Belden, North Dakota
Encyclopedia
Belden is a ghost town
located in Sikes Township in Mountrail County, North Dakota
. It is located along North Dakota Highway 8
between Stanley
and the former town of Van Hook. 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.
. 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. Today, Belden is a barely populated ghost town. Some reports indicate the town has one full time resident, who lives in the old gas station.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
located in Sikes Township in Mountrail County, North Dakota
Mountrail County, North Dakota
-Major highways:* U.S. Highway 2* North Dakota Highway 8* North Dakota Highway 23* North Dakota Highway 31* North Dakota Highway 1804-National protected areas:*Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge *Shell Lake National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
. It is located along North Dakota Highway 8
North Dakota Highway 8
North Dakota Highway 8 is a north–south highway in North Dakota. The highway is split into two segments. The northern segment is long and runs from SK 9 in Northgate to ND-23 near New Town. The southern segment is long and runs from Lake Sakakawea near Twin Buttes to SD-75 near Hettinger....
between Stanley
Stanley, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,279 people, 576 households, and 332 families residing in the city. The population density was 740.3 people per square mile . There were 664 housing units at an average density of 384.3 per square mile...
and the former town of Van Hook. The village was founded in 1904, and was reportedly named for W. L. Belden, North Dakota's Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
who was stationed at Fort Berthold Indian Reservation at the time.
History
Belden was founded in 1904 by Finnish settlers when the area was still part of Ward CountyWard County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:*Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge *Hiddenwood National Wildlife Refuge *Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:...
. 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
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 58715. The Belden Store was considered a local landmark. Today, Belden is a barely populated ghost town. Some reports indicate the town has one full time resident, who lives in the old gas station.
Similarly named places in North Dakota
- Belden Post Office (first), Logan CountyLogan County, North Dakota-Major highways:* North Dakota Highway 3* North Dakota Highway 13* North Dakota Highway 30* North Dakota Highway 34* North Dakota Highway 56-Demographics:...
. This post office was reportedly established June 28, 1890, but the government denied the entry with a "no papers" explanation in 1892. - Belden Post Office (second), Logan CountyLogan County, North Dakota-Major highways:* North Dakota Highway 3* North Dakota Highway 13* North Dakota Highway 30* North Dakota Highway 34* North Dakota Highway 56-Demographics:...
. Named for W. L. Belden or Belden, NebraskaBelden, NebraskaBelden is a village in Cedar County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 131 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Belden is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
. The post office in Richville, established February 1892, was briefly changed to Belden in April of that year. However, the name change was never formerly ratified and was rescicinded in 1895. - Cannon Ball Junction, Sioux CountySioux County, North Dakota-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,044 people, 1,095 households, and 871 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,216 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
. Located at the junction of the Milwaukee Railroad and Northern Pacific Railroad, it was originally named Belden for W. L. Belden.