Wimbledon, North Dakota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wimbledon, North Dakota
City
3rd Avenue in Wimbledon, looking north-east.
Location of Wimbledon, North Dakota
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
County	Barnes
Founded	1892
Area
• Total	0.62 sq mi (1.61 km2)
• Land	0.62 sq mi (1.61 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,490 ft (454 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	178
• Estimate  (2022)	178
• Density	286.17/sq mi (110.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	58492
Area code(s)	701
FIPS code	38-86620
GNIS feature ID	1032841

Wimbledon is a small city in Barnes County, North Dakota, United States. It is located in Pierce Township. In 2020, about 178 people lived there.

About Wimbledon, North Dakota

Where is Wimbledon?

Wimbledon is located in North Dakota. It is found at these coordinates: 47°10′14″N 98°27′36″W / 47.17056°N 98.46000°W / 47.17056; -98.46000. The city covers an area of about 0.53 square miles (1.37 square kilometers), and all of it is land.

Wimbledon is in the southwest part of its township. A township in North Dakota is a six-mile square area of land. The city is close to the border of Stutsman County.

No big highways go directly through Wimbledon. It is just off State Route 9. This route connects Melville to Rogers. The closest larger city is Jamestown to the southwest. Valley City, which is the county seat, is to the southeast.

How Wimbledon Started

Wimbledon was founded in 1892. It got its name from Wimbledon, London, a place in England. This name was chosen because of the family history of John Henry Gibson. He was the first person to settle on the land where the town was built.

John Henry Gibson was born in 1844. He moved west and claimed 149 acres (60 hectares) of prairie land in 1889. He did this under the Homestead Acts, which helped people get land for farming. Around 1882, he settled there.

It was lucky for him that the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (called the Soo Line) was planning a railroad line. This line would go across the state from Mantador to Portal. It was meant to be a main route from Minneapolis to Vancouver, Canada. The railroad survey line crossed Gibson's property. At first, the nearest town was planned to be two miles southeast and called Hilltown.

However, Gibson offered his land to the railroad at a good price. So, in late 1892, Wimbledon was officially planned out. A post office opened there in 1893. Gibson's farm had already been a place where neighbors could pick up their mail. This likely helped Wimbledon become the chosen town site.

Wimbledon grew because of the railroad. Its first layout was different from most towns in North Dakota. Instead of following a square grid, it lined up with the railroad tracks. This shows how important the railroad was to the town's beginning.

Early Growth and Services

The first of many grain elevators was built in Wimbledon in its founding year. These elevators store grain. By 1908, there were eight of them. The town became known for its grain elevators.

Wimbledon quickly became a busy place. By the end of the 1800s, it had several important services. In 1894, the Hotel Kline opened. It was founded by Frank Kline, who sold lumber brought in by train. This was important because there were no trees in the area. The hotel allowed business people to visit and stay comfortably.

Also in 1894, the Wimbledon News newspaper started. The first public school was set up around this time too. However, it took until 1906 for the school to get its own proper building.

Getting enough water was a challenge in the summer. But Wimbledon is on an artesian basin, which means there is underground water pressure. The railroad dug a well when the town started. But in winter, the water pressure was too strong. The well had to be blown up in 1916 to stop it from flooding the town. The water was salty and not good for drinking or for train engines. Still, it helped the town feel safer because it allowed a fire department to start in 1893. Early buildings were made of wood, so fires were a big danger.

In 1899, Wimbledon officially became a village. Before 1967, towns in North Dakota were either villages or cities. So, this meant Wimbledon became a town in the usual sense.

Coming of Age

In the early 1900s, Wimbledon continued to grow. It got a bank, a horse racing track, and a public cemetery.

The First National Bank of Wimbledon opened in 1903. It even printed its own ten and twenty dollar bills. In 1913, another bank, the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Wimbledon, opened. This second bank served the town for almost 80 years. It took over the First National's building after that bank closed in 1925. Today, it is a branch of Bank Forward.

Victory Park, northeast of town, became a horse racing place in 1906. The Wimbledon Fair and Racing Association built a half-mile track and a grandstand. This track was used for over 50 years. Now, it is the town's recreation ground.

The Prairie View Cemetery was started in 1910 and is still used today. It is located east of town, which is why it's called "Prairie View."

Wimbledon's population was highest in 1910, with 571 people. By 1920, it was 521. This showed that farms were getting bigger. Farmers were combining their lands to grow more crops.

In 1908, Wimbledon had many businesses. These included four churches, a school, two banks, a post office, and two hotels. There were also restaurants, a newspaper, and a telephone company. Many different shops and services were available, like general stores, butchers, a bakery, and hardware stores.

In 1914, the Wimbledon Electric Company started wiring the town for electricity. The company made its own power.

The Midland Continental Railroad

Before 1913, Wimbledon was just one of many small towns along the Soo Line railroad. It relied completely on this railroad for connections to other places. There were no state highways back then.

In 1908, the Midland Continental Railroad (MICO) began building a new line. It was planned to go from Winnipeg, Canada, to Galveston, Texas. This line was supposed to pass through Courtenay and Jamestown. MICO built the section from Edgeley to Jamestown. But then, they ran out of money for a bridge over another railroad line in Jamestown.

