A lot of towns in North Dakota have some absolutely lovely scenery, and one of the smallest yet most beautiful spots may just be the town of Fort Ransom. Located about 30 miles south of Valley City and in the heart of the Sheyenne River Valley, this teeny town of less than 100 residents is tucked up among the trees and the winding river. And that’s just the beginning!

The town of Fort Ransom was founded in 1880, about 8 years after its namesake military post had been dismantled.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
According to the US Census Bureau, about 78 people currently live here as of 2015. The small town is surrounded by the winding Sheyenne River and the dense trees and wooded areas around it.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
Right next to the entrance of the town is the Sheyenne River Dam that was constructed in 1953 over an original dam much older. Today, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fort Ransom is full of historic buildings nestled in the trees.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Not only does this place have scenic, natural views, it also has a lot of history you can visit yourself. The TJ Walker Historic District is one of the highlights of the town with some unique and interesting shops and buildings that have been around for decades.
Andrew Filer/Flickr

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This town is all about its Scandinavian heritage, and includes places named appropriately for such.
hildeborg/Flickr
From the only restaurant and bar in town, Thor's and the Old Mill Grill, to a small gift shop shown above, the Uff Da Shop, they love embracing their viking heritage here.
Just outside of the town is an unusual natural feature, Pyramid Hill.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
While geologists believe this hill was formed from the glaciers that covered much of North Dakota thousands of years ago, some people believe the hill was man made much later in time.
Sitting right on top of Pyramid Hill is a viking statue meant to represent the Norwegian heritage of the town.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
The statue was built in 1972 and has stood tall and proud since then.
Everything about Fort Ransom centers around its heritage, history, and the stunning scenery.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
The building above was once a general mercantile type store built in 1907 that later became the Ransom County Historical Museum that you can visit today. The building is partially made of materials that were originally used in the actual fort of Fort Ransom.
The town is directly within a bend of the Sheyenne River and you can see it and the trees surrounding it easily from almost everywhere in town.
NDPRD/Flickr
Everything about this place is beautiful. The river, the forest, the historical buildings and the heritage they embrace... It is definitely one of North Dakota's best kept secrets!

You can learn more about the town of Fort Ransom by visiting their website.

Fort Ransom State Park is just a few minutes north of the town and is well worth a visit. Learn more about it here.

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