Verendrye, North Dakota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Verendrye
Abandoned Falsen School
Verendrye Location in North Dakota

Verendrye was once a small community in North Dakota, United States. It was located in McHenry County. Today, Verendrye is considered a ghost town. This means that almost everyone has moved away. It is no longer a busy place.

History of Verendrye

The community was first started in 1912. It was known as Falsen back then. Norwegian settlers founded the town. They named it after a Norwegian leader named Christian Magnus Falsen. The train station on the Great Northern Railway was also called Falsen.

A post office opened in Falsen in 1913. But in 1925, the town's name changed. It was renamed Verendrye. This new name honored Pierre de la Verendrye. He was an early French-Canadian explorer. People believe he was the first non-Native American to explore the prairies of North Dakota.

In 1920, about 75 people lived in Falsen. By 1938, Verendrye had grown to 100 residents. However, the town began to decline. The railroad started using diesel trains. These new trains did not need to stop for water and coal. So, they no longer made regular stops in Verendrye.

This change caused the town to shrink. The post office closed in 1965. By 1970, the last residents had moved away. Today, a farm is located where the town once stood. The only remaining building is the old Falsen School. Its crumbling walls are a reminder of the past.

Besides Norwegians, some of the first settlers were German-Russians. They came from villages in Ukraine.

In 1939, the Verendrye Electric Cooperative was started here. This group helped bring electricity to the area. However, it moved to Velva in 1941.

Geography of Verendrye

Verendrye is located in the Mouse River Valley. This area is known for its winding river. The town was built along the route of the BNSF Railway.

Images for kids

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  A monument to explorer David Thompson. It was put up in 1925.