Sherbrooke, North Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sherbrooke, North Dakota
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Plat of Sherbrooke in 1928
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 Sherbrooke, North Dakota
Location in North Dakota
Sherbrooke, North Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Steele |
| Township | Sherbrooke |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Named for | Sherbrooke, Quebec |
| Elevation | 1,250 ft (380 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 701 |
| FIPS code | 38-72425 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1032050 |
Sherbrooke is a ghost town located in Steele County, in the U.S. state of North Dakota. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and it's no longer an active community.
From 1885 to 1919, Sherbrooke was the county seat for Steele County. This means it was the main town where the county government was located. In 1919, the county government moved to Finley, which is still the county seat today. Sherbrooke is part of Sherbrooke Township.
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What is a Ghost Town?
A ghost town is a town that used to be busy and full of people. But for some reason, like a change in the economy or a natural disaster, most of its residents moved away.
These towns are often left with empty buildings and a quiet atmosphere. They serve as reminders of what life was like in the past. Sherbrooke became a ghost town after its importance as a county seat ended.
Sherbrooke's Story
Sherbrooke has an interesting history, including how it got its name and why its county government moved away.
How Sherbrooke Got Its Name
Sherbrooke was named after a city called Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada. That Canadian city was named after a man named Sir John Coape Sherbrooke.
Sir John Coape Sherbrooke lived from 1764 to 1830. He was an important leader who served as the Governor General of Canada from 1816 to 1818. A Governor General is like a representative of the king or queen in a country that used to be part of the British Empire.
The Sherbrooke House Hotel
The Sherbrooke House Hotel was a very important building in the community. It was a popular place for people to stay and gather.
In 1893, a man named Washington Irving Warrey bought the hotel. Mr. Warrey was an important person in Steele County. He served as a judge for the county from 1894 to 1905. A judge is a public official who hears and decides cases in a court of law.
Records from the hotel show that President William McKinley stayed there in 1896. He was visiting North Dakota at the time. It must have been very exciting for the town to host a president!
Why the Town Moved Away
On June 28, 1918, the people living in Steele County voted on something very important. They decided to move the county seat from Sherbrooke to a "more convenient place."
The main reason for this move was that Sherbrooke was not located near a railroad or a major river. In those days, railroads and rivers were crucial for transporting goods and people. Without them, it was harder for Sherbrooke to grow and connect with other places.
Finley, North Dakota, received the most votes to become the new county seat. However, the people of Sherbrooke did not want the county seat to move. They asked the North Dakota Supreme Court to stop the relocation. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the state.
The Supreme Court looked at their request but decided not to stop the move. So, in 1919, the county seat officially moved from Sherbrooke to Finley. This change led to Sherbrooke becoming the ghost town it is today.
