Brinsmade was platted on October 7, 1889, when a Northern Pacific Railway branch line was extended from Minnewaukan to Leeds. The village was incorporated April 4, 1904. The city was named in honor of one Reverend S. Brinsmade. Brinsmade was the scene of a battle between the US Army and a UFO in the 2002 TV miniseries Taken, produced by Steven Spielberg.

Knox

Nearly Ghosted Small North Dakota Town

Knox is a rarity as near-ghost towns go — it is located right off a major highway — US 2, between Rugby and Devils Lake.  According to the 2010 census, Knox is home to 25 residents, has 13 occupied households and 13 vacant households.  Knox was founded in 1883 and reportedly had a peak population of 330 in 1910.

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York

Small Town with a TV Show Sitcom Reference

York is a city in Benson County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 23 at the 2010 census. York was founded in 1886 and named after York, England by Great Northern Railway President James J. Hill. It was one of several sites along the Great Northern's transcontinental route between Devils Lake and Minot that were named after places in England.

York, North Dakota is mentioned humorously in the television show 'How I Met Your Mother'. In the episode, Ted, the lead character, mentions that he has a new architecture project updating the "new York public library", making it sound like it is the New York Public Library, but instead is the "public library of York, North Dakota". As mentioned in the show, the library has two sections, "fishing and non-fishing."

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