Marmarth, North Dakota facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Marmarth
City
U.S. Route 12 in Marmarth, 2007.
Location of Marmarth, North Dakota 58643
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
County	Slope
Founded	1907
Area
• Total	2.61 sq mi (6.75 km²)
• Land	2.58 sq mi (6.68 km²)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km²)
Elevation	2,710 ft (826 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	101
• Estimate (2022)	97
• Density	39.18/sq mi (15.13/km²)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	58643
Area code(s)	701
FIPS code	38-50860
GNIS feature ID	1036151

Marmarth is a small city in Slope County, North Dakota, USA. In 2020, its population was 101 people. The city is located in the southwestern part of North Dakota, very close to the Montana border.

Marmarth was founded in 1907 as a railroad town. It was part of the Milwaukee Road line that stretched from Seattle to Chicago. By 1920, Marmarth was a bustling place with over 1,300 residents. However, its population has slowly decreased over the years.

The town is famous for many historical events. These include stories about the Lakota Native Americans. It's also known for amazing dinosaur discoveries, like the Dakota fossil. Former president Theodore Roosevelt visited Marmarth many times. He even shot his first buffalo and grizzly bear near the Little Missouri River here. The old ranch house where he stayed is still standing. Another interesting sight is the "Woman in Stone," a 50-foot rock that looks like a woman's face.

Marmarth is close to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It's also next to the Little Missouri National Grassland. The city is the closest town to Big Gumbo, a large public wilderness area.

What's in a Name?
Where is Marmarth?
- Marmarth's Weather
Marmarth's Past
Marmarth's Population
Local Wildlife
Cool Places to Visit
Famous People from Marmarth
See also

What's in a Name?

The Harrison House in Marmarth, 1915.

The name "Marmarth" comes from a combination of letters. It uses parts of the first and middle names of Margaret Martha Finch. She was the granddaughter of Albert J. Earling, who was the president of the railroad at the time.

Marmarth is also called the "city of trees." This is because it's one of the few places with many trees in the Badlands region of Southern North Dakota.

Where is Marmarth?

Marmarth is located in the Badlands region of North Dakota. It sits right next to the Little Missouri River. This is where the Little Missouri River meets Hay Creek and Little Beaver Creek.

The city is about 2,709 feet (826 meters) above sea level. It's known as "the city of trees" because it's like a green island in the mostly treeless Badlands. It's also the only place in North Dakota where special pine trees called limber pines grow.

Marmarth covers an area of about 2.52 square miles (6.53 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Marmarth's Weather

Marmarth has a semi-arid climate. This means it's usually dry, but not a desert. It gets some rain, but not a lot.

Marmarth's Past

Native American History

The area around Marmarth was originally home to the Lakota and Crow people tribes. Some historians believe these tribes might have been part of the ancient Mound Builders civilization.

In 1864, a group of 200 gold-seekers was traveling near what is now Marmarth. They were attacked by over a hundred Hunkpapa Sioux warriors. These warriors were led by the famous chief Sitting Bull. During the battle, Sitting Bull was injured. Six Hunkpapa warriors, ten soldiers, and two civilians died. The place where this battle happened, called the Site of Fort Dilts, is now a historic landmark.

Theodore Roosevelt's Visits

Theodore Roosevelt visited Marmarth many times. It's said that he shot his first grizzly bear and his first buffalo here. He hunted by the Little Missouri River. The old ranch house on Hay Creek where he stayed is still standing today.

Becoming a Town

Homesteader Michael Zeis arrives at Marmarth in 1913.

Marmarth became a very popular place for homesteading in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Homesteading meant people could get free land if they lived on it and farmed it. The town was founded in 1907 because of the new Milwaukee Road train line. This line connected the country from coast to coast. Cheap land and good farming also attracted people.

The town was first planned on the east side of the Little Missouri River. But there were problems getting enough land there. So, in 1908, the city was moved to the other side of the river. Many pioneers came here, especially after the Dust Bowl in search of a new life.

