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History · Barney Township

Barney Township dates to 1899, and 35% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1904 on and the census since 1960.

1899founded
0on the National Register
35%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) · CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answers

How Barney Township began

When was Barney Township founded?

1899

Barney Township dates its founding to 1899 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1960.

First census: 115 in 19602020 census: 91127 years
Founding year: Wikidata.

What stands out about Barney Township’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Barney Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19044 editions of the USGS map, 1904 to 1998. Watch Barney Township change.Old housesHalf of Barney Township’s homes were built before 1955.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Barney Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Barney Township’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

Barney Township on the map, 1904 to 1998

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Barney Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Barney Township on the 1904 USGS mapBarney Township on the 1964 USGS mapBarney Township on the 1985 USGS mapBarney Township on the 1998 USGS map1904Wahpeton sheet · 1:125,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Barney Township.

The story so far

Barney Township, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Barney Township yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Barney is a city in Richland County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 40 as of the 2020 census, and was estimated at 43 in 2025. It is part of the Wahpeton, ND–MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Barney Township was established in 1899. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 134 to 91 (-32%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

Barney Township, decade by decade

Today1 recent
Post office in Barney, North Dakota 8-1-20092009Post office in Barney, North Dakota 8-1-2009
People over time

Barney Township, census by census

01001960198020002020Peak: 115

Between 40 and 115 people in every census since 1960.

7 censuses, 1960–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Barney Township’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Barney Township

Nobody well known was born in Barney Township itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Ryan SmithCanadian footballer · b. 1991
J
Jerome G. MillerAmerican academic · b. 1931
J
John Kenneth HilliardAmerican engineer · b. 1901
C
Clark WilliamsAmerican politician · b. 1942
Orin D. HaugenUS Army officer · b. 1907
D
David RichmanBasketball coach · b. 1978
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Danton TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townMooreton Township2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townBelford TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Barney Township’s history

What year was Barney Township founded?

In 1899, according to Wikidata. the census of 1960 counted 115 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (1), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.