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History · Epping

Epping dates to 1905, and 16% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: 11 old photos and papers, maps from 1911 on, and the census since 1920.

1905founded
0on the National Register
16%homes built before 1940
11old photos & papers
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Epping’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Epping began

When was Epping founded?

1905

Epping dates its founding to 1905 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1920.

First census: 116 in 19202020 census: 84121 years
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1906.

What stands out about Epping’s past

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

Boom and bustPeaked at 183 in 1930; 84 people lived here in 2020.On the map since 19113 editions of the USGS map, 1911 to 1983. Watch Epping change.
★ What stands out · People over time

Epping, census by census

0100200192019401960198020002020Peak: 183

Peaked at 183 in 1930; 84 people lived here in 2020.

11 censuses, 1920–2020.

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

On the map

Epping on the map, 1911 to 1983

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

Epping on the 1911 USGS mapEpping on the 1978 USGS mapEpping on the 1983 USGS map1911Ray 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 Epping.

The story so far

Epping, in brief

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

Epping is a city in Williams County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 84 at the 2020 census. Epping was founded in 1905 along the transcontinental rail line of the Great Northern Railway. The name comes from the city of Epping in England.

Epping was established in 1905. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 100 to 84 (-16%).

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

Timeline

Epping, 1905 to 1942

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 20th century
  2. 1905
    FoundingEpping is established
  3. 1906Post officeThe Epping post office opens
  4. 1911On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  5. 1930CensusPopulation peaks at 183
  6. 1937In the archiveFramed "family tree" record in farmhouse near Epping. Williams County, North Dakota
  7. 1942In the archiveEpping, North Dakota. President of the local WCTU (Woman's Christian Temperance Union)
By decade

Epping, decade by decade

2 decades in the archive, from the 1930s to the 1940s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1930s–1940s11 items
Framed "family tree" record in farmhouse near Epping. Williams County, North Dakota1937Framed "family tree" record in farmhouse near Epping.…Leo Nelson, state secretary of Farmers' Holiday Association, speaking at township meeting near Epping, North Dakota1937Leo Nelson, state secretary of Farmers' Holiday Assoc…Epping, North Dakota. President of the local WCTU (Woman's Christian Temperance Union)1942Epping, North Dakota. President of the local WCTU (Wo…Epping, North Dakota. Mrs. Dahlen, wife of county chairman of the defense savings campaign, addressing a meeting of wom…1942Epping, North Dakota. Mrs. Dahlen, wife of county cha…Epping, North Dakota. Mrs. Dahlen, wife of the county chairman of the defense savings plan, addressing a meeting of the…1942Epping, North Dakota. Mrs. Dahlen, wife of the county…Epping, North Dakota. Meeting of women and high school girls of the town to promote the sale of defense stamps and bonds1942Epping, North Dakota. Meeting of women and high schoo…Epping, North Dakota. Women singing "God Bless America" at close of a meeting held in high school to promote sale of de…1942Epping, North Dakota. Women singing "God Bless Americ…Epping, North Dakota. High school girls singing "Remember Pearl Harbor" at meeting of the women of the town to promote …1942Epping, North Dakota. High school girls singing "Reme…Epping, North Dakota. Pie and coffee served by the ladies of the WCTU (Woman's Christian Temperance Union) at meeting o…1942Epping, North Dakota. Pie and coffee served by the la…Epping, North Dakota. Meeting in the high school to promote the sale of defense stamps and bonds. High school girls are…1942Epping, North Dakota. Meeting in the high school to p…Epping, North Dakota. Lady having pie and coffee served by WCTU (Woman's Christian Temperance Union) after meeting held…1942Epping, North Dakota. Lady having pie and coffee serv…
1950s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Framed "family tree" record in farmhouse near Epping. Williams County, North Dakota
Retake this viewFramed "family tree" record in farmhouse near Epping. Williams County, North Dakota, 1937

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Epping’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

Famous people close to Epping

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

See all →
Mary Sherman MorganAmerican rocket fuel scientist · b. 1921
M
Michael GoldadeAmerican Traditionalist Catholic bishop · b. 1980
Darlene HooleyAmerican politician · b. 1939
Sally FraserAmerican actress · b. 1932
Brian QvaleAmerican basketball player · b. 1988
James Alan AbrahamsonUnited States Air Force general · b. 1933
Help out

Finish Epping’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewFramed "family tree" record in farmhous…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Springbrook TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townBrooklyn TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Epping’s history

What year was Epping founded?

In 1905, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Epping’s post office opened in 1906, and the census of 1920 counted 116 people here.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
Start a conversation
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 the Library of Congress (11), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) 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.