Rock Township, Benson County, North Dakota
Encyclopedia
Rock Township is a civil township
in Benson County
, North Dakota
, United States
. As of the 2000 census
, its population was 39.
151N, Range 66W. It is almost entirely within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation. and has one of the lower population densities in Benson County, with 1.1 people per square mile. The Sheyenne River
traverses the southern part of the township.
reservation did not official open to settlers in 1904. James McLaughlin
, who had been the chief Indian agent at the local Bureau of Indian Affairs
agency on the reservation, reached an agreement with the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe
which permitted settlement by non-tribal members. President Theodore Roosevelt
proclaimed homesteading the area officially open on on June 2, 1904.
By 1905 there were so many children that a school had to be built, and Plainview School District Number 31 was established that October. In 1910 township residents petitioned the county to allow them to formally organize a civil township with the name Plainview. However, there already existed a Plainview Township in Stutsman County
, so the name Rock Township was adopted.
By 1920 about 35 children attended the Plainview School No. 1, and Plainview No. 2 and No. 3 were soon added. In 1953 there were not enough students to operate the Plainview School, so students were transported to nearby Sheyenne
, with tuition paid for by the Plainview School District. In 1960, the Sheyenne School District and Plainview merged into one school district with shared bus service.
was known as the "Sunshine Trail," with the only marking being the letter "S" on a piece of tin nailed to a post. Today, the road has been rebuilt and serves as U.S. Route 281
.
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
in Benson County
Benson County, North Dakota
-Major highways:* U.S. Highway 2* U.S. Highway 281* North Dakota Highway 19* North Dakota Highway 20* North Dakota Highway 57-National protected areas:*Pleasant Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Silver Lake National Wildlife Refuge...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, its population was 39.
Geography
Rock Township is located at 47°54′30"N 99°05′01"W (47.9083319, -99.0837350) in public land survey TownshipPublic Land Survey System
The Public Land Survey System is a method used in the United States to survey and identify land parcels, particularly for titles and deeds of rural, wild or undeveloped land. Its basic units of area are the township and section. It is sometimes referred to as the rectangular survey system,...
151N, Range 66W. It is almost entirely within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation. and has one of the lower population densities in Benson County, with 1.1 people per square mile. The Sheyenne River
Sheyenne River
The Sheyenne River is one of the major tributaries of the Red River of the North, meandering across eastern North Dakota.The river begins about north of McClusky, North Dakota, and flows generally eastward before turning south near McVille. The southerly flow of the river continues through Griggs...
traverses the southern part of the township.
History
Homesteading in Rock Township began in the early 1880s, even though the IndianNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
reservation did not official open to settlers in 1904. James McLaughlin
James McLaughlin (Indian agent)
US Indian Service Agent James McLaughlin , son of Felix and Mary Prince, was born and raised in Avonmore, Ontario, Canada. He moved to St Paul, Minnesota in 1863 , where he met and married his wife Marie Louise Buisson, a Mdewakanton mixedblood, in 1864, and obtained his United States citizenship...
, who had been the chief Indian agent at the local Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
agency on the reservation, reached an agreement with the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe
Spirit Lake Tribe
The Spirit Lake Tribe is a Sioux tribe. Its reservation is located in east-central North Dakota on the southern shores of Devils Lake...
which permitted settlement by non-tribal members. President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
proclaimed homesteading the area officially open on on June 2, 1904.
By 1905 there were so many children that a school had to be built, and Plainview School District Number 31 was established that October. In 1910 township residents petitioned the county to allow them to formally organize a civil township with the name Plainview. However, there already existed a Plainview Township in Stutsman County
Stutsman County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:*Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge *Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Halfway Lake National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
, so the name Rock Township was adopted.
By 1920 about 35 children attended the Plainview School No. 1, and Plainview No. 2 and No. 3 were soon added. In 1953 there were not enough students to operate the Plainview School, so students were transported to nearby Sheyenne
Sheyenne, North Dakota
Sheyenne is a city in Eddy County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 204 at the 2010 census. Sheyenne was founded in 1883. Located in the city is a U.S. post office, a senior citizen's center, and a fire department. A community center and the Log Cabin Museum are located on Main...
, with tuition paid for by the Plainview School District. In 1960, the Sheyenne School District and Plainview merged into one school district with shared bus service.
Roads
At one time the roads in Rock Township were extremely poor. The main road from Sheyenne to Devils LakeDevils Lake, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 7,222 people, 3,127 households, and 1,773 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,508 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.23% White, 0.22% African American, 7.84% Native American, 0.28%...
was known as the "Sunshine Trail," with the only marking being the letter "S" on a piece of tin nailed to a post. Today, the road has been rebuilt and serves as U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281
U.S. Route 281 is a north–south United States highway. At 1,872 miles long it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route....
.