Van Hook, North Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Van Hook, North Dakota
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former Ghost town currently a thriving resort town
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Van Hook Arm (satellite image)
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Mountrail |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Incorporated | 1915 |
| Disincorporated | 1953 |
| Elevation | 1,850 ft (560 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 701 |
| Website | http://www.co.mountrail.nd.us/visitors/van%20hook%20resort |
Van Hook is a lively resort town in North Dakota, right by the beautiful Lake Sakakawea. It's a special place because it used to be a ghost town! A ghost town is a place where everyone has left.
In the 1950s, the original town of Van Hook was officially closed. This happened because Lake Sakakawea was being created by building the Garrison Dam. The government thought the town would be flooded.
However, most of the old town site actually stayed dry. Because of this, Van Hook has now become a busy resort community. People live there all year, and many more visit in the summer. The part of Lake Sakakawea near the town is even called the Van Hook Arm.
Van Hook's Early Days
Van Hook started in 1914 as a stop on the Soo Line Railroad. It was named after Fred van Hook. He was one of the first people to map out the area in 1911.
The town grew quickly and was officially recognized as a town in 1915. By 1930, about 372 people lived there. It grew so fast that people called it "The City of Speed."
The Dam and Relocation
In the early 1950s, the Garrison Dam was built. This dam created the huge Lake Sakakawea. The US government decided that the people of Van Hook had to move.
They built a new town called New Town for everyone who had to leave their homes. People from other nearby towns, like Sanish, also moved there. Sanish is now mostly underwater.
The last time Van Hook was counted in the US Census was in 1950. It had 380 residents before everyone had to move out.
Becoming a Resort Town
The Van Hook arm of Lake Sakakawea has always been popular. People love to go fishing, boating, and camping there. In the 1970s, people realized that most of the original town site was not flooded.
This led to the start of a new Van Hook. At first, people brought camping trailers for summer visits. Soon, year-round homes were allowed and even encouraged. This is how the modern Van Hook resort community began.
The town is still growing today. New homes are being built north of the old town site. Another group of homes has also grown up a bit further away.
We don't know the exact number of people living in the "new" Van Hook right now. But in the summer, with all the visitors, the population might be even bigger than it was in 1950. The 2020 US Census had plans to count the people in the current Van Hook area.
Education in Van Hook
There used to be a school in Van Hook. It was part of the New Town School District.
