Sully Springs, North Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sully Springs, North Dakota
|
|
|---|---|
Sully Springs sign
|
|
 Sully Springs, North Dakota
Location in North Dakota
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Billings |
| Settled | c. 1880 |
| Abandoned | c. 1939 |
| Elevation | 2,585 ft (788 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 701 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1033916 |
Sully Springs is what we call a ghost town in North Dakota, United States. It's located in Billings County. A ghost town is a place where most or all people have moved away, leaving it empty. Sully Springs started as a small community along the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks. It was named after a general named Alfred Sully, who once camped in that area.
What Was Sully Springs?
Sully Springs is an unincorporated area, meaning it's a place without its own local government. It became a ghost town because everyone left. It was once a small but busy spot, mainly because of the railroad.
How Sully Springs Began
Around the year 1880, the Northern Pacific Railroad built a special house there for its workers. This helped the town start to grow. Soon, people built a general store where you could buy almost anything. There were also three saloons, which were places where adults could gather.
As the community grew, it got more services. In 1911, Sully Springs opened its own post office. This made it easier for people to send and receive letters. Later, in 1933, a school was built. This meant children living in Sully Springs could get an education right in their own town.
Why People Left Sully Springs
Life in Sully Springs became very hard during the 1930s. This was a time when two big problems hit the United States:
- The Great Depression: This was a period when many people lost their jobs and money. It was hard for families to find work and make a living.
- The Dust Bowl: This was a time when severe droughts and strong winds caused huge dust storms. Farms were ruined, and it became very difficult to grow food.
Because of these tough conditions, people in Sully Springs found it impossible to stay. They had to move away to find work and better living conditions. By 1939, almost everyone had left, and Sully Springs became a ghost town.