Because of this, MICO had to change its plans. Instead of going north to Courtenay, they built east to a spot where they could cross the main line easily. Then, they headed north to Wimbledon. This was good news for Wimbledon.

The new MICO railroad was finished in October 1913. A small extension was added in December to a place called Frazier. Frazier was meant to be a rival town, but it never fully developed. Instead, it became home to important grain elevators. These were run by the Frazier Farmers Union Co-op starting in 1917.

The MICO railroad made Wimbledon a more important town. It connected Wimbledon to two major transcontinental lines. This gave Wimbledon an advantage over its nearby towns.

Between the World Wars

In 1920, the MICO railroad moved its passenger station in Wimbledon. It moved from the east side of town to downtown. The new station was across from the Soo Line station. The building was lifted onto rollers and moved down Railway Street.

Local farmers grew mostly wheat and oats during this time. They also grew alfalfa for animal feed. Some livestock and dairy farming also took place. In 1929, a co-operative creamery opened. It also sold turkeys raised locally.

In 1926, the North Dakota State Highway System was created. This meant Wimbledon was no longer completely dependent on its railroads.

In 1937, the MICO railroad stopped its regular freight and passenger services to Wimbledon. Trains would only run on call and demand. This meant customers had to ask for a train to pick up or deliver goods. Passenger service continued, but it was irregular. The last paying passenger traveled in 1965.

Later 20th Century Changes

In 1948, the town decided to build an airport. They bought land southwest of town for a grass runway. The Wimbledon Municipal Airport had six small hangars. It was especially useful for planes that sprayed crops. The airport became private between 1965 and 1983. It stopped operating between 2001 and 2003.

In 1950, Wimbledon officially became a city. Its population was 449, which was about three-quarters of its peak in 1910. Farmers in the area started growing barley as their second main crop after wheat.

The Wimbledon News newspaper stopped publishing in 1957.

By 1968, the city had three churches, a school, a bank, and a post office. It also had a hotel, a restaurant, and various shops. These included general stores, a hardware store, and a filling station.

The MICO railroad closed in 1969 due to flood damage. The tracks were mostly removed in 1970. However, a small part of the line was kept by the Soo Line until 1982 to serve grain elevators.

The old MICO Wimbledon station building was given to the Wimbledon Community Museum. It was kept safe for many years.

In 1971, the U.S. government created Amtrak to take over passenger train services. This meant the end of passenger trains stopping in Wimbledon. The city also did not have a scheduled bus service.

Recent Times

Wimbledon's population has slowly decreased over the past few decades. By 2018, it was estimated to be 192 people. This is about a third of its peak population in 1910. However, Wimbledon is doing better than some nearby towns that have become ghost towns or are close to it.

Farms in North Dakota continue to grow larger. Since 2007, farm size has increased by 20%. This has led to fewer people living in rural areas. On local farms, soybeans have become the top crop, with corn in third place.

In 2012, the old MICO train station was fixed up. It reopened as the Midland Continental Depot Transportation Museum. This museum tells the story of the railroad and also features the life of singer Peggy Lee.

In 2014, the local school closed. It merged with other schools to create a new, central school for the northern part of the county. In 2015, the John Deere farm machinery store also closed.

Like many small towns, it became hard for independent shops to stay open in Wimbledon. To keep its last general store, locals created the Wimbledon Community Store and Café. This is a non-profit organization that relies on volunteers.

The community also built a Veterans' Memorial. It was finished in 2017.

In 2020, Wimbledon had three churches, a bank, and a post office. It also had the community store and cafe, a bar, and two insurance brokers. Other businesses included a child care center, farm suppliers, a car wash, and two campsites. The Wimbledon Newsletter is published every month.

City Layout

How Wimbledon is Organized

North Dakota has a checkerboard-like landscape. This is because of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). Property lines and roads usually run north-south (called avenues) and east-west (called streets). They are identified by numbers and directions. For example, State Route 9 enters Wimbledon from the west as 17th Street SE. It then runs next to the railroad and leaves to the south as 97th Avenue SE.

However, Wimbledon is a railroad town. It was planned by a company connected to the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. This railroad built its main line diagonally across the state. Because of this, Wimbledon's original layout did not follow the PLSS. Instead, it lined up with the railroad. Also, the streets were not given numbers. They were called Railway, Center, and Out. The avenues were numbered: 1st, 2nd, 2nd 1/2, 3rd, 3rd 1/2, and 4th.

The railroad crossing was on 3rd Avenue. This made 3rd Avenue the city's main street. It was made wider and extended to the Roman Catholic church to the northeast.

When the town grew, new areas were added to the north and east. These new parts followed the PLSS. This means the road names can be confusing. For example, 1st Avenue turns east, but 1st Avenue N (a different street) goes north.

A very small expansion of three roads was added southwest of 3rd Avenue. This is the only residential area south of the railroad tracks.

