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History · Forest River Township

Forest River Township dates to 1887, and 24% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1926 on and the census since 1900.

1887founded
0on the National Register
24%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) · CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answers

How Forest River Township began

When was Forest River Township founded?

1887

Forest River Township dates its founding to 1887 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1900.

First census: 252 in 19002020 census: 50139 years
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year.

What stands out about Forest River 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 Forest River Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Forest River Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Forest River 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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The story so far

Forest River Township, in brief

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

Forest River is a city in Walsh County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 109 at the 2020 census. Forest River was founded on July 13, 1887.

Forest River Township was established in 1887. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 63 to 50 (-21%).

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

By decade

Forest River Township, decade by decade

Today11 recent
Forest River, North Dakota sign2006Forest River, North Dakota signForest River, North Dakota railroad2006Forest River, North Dakota railroadGas station in2005Gas station inForest River, North Dakota sign 32005Forest River, North Dakota sign 3Forest River, North Dakota sign 22005Forest River, North Dakota sign 2Forest River, North Dakota park2005Forest River, North Dakota parkForest River, North Dakota center2005Forest River, North Dakota centerForest River, North Dakota cafe and post office2005Forest River, North Dakota cafe and post officeForest River, North Dakota cafe and post office 22005Forest River, North Dakota cafe and post office 2Forest River, North Dakota bank2005Forest River, North Dakota bankEntering2002Entering
On the map

Forest River Township on the map, 1926 to 1985

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

Forest River Township on the 1926 USGS mapForest River Township on the 1963 USGS mapForest River Township on the 1985 USGS map1926Ardoch sheet · 1:62,500

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

People over time

Forest River Township, census by census

01002001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 252

Between 109 and 252 people in every census since 1900.

13 censuses, 1900–2020.

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

Famous people

Famous people close to Forest River Township

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

See all →
John Alexander WeirAmerican-born Canadian attorney and the first D… · b. 1894
L
Lloyd OmdahlAmerican politician from North Dakota · b. 1931
J
John D. McKenzieCanadian politician · b. 1889
J
John Silas LundyAmerican physician · b. 1894
Places that used to be

Places now gone and burying grounds

Gone or out of use
Forest Riverlocale
1cemetery inside Forest River Township
Memorial Park

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Walsh Centre TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townOps TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townJohnstown TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townArdoch TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Forest River Township’s history

What year was Forest River Township founded?

In 1887, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1900 counted 252 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 (11), Wikidata (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.