Verendrye, North Dakota

Verendrye was a historic unincorporated community in McHenry County, North Dakota, United States, located approximately eight miles (13 km) northwest of Karlsruhe and 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Velva within Falsen Township.^[1] Although classified by the USGS as a populated place, it is considered a ghost town.

Verendrye, North Dakota
Abandoned Falsen School
Verendrye Show map of North Dakota Verendrye Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 48°07′16″N 100°44′21″W

History

David Thompson Memorial

The community was first known as Falsen, founded in 1912 by Norwegian settlers, who named it for Norwegian statesman Christian Magnus Falsen.^[2] Falsen was also the name of the station on the Great Northern Railway.^[3] The post office was established with the name Falsen in 1913, but the name was changed in 1925 to honor Pierre de la Verendrye, an early French-Canadian explorer who was said to be the first non-Native American person to tour the North Dakota prairies.^[4][5] The population of Falsen in 1920 was 75.^[2] The population of Verendrye in 1938 was 100.^[6] When the railroad switched to diesel locomotives, regular stops by steam trains at Verendrye for water and coal were no longer needed, beginning Verendrye's decline.^{[citation needed]} The post office closed in 1965, with mail being redirected to Bergen.^[7] The last residents moved away in 1970, and a farm now occupies the townsite; the facade of the abandoned Falsen School is located on the property.^{[citation needed]}

Along with Norwegians, Falsen was originally settled by German-Russians from the villages of Kandel and Selz in Ukraine.^{[8][better source needed]}

A monument to the later North West Company fur trader and explorer, David Thompson, erected by the Great Northern Railway in 1925,^[5] remains on a hilltop overlooking the former townsite.

The Verendrye Electric Cooperative was established here in 1939 but relocated to Velva in 1941.^[9]

Geography

Verendrye is located in the Mouse River Valley along the route of the BNSF Railway.^[1]

See also

• List of ghost towns in North Dakota