Rugby, North Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rugby, North Dakota
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Downtown Rugby
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Location of Rugby, North Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Pierce |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.30 sq mi (5.96 km2) |
| • Land | 2.29 sq mi (5.92 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,542 ft (470 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,509 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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2,481 |
| • Density | 1,098.03/sq mi (423.93/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
58368
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| Area code(s) | 701 |
| FIPS code | 38-68860 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1036246 |
| Highways | US 2, ND 3 |
Rugby is a city in North Dakota, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Pierce County. In 2020, about 2,509 people lived there. This makes it the 19th largest city in North Dakota. Rugby was founded in 1886.
Rugby is often called the geographic center of North America.
Contents
History of Rugby, North Dakota
Rugby was started in 1886. It was built where two train lines met. These lines belonged to the Great Northern Railway. The town was first called Rugby Junction.
How Rugby Got Its Name
The name "Rugby" came from a town in Warwickshire, England. Many towns along this railway line were named after places in England. When Rugby became a city, the word "Junction" was removed.
Early Settlers and Farming in Rugby
North Dakota's first permanent settlers arrived in 1812. They came from a colony nearby. These farmers were very advanced for their time. They used modern farming tools and methods. Some of their old machines, like a threshing machine, are now in the Pioneer Village in Rugby.
The Geographic Center of North America Monument
In 1931, Rugby put up a large rock monument. It is about 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall. This monument marks what was called the "Geographical Center of North America." In 1971, it was moved a little because US Highway 2 was expanded.
However, the U.S. Geological Survey says Rugby is about 15 miles (24 km) from the actual center. That spot is near Balta. Also, this "center" is not an official title.
Geography of Rugby
Rugby is in the eastern part of Pierce County. It is located where U.S. Route 2 and North Dakota Highway 3 cross. The Great Northern Railroad also runs through the city. Minot is about 66 miles (106 km) west on Route 2.
Land Area and Geographic Claims
According to the United States Census Bureau, Rugby covers about 1.94 square miles (5.02 square kilometers) of land. Rugby claims to be the geographic center of North America. A monument in the city shows flags of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
But, newer calculations show the true center is about 105 miles (169 km) southwest of Rugby. This spot is in a town called Center, North Dakota.
Transportation in Rugby
Train Travel in Rugby
Amtrak is the national passenger train system. It has a station in Rugby. The train that stops here is called the Empire Builder. It travels once a day in each direction. It connects Portland/Seattle to Chicago. The rail station was built in 1907 by the Great Northern Railway. It has been updated many times since then.
Highways Serving Rugby
Two main roads serve the Rugby area. These are U.S. Route 2 and North Dakota Highway 3.
Population of Rugby
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 487 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,630 | 234.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,424 | −12.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,512 | 6.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,215 | 46.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,907 | 31.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,972 | 2.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,889 | −2.8% | |
| 1980 | 3,335 | 15.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,909 | −12.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,939 | 1.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,876 | −2.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,509 | −12.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,481 | −13.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Rugby's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 2,876 people living in Rugby. They lived in 1,239 homes. About 697 of these were families. The city had about 1,482 people per square mile.
Most people in Rugby were White (91.9%). Some were Native American (5.8%). A small number were African American (0.3%) or from other backgrounds. About 1.3% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
About 23% of homes had children under 18. Many homes (46.2%) were married couples. About 40% of homes had just one person living there. About 20% of homes had someone 65 or older living alone. The average home had 2.11 people.
The average age in Rugby was 47 years old. About 20% of people were under 18. About 26% were 65 or older. The city had slightly more females (51.3%) than males (48.7%).
Famous People from Rugby
- Todd "Boogie" Brandt – a radio personality.
- Harald Bredesen (1918–2006) – a Lutheran pastor.
- Nichi Farnham – a state senator from Maine.
- Don Gaetz (born 1948) – a politician from Florida.
- Jerry Gaetz (1914–1964) – a North Dakota state senator and former mayor of Rugby.
- Samuel Kirk (1904–1996) – a psychologist and educator.
- Jon Nelson (born 1953) – a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives.
- Clifford Thompson (1904–1955) – known as one of the world's tallest men.
- Chris Tuchscherer (born 1975) – a mixed martial artist.
- Larry Watson (born 1947) – a poet, writer, and educator.
Radio Stations in Rugby
- KZZJ AM 1450
- KKWZ FM 95.3
Education in Rugby
Students in Rugby attend schools run by Rugby Public Schools. These include Ely Elementary School and Rugby High School. There is also a private school, Little Flower Catholic School, in Rugby.
Places to Visit in Rugby
- Geographical Center of North America – Rugby has a monument marking this spot. However, some math experts disagree with this claim.
- Prairie Village Museum – This museum has some of Pierce County's oldest buildings and items. It includes the 1886 Great Northern Railroad Depot.
- The Victorian Dress Museum – The building that holds this museum is a historic place.
- Pierce County Courthouse – This building was built in 1908. It is also a historic place.
Climate in Rugby
Rugby has a climate with big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot and can be humid. Winters are cold, sometimes very cold. This type of weather is called a humid continental climate.
| Climate data for Rugby, North Dakota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1904–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 57 (14) |
62 (17) |
74 (23) |
96 (36) |
100 (38) |
104 (40) |
107 (42) |
105 (41) |
99 (37) |
92 (33) |
75 (24) |
56 (13) |
107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 15.9 (−8.9) |
20.7 (−6.3) |
33.8 (1.0) |
52.0 (11.1) |
66.1 (18.9) |
74.8 (23.8) |
79.9 (26.6) |
79.7 (26.5) |
69.8 (21.0) |
53.6 (12.0) |
34.8 (1.6) |
21.3 (−5.9) |
50.2 (10.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 6.0 (−14.4) |
10.6 (−11.9) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
40.0 (4.4) |
53.2 (11.8) |
62.9 (17.2) |
67.5 (19.7) |
66.3 (19.1) |
56.7 (13.7) |
41.9 (5.5) |
25.3 (−3.7) |
11.9 (−11.2) |
38.8 (3.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −3.9 (−19.9) |
0.4 (−17.6) |
13.6 (−10.2) |
27.9 (−2.3) |
40.3 (4.6) |
51.0 (10.6) |
55.1 (12.8) |
53.0 (11.7) |
43.5 (6.4) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
15.8 (−9.0) |
2.6 (−16.3) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −45 (−43) |
−47 (−44) |
−40 (−40) |
−8 (−22) |
14 (−10) |
30 (−1) |
37 (3) |
30 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
−6 (−21) |
−27 (−33) |
−40 (−40) |
−47 (−44) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.49 (12) |
0.54 (14) |
0.90 (23) |
1.31 (33) |
3.01 (76) |
3.83 (97) |
3.68 (93) |
2.15 (55) |
1.75 (44) |
1.41 (36) |
0.92 (23) |
0.99 (25) |
20.98 (533) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.0 (20) |
6.4 (16) |
6.5 (17) |
2.9 (7.4) |
0.9 (2.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.3 (8.4) |
7.4 (19) |
8.0 (20) |
43.4 (110) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 5.1 | 9.9 | 11.9 | 10.4 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 76.0 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.9 | 4.8 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 5.6 | 24.5 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Rugby (Dakota del Norte) para niños
