Belden, North Dakota

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Belden is a ghost town located in Sikes Township in Mountrail County, North Dakota, United States. It is located along North Dakota Highway 8 between Stanley and the former town of Van Hook.[1] The village was founded in 1904, and was reportedly named for W. L. Belden, North Dakota's Indian agent at-large who was stationed at Fort Berthold Indian Reservation at the time.[2]

History[]

Belden was founded in 1904 by Finnish settlers when the area was still part of Ward County.[3][4] The village never exceeded a population of more than 25. The post office was established in 1904 as well, and operated continuously until 1986 with the ZIP code of 58715. The Belden Store was considered a local landmark.[2] Today, Belden has a population of about 15, with one large family growing the number over the past decade.

Similarly named places in North Dakota[]

  • Belden Post Office (first), Logan County. This post office was reportedly established June 28, 1890, but the government denied the entry with a "no papers" explanation in 1892.[2]
  • Belden Post Office (second), Logan County. Named for or Belden, Nebraska. The post office in , established February 1892, was briefly changed to Belden in April of that year.[3][4] However, the name change was never formally ratified and was rescinded in 1895.[2]
  • , Sioux County. Located at the junction of the Milwaukee Railroad and Northern Pacific Railroad, it was originally named Belden for .

References[]

  1. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Wick, Douglas A. (1988). North Dakota Place Names. Bismarck, North Dakota: Hedemarken Collectibles. p. 14. ISBN 0-9620968-0-6. OCLC 191277027.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Williams, Mary Ann (Barnes) (1966). Origins of North Dakota Place Names. Bismarck, North Dakota: Bismarck Tribune, 1966. p. 205. OCLC 431626.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Patera, Alan H.; John S. Gallagher (1982). North Dakota Post Offices, 1850-1982. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. pp. 99–101. OCLC 09763647.

Coordinates: 48°09′05″N 102°21′27″W / 48.15139°N 102.35750°W / 48.15139; -102.35750


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