kids encyclopedia robot

Petersburg, North Dakota facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Petersburg, North Dakota
Looking down a street in Petersburg
Looking down a street in Petersburg
Location of Petersburg, North Dakota
Location of Petersburg, North Dakota
Country United States
State North Dakota
County Nelson
Founded 1884
Area
 • Total 1.04 sq mi (2.69 km2)
 • Land 1.03 sq mi (2.66 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
1,526 ft (465 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 162
 • Estimate 
(2022)
160
 • Density 157.59/sq mi (60.82/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
58272
Area code(s) 701
FIPS code 38-61860
GNIS feature ID 1036218

Petersburg is a small city in Nelson County, North Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, 162 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a rich history.

History of Petersburg

Petersburg was started in 1884. Two men, Martin N. Johnson and Levi H. Peterson, owned land next to the Great Northern Railway. They decided to create a town there.

To choose the town's name, they flipped a coin. Peterson won the coin toss. He chose the name Petersburg, probably naming it after himself.

Geography and Climate

Where is Petersburg?

Petersburg is located in North Dakota. The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 1.04 square miles (2.69 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.

What is the Climate Like?

Petersburg has a climate with big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot, and sometimes humid. Winters are very cold. This type of weather is known as a humid continental climate.

Climate data for Petersburg 2 N, North Dakota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1944–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 50
(10)
62
(17)
79
(26)
98
(37)
96
(36)
103
(39)
100
(38)
102
(39)
102
(39)
92
(33)
75
(24)
57
(14)
103
(39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 13.7
(−10.2)
18.6
(−7.4)
31.3
(−0.4)
49.7
(9.8)
64.9
(18.3)
74.3
(23.5)
78.9
(26.1)
78.3
(25.7)
68.9
(20.5)
52.3
(11.3)
34.0
(1.1)
19.9
(−6.7)
48.7
(9.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 4.8
(−15.1)
9.0
(−12.8)
22.2
(−5.4)
39.0
(3.9)
53.4
(11.9)
63.7
(17.6)
68.2
(20.1)
66.6
(19.2)
57.0
(13.9)
42.0
(5.6)
25.6
(−3.6)
11.8
(−11.2)
38.6
(3.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) −4.2
(−20.1)
−0.7
(−18.2)
13.2
(−10.4)
28.4
(−2.0)
41.9
(5.5)
53.1
(11.7)
57.5
(14.2)
54.9
(12.7)
45.2
(7.3)
31.7
(−0.2)
17.1
(−8.3)
3.6
(−15.8)
28.5
(−1.9)
Record low °F (°C) −42
(−41)
−44
(−42)
−34
(−37)
−12
(−24)
5
(−15)
28
(−2)
30
(−1)
25
(−4)
15
(−9)
−1
(−18)
−25
(−32)
−39
(−39)
−44
(−42)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.44
(11)
0.45
(11)
0.50
(13)
0.94
(24)
2.79
(71)
3.84
(98)
3.61
(92)
2.51
(64)
2.12
(54)
1.66
(42)
0.73
(19)
0.64
(16)
20.23
(514)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.3
(16)
7.7
(20)
7.7
(20)
2.2
(5.6)
0.6
(1.5)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
2.2
(5.6)
4.9
(12)
10.9
(28)
42.5
(108)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 3.5 3.6 3.4 4.6 8.8 9.8 8.7 7.4 6.5 6.5 4.0 3.9 70.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 3.3 3.5 3.2 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.9 3.2 3.8 19.1
Source: NOAA

People of Petersburg

Population Changes Over Time

Petersburg's population has changed over the years. Here's how it looked at different times:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 353
1920 367 4.0%
1930 310 −15.5%
1940 285 −8.1%
1950 318 11.6%
1960 272 −14.5%
1970 266 −2.2%
1980 230 −13.5%
1990 219 −4.8%
2000 195 −11.0%
2010 192 −1.5%
2020 162 −15.6%
2022 (est.) 160 −16.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census

Petersburg in 2010

In 2010, the census counted 192 people living in Petersburg. There were 78 households, which are groups of people living together. About 58 of these were families.

The average age of people in Petersburg was 41 years old. About 24% of the residents were under 18. About 18.8% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (51%) than males (49%).

Transportation Around Petersburg

The Amtrak train called the Empire Builder goes through Petersburg. This train travels between Seattle/Portland and Chicago. However, the train does not stop in Petersburg. The closest train station is in Devils Lake, which is about 43 miles away.

Notable People from Petersburg

Petersburg is home to some important people:

  • Martin N. Johnson: He was a U.S. Congressman and later a Senator for North Dakota. He is buried in Petersburg.
  • Scott Meyer: He is a member of the North Dakota Senate, which is part of the state's government.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Petersburg (Dakota del Norte) para niños

kids search engine
Petersburg, North Dakota Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.