Dogtooth, North Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dogtooth, North Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Grant County |
Dogtooth was once a small community in Grant County, North Dakota. Today, it is known as a ghost town. A ghost town is a place where most or all people have left. This leaves behind empty buildings or just traces of a former settlement. Dogtooth got its unusual name because the nearby hills, called buttes, looked like a dog's molar teeth. It was located in a specific area known as Section 11 of Survey Township T133 North, Range 85 West.
Contents
A Brief History of Dogtooth
Dogtooth started its life in 1876. It began as a station along the Deadwood - Bismarck Trail. This trail was an important route for travel and trade.
The First Years
The station at Dogtooth closed in 1880. This happened after the Northern Pacific Railroad was finished. Even though the station closed, people continued to homestead in the area. Homesteading means settling on and farming land given by the government.
A Post Office and New Hopes
On March 20, 1900, a post office opened in Dogtooth. Robert Pearce was in charge of it. People living there hoped Dogtooth would grow into a big city, or a "thriving metropolis." They were excited because a new railroad, the Milwaukee, was planning to build a town nearby. This would make it easier for farmers to transport their crops.
The Rise of Raleigh
In 1910, a man named Charles Leonard ran a store in Dogtooth. He decided to move his business to a new town called Raleigh. Raleigh was only two miles east of Dogtooth. Charles Leonard also opened a post office in Raleigh in October 1910.
As Raleigh grew, Dogtooth slowly faded away. The local newspaper, the Carson Press, wrote about Charles Leonard's move on January 12, 1911. They said his decision to move his store and open a post office in Raleigh "put the finishing touches on Dogtooth." This meant Dogtooth was officially coming to an end.