What You Can See in Wimbledon

The railroad is still active today. Route 9 is southwest of the tracks. The city's "Welcome" sign is at the junction of Route 9 and 3rd Avenue. This area is surrounded by grain elevators and silos. One old elevator has a faded sign that says Wimbledon Farmers Elevator Co.

Crossing the railroad on 3rd Avenue, the first street is Railway. On the right is where the original Soo Line passenger station used to be. Across 4th Avenue is the old Midland Continental Railroad station. This building is now the Midland Continental Depot Transportation Museum. Next to it is a former hotel building made of red brick.

Continuing down 3rd Avenue, you can see old shops with traditional false fronts. The next intersection, with Center street, is the city's main area. On one corner is the bank and post office. Across from it is the Wimbledon Community Store and Café. This building has a fun mural on it. On the other corner is an old brick bank building from 1905. A bit further down 3rd Avenue is the town bar.

Most of the rest of the city is homes. The three churches are outside the original town layout. You will notice many trees in Wimbledon. If farming stopped here, the land would become a forest, not a treeless prairie. The original prairie was treeless because bison ate the young trees.

3rd Avenue joins with 4th Avenue at St Boniface's Catholic Church. The city's water tower is just north of the church. Further on is the entrance to the City Park. This park used to be the Victory Park horse racing track. You can still see the outline of the old track in the grass.

The Veterans' Memorial is the newest addition to Wimbledon's facilities.

Population Information

2010 Census Data

In 2010, there were 216 people living in Wimbledon. There were 94 households and 55 families. The city had about 407.5 people per square mile (157.3 per square kilometer). There were 119 housing units.

Most of the people (97.2%) were White. About 2.8% were from two or more races. A small number (0.5%) were Hispanic or Latino.

Of the 94 households, 31.9% had children under 18 living with them. About 40.4% were married couples. Some households (14.9%) had a female head with no husband. A small number (3.2%) had a male head with no wife. About 41.5% were not families. Many households (39.4%) had only one person living there. About 17% had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 2.30 people, and the average family had 3.11 people.

The average age in Wimbledon was 40 years old. About 30.1% of residents were under 18. About 6.5% were between 18 and 24. About 20.8% were between 25 and 44. About 29.2% were between 45 and 64. And 13.4% were 65 years or older. The city was 44.4% male and 55.6% female.

Churches in Wimbledon

St Boniface Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic church is at 504 3rd Avenue. This is at the opposite end of that street from the railroad crossing.

The first wooden church building was actually built in 1886 in a place called Durupt. Durupt is now a ghost town about five miles south. The church was named after Saint Boniface, who was important to German people. This shows that the first worshipers were of German background. When they realized Wimbledon would be more important, they moved the church. In 1895, they lifted the church onto rollers and used horses to pull it to its new spot. This new location was chosen because it was the highest point nearby.

In 1907, a house for the priest was being built. Something went wrong, and the unfinished building caught fire. The church also burned down. A new church was built the next year. The architect for this new church was G. R. Clausen.

This church is a beautiful Gothic building made of bright red brick. It has some stone details. It has a main section (nave) with five parts, and a smaller section (sanctuary) with one part. The front of the church has a tall tower. This tower has a landmark spire at the top. The tower also serves as the entrance. It has a pointed arch doorway and a large Gothic window.

St John's United Methodist Church

This church started in 1931. It was a combination of three church groups: Presbyterian, German Reformed, and Methodist. They joined together to build a proper church building because they couldn't do it alone. The original church building has been taken down. A new, modern building stands in its place. It is on the west side of the city at 100 Center Street. This building is made of reinforced concrete and pink brick. It is a low, rectangular building with a unique triangular front.

St Paul's Lutheran Church

The Lutheran church is at 307 Gibson Street. It is a bit hidden away from downtown. It is a simple building with a steeply pitched roof. It doesn't have many church-like decorations. This building replaced an older Gothic-style church with a tower, which was built in 1909.

Education for Students

Students in the Wimbledon area go to Barnes County North Public School. This school is located two miles west of Leal. About 300 students attend school in the Barnes County North School District. This school district covers many towns, including Courtenay, Dazey, Eckelson, Rogers, Sanborn, Spiritwood, Spiritwood Lake, Urbana, Walum, and Wimbledon.

Before 2007, there were three separate school districts. These were North Central of Barnes, Wimbledon-Courtenay, and Spiritwood. In 2007, these three districts joined to form the Barnes County North School District. From 2007 to 2012, the three schools continued to operate as they had before the merger.

In 2013, the Spiritwood Campus closed. The North Central Campus taught preschool through fifth grade. The Wimbledon-Courtenay Campus taught grades 6-12. In 2014, a new central school building was finished. The other two schools then closed, and all students in the district started going to the new Barnes County North Public School.

Notable People from Wimbledon

• Lonnie Laffen, a politician who was born in Wimbledon.
• Peggy Lee, a famous singer who grew up in Wimbledon.

Images for kids

• 

  3rd Avenue in Wimbledon, looking north-east.

• 

  Location of Wimbledon, North Dakota

See also

In Spanish: Wimbledon (Dakota del Norte) para niños