Hillsboro, North Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hillsboro, North Dakota
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Traill County Courthouse in Hillsboro
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| Nickname(s):
"Home of the burros"
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| Motto(s):
"Experience Hillsboro"
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Location of Hillsboro, North Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Traill |
| First Settled | Circa 1870 |
| Founded as "Comstock" | 1880 |
| Established | 1881 |
| Renamed "Hillsboro" | 1883 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.11 sq mi (2.88 km2) |
| • Land | 1.11 sq mi (2.88 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 906 ft (276 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,649 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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1,654 |
| • Density | 1,482.91/sq mi (572.64/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
58045
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| Area code(s) | 701 |
| FIPS code | 38-38100 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1036092 |
| Highways | I-29, US 81, ND 200 |
Hillsboro is a small city in Traill County, North Dakota. It is the main government center for Traill County. In 2020, about 1,649 people lived there. Hillsboro was officially started in 1881.
Hillsboro is located in the very rich farming area called the Red River Valley. Farming has always been the most important part of the local economy. Because it's on Interstate 29, between the bigger cities of Greater Grand Forks and Fargo–Moorhead, Hillsboro has been growing. Many people who work in those bigger cities choose to live in Hillsboro.
Contents
History
The area near the Goose River, where Hillsboro is now, was first settled around 1870. People from Germany and Norway were among the first to arrive. In 1880, the spot where Hillsboro stands today was named "Comstock."
A local story says that a surveyor was turned away from a nearby town because he looked a bit messy. But the people in the small settlement of Comstock welcomed him. This man turned out to be James J. Hill, a very important railroad builder. He was so impressed by their kindness that he decided to build his Great Northern Railway through Comstock instead of the other town.
In September 1880, the town was officially named "Hill City" to honor Mr. Hill. However, in 1883, the name was changed to "Hillsboro." This happened because there was already another "Hill City" in Dakota Territory, which is now part of South Dakota.
Having the railroad come through Hillsboro was a big deal. It made the young city want to become the county seat (the main government town) instead of Caledonia. Caledonia had been the county seat since 1875. The competition between the towns became very strong. People in Caledonia even armed themselves and guarded their town! They formed a "defense committee." Hillsboro residents jokingly called them "Tigers of the Jungle."
Caledonia even hired a speaker, Col. W. C. Plummer, to try and convince people to keep the county seat there. Many people listened to his speeches. But even with all their efforts, Caledonia lost. Hillsboro won the vote by a lot: 1,291 votes to 218. The Traill County Courthouse was then built in Hillsboro in 1905.
In 2001, Hillsboro had very strong winds, reaching 100 miles per hour. These winds blew down many trees and power lines. About a quarter of the homes in Hillsboro were damaged. In 2006, Hillsboro celebrated its 125th birthday!
Geography
Hillsboro is located on the banks of the Goose River in eastern North Dakota. It sits in the middle of the very rich Red River Valley, which means the land around Hillsboro is excellent for farming and is very flat.
The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 1.09 square miles (2.82 km2) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Climate
Hillsboro has a climate with big changes in temperature between seasons. Summers are warm to hot and often humid. Winters are cold, sometimes very cold. This type of weather is called a humid continental climate.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 715 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,172 | 63.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,237 | 5.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,183 | −4.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,317 | 11.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,338 | 1.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,331 | −0.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,278 | −4.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,309 | 2.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,600 | 22.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,488 | −7.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,563 | 5.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,603 | 2.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,649 | 2.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 1,654 | 3.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 1,603 people living in Hillsboro. There were 687 households, and 418 of them were families. The city had about 1,470 people per square mile.
About 25.6% of the people living in Hillsboro were under 18 years old. About 18.7% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 40.5 years. There were slightly more females (50.7%) than males (49.3%).
Economy
Like many small towns in North Dakota, Hillsboro's economy relies a lot on farming. When farmers have a good harvest, Hillsboro usually does well. When harvests are not so good, the economy can slow down.
One important part of the farming economy is the American Crystal Sugar sugar beet plant. It's located just north of town. This large factory has brought more people and steady jobs to Hillsboro for many years. Also, local factories like Degelman Industries and Total Ag Industries, which are also linked to farming, have created a need for more workers.