Marmarth grew quickly to serve the many homesteaders. The first twenty years of the 1900s were very wet, which was great for farming. Farmers had huge wheat harvests, making them hopeful for wealth. By 1920, Marmarth had 1,318 people. It had an auditorium, a theater, a big train station, a newspaper, and even paved sidewalks.

One story from April 1920 tells of rancher Jack Miller. He had to escape a flood on Beaver Creek on horseback. His horse slipped, and Miller, who had only one arm, ended up in the icy water. He managed to climb onto an iceberg and danced all night to stay warm. In the morning, he found safety at a neighbor's house.

Michael-Zeis-Hunting-By-Marmarth-Little-Missouri-River

Homesteader hunting by the Little Missouri River, where Theodore Roosevelt killed his first buffalo a few years prior.

Marmarth was the largest town on the Milwaukee railroad line in North Dakota by 1911. It was also the fifth largest town west of the Missouri River. Michael Zeis, an early settler, described the town. He said he had a cigar shop and sold cigars in nearby towns. He worked for the railroad from 1908 to 1918.

The town had its own doctor, Dr. Frederick A. Bordwell. It also had an Opera House, a Barber Building, and the Mystic Theatre which opened in 1914. There was a car dealership and a hardware store. The town was even known to have jailed members of the famous Jesse James’ gang.

By the 1920s, things changed. World War I ended, and the weather became drier. Many settlers left their farms. By 1930, Marmarth's population had dropped by almost half. This decline has continued ever since.

Dinosaur Discoveries

A segment of the Dakota fossil, bones from a 67-million-year-old dinosaur discovered in Marmarth in 1999.

Marmarth is a great place for finding dinosaur fossils! Many dinosaur bones have been discovered here, including the famous Dakota fossil.

The Marmarth Historical Society and the Marmarth Research Foundation offer summer classes. You can learn about digging up fossils where Triceratops and duckbill dinosaurs have been found. These courses teach you how to prepare fossils and how to find them in the field.

The Dakota fossil is a fossilized Edmontosaurus, a type of duckbill dinosaur. It was found near Marmarth in 1999 by Tyler Lyson. What makes this fossil special is that not just the bones were preserved. Even soft tissues like skin and muscle were fossilized!

Marmarth's Population

Marmarth's population has changed a lot over the years.

1910: 790 people
1920: 1,318 people (the highest it ever was!)
1930: 721 people
1940: 626 people
1950: 469 people
1960: 319 people
1970: 247 people
1980: 190 people
1990: 144 people
2000: 140 people
2010: 136 people
2020: 101 people

As of 2010, there were 136 people living in Marmarth. Most residents were White (89.7%), and some were Native American (9.6%). About 8.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The average age in Marmarth was 41 years old.

Local Wildlife

The area around Marmarth is full of amazing wildlife. You can find many different animals here, especially in the southern part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Some of the animals you might see include:

Many types of birds also live here, such as:

Cool Places to Visit

The Mystic Theatre has been on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places since 1977.

If you visit Marmarth, here are some interesting places to check out:

Theodore Roosevelt National Park: A beautiful national park with amazing landscapes and wildlife.
Mystic Theatre: A historic theater built in 1914. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Marmarth Research Foundation: This group offers chances to join local dinosaur digs and learn about fossils.
Theodore Roosevelt's old ranch house: The house by Hay Creek where President Roosevelt stayed.
Fort Dilts: A historic site where a battle took place involving Sitting Bull. It's also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Big Gumbo: A huge public wilderness area perfect for exploring nature.
Little Missouri National Grassland: A large area of grasslands with diverse wildlife.
Marmarth Historical Society: Learn more about the town's rich history here.
The Woman in Stone statue: A unique rock formation that looks like a woman's face.

Famous People from Marmarth

Tyler Lyson: A paleontologist who discovered the famous Dakota fossil near Marmarth.