Belden, North Dakota facts for kids

Belden is a small, historic place in Mountrail County, North Dakota, United States. It's often called a ghost town, which means it used to be a busier place but now has very few people living there. Belden is located along North Dakota Highway 8, between the towns of Stanley and where the old town of Van Hook used to be.

The village was started in 1904. It was reportedly named after W. L. Belden. He was a person who worked with Native American communities in North Dakota, and he was based at the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation at that time.

History of Belden

Belden was founded in 1904 by settlers from Finland. At that time, this area was part of Ward County, North Dakota. The village was always very small. It never had more than 25 people living there at its busiest time.

A post office was also set up in Belden in 1904. It stayed open for a long time, all the way until 1986. The local store, known as the Belden Store, was an important place for the community.

Today, even though it's called a ghost town, about 20 people live in Belden. A few young families have moved there in the last ten years, helping the population grow a little.