The Heart And Soul Of North Dakota Is The Small Towns And These 7 Have The Best Downtown Areas
By Tori Jane|Published November 20, 2021
×
Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
If there’s anything that people love seeking out – be it to live there or just to visit – it’s small towns. Who could blame them? In small towns, it feels like everyone knows you (and each other). Folks are kind, the restaurants are unique, and every town has its own special magic. Let’s take a look at some of the best (subjective, of course) small towns in North Dakota with interesting, fun, or historic downtown areas sure to please just about any small town enthusiast. (As an aside, North Dakota might have “cities” but none of them are cities. Even our biggest towns are still small towns, by most standards – lucky us!)
Though the entries on this list are definitely not in any particular order, it just wouldn't be fair not to mention Medora first. It's a very unique town - it's nestled entirely within Theodore Roosevelt National Park - and it has a population of under 200 people. Its downtown is special for a reason: it's literally the only incorporated downtown in all of Billings County. Learn more about Medora, North Dakota, here.
Located in Barnes County, Valley City is a cute, happening little place with a vibrant main street filled with local shops, eateries, pubs, and more. The population is under 7,000 and this makes it the 13th-largest town in the state. Fun fact: this town is home to more than ten epic old bridges. Learn more about North Dakota's bridgetown USA here.
Founded in 1881, Hillsboro is nestled in the Red River Valley and has all the pleasantries of a small town while remaining fairly remote. Hillsboro has a wonderful school district, and its downtown area is a blast. You'll find shops and restaurants here that literally do not exist anywhere else! Get all the details about the town of Hillsboro here.
Langdon is located in Cavalier County and has a population of less than 2,000 people. Fun fact: Langdon is known as "the Western Gateway to the Rendezvous Region" and is chock-full of nightlife, family-friendly activities, and more! Langdon is a perfect destination for a romantic getaway!
No list of adorable towns and their downtowns in North Dakota would be complete without mentioning Jud. Jud was founded in 1904, and it's tiny - the population was under 100 in the 2010 census. It's known as the City of Murals, and for good reason: almost every single building in town's got one. Learn more about Jud and its adorableness here.
Last, but certainly not least on this list, the town of Jamestown is probably the largest town we'll mention. It's located in Stutsman County and was founded in 1872. Come see the world's largest buffalo and see why the Jamestown is one of our favorite downtowns in all of North Dakota! Read more about Jamestown here.
What’s your favorite small town in North Dakota?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
