Leipzig, North Dakota facts for kids
Leipzig is a ghost town located in Grant County, North Dakota, in the United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now it's empty. This community was left behind in 1910. This happened because a train track, built by the Northern Pacific Railroad, went around it.
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The Story of Leipzig
Where Did the Name Leipzig Come From?
The name "Leipzig" has old roots. It's a Slavic word. It first appeared around the year 1015 in Germany. The name means "a settlement by the lime trees." Imagine a small village surrounded by beautiful lime trees!
Leipzig's Journey to North Dakota
A town called Leipzig was first started in a place called Bessarabia in 1844. This happened because the Emperor of Austria asked for it.
Later, in 1896, about 15 families traveled from Bessarabia to the United States. These families were German-Russian, and they were called "Leipzigers." They decided to start a new community. They named this new place "Leipzig" after their old home.
Why Leipzig Became a Ghost Town
In 1910, the Northern Pacific Railroad built new train tracks. These tracks did not go through Leipzig. Instead, they went about 11 miles southwest of the town.
Because the railroad was so important for travel and trade, the people of Leipzig decided to move. In May 1910, they packed up their settlement. They moved it to the new location near the railroad tracks. There, they founded a new town called New Leipzig. The original Leipzig then became a ghost town.