In recent years, Hillsboro has become a "bedroom community." This means many people who work in the bigger cities of Greater Grand Forks and Fargo-Moorhead choose to live in Hillsboro. This has led to more people moving in and more homes being built. New businesses like 3R Floral, Sundae Brew, and Goose River Brewing have also opened. The downtown area, once very busy, is now seeing new development.
Economic Development Efforts
Groups like the Hillsboro Economic Development Corporation work to help the local economy grow. A part of the money collected from local sales tax is used to help new businesses. New businesses and people who want to start their own businesses can ask for money or low-interest loans to help them get started in the city.
Education
Hillsboro has its own school system, called the Hillsboro Public School District 9. It includes an elementary school and a high school.
The high school offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes. These are college-level classes that students can take while still in high school. They can be taken online, in school, or through Lake Region State College. These classes can earn students college credit at most colleges and universities in North Dakota.
In 2003, 40% of Hillsboro students met or did better than grade-level standards in Math. In English, 76% of students met or did better than the standards. These numbers were higher than the state averages.
In 2012, Hillsboro High School joined with Central Valley School for all sports. This means students from both schools play on the same teams. However, they still compete separately for fine arts activities like music or drama.
High School Championships
Hillsboro High School teams have won many state championships:
- State Class 'B' boys basketball: 1973, 1974, 1977, 1981, 2017, 2018
- State Class 'B' girls basketball: 1984
- State Class 'B' volleyball: 2000, 2006
- State Class 'B' boys baseball: 1967, 1968
- State Class 'B' girls gymnastics: 1977, 1981
- State 9-man football: 2008
- State 11-man 'A' football: 2017
- State 11-man '2A' football: 2019
- State Class 'B' Girls Cross Country: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Culture
Recreation
Hillsboro has a large park called Woodland City Park on the north side of town. It's located along the Goose River. The park has a public swimming pool and nice views of a dam on the river. There used to be deer living in a fenced area of the park, but they are no longer there.
The Goose River Golf Club is just north of town. Hillsboro also has Railroad Park along its Main Street. This park has an old railroad caboose and a statue of the high school mascot, the burro. The city is working to make Railroad Park even better.
Media
The local newspaper in Hillsboro is the Hillsboro Banner. It comes out once a week and has been published since 1879. This makes it the oldest weekly newspaper in North Dakota. Hillsboro doesn't have its own radio stations. However, people can listen to nearby stations like KMAV 105.5 FM and KMSR 1520 AM from Mayville, and KRJB 106.5 FM from Ada, Minnesota. Residents can also get radio and TV channels from Grand Forks and Fargo–Moorhead.
Sites of Interest
- The Amos and Lillie Plummer House: This is a historic mansion built in 1897. It has been turned into a museum and looks just like it did at the turn of the century.
- Traill County Courthouse: This historic building is near the center of town. It has a large dome with paintings inside. There's also a statue of Abraham Lincoln nearby.
- Pioneer Museum: This is a group of museums that includes:
- Centennial Building: It has collections about military history, schools, and early pioneers.
- Pioneer Building: This building shows off farming tools and equipment from the past.
- St. Olaf Chapel: This church looks like the small, rural churches found throughout the Red River Valley.
- Log Cabin: This cabin was built in the 1870s on the banks of the Red River of the North.
Transportation
People in Hillsboro can easily get to bigger cities using Interstate 29. The Interstate runs along the west side of the community. There's an exit (Caledonia Avenue) that connects the Interstate to Hillsboro. U.S. Highway 81 also goes through the town and connects Hillsboro to Grand Forks and Fargo.
Like many towns in the American Midwest, Hillsboro's streets are laid out in a grid pattern. Streets run north to south, and avenues run east to west.
The BNSF Railway (which took over from the Great Northern) still has train tracks in Hillsboro. Many freight trains use these tracks every day. Amtrak's Empire Builder passenger train also passes through Hillsboro early in the morning, but it does not stop. The closest Amtrak stations are in Grand Forks, about 40 miles (64 km) north, and Fargo, about 42 miles (68 km) south.
The Hillsboro Municipal Airport is a small airport south of town. It has a landing strip for small private planes or planes used for crop dusting. However, for regular flights to major airports, residents need to go to either Grand Forks or Fargo.
Notable people
- John H. Carkin, an Oregon lawyer and politician
- Randy Lemm, a member of the North Dakota Senate
- Elmore Y. Sarles, the 9th governor of North Dakota
See also
In Spanish: Hillsboro (Dakota del Norte) para niños
