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History · Kathryn

Kathryn dates to 1900, and 73% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1897 on and the census since 1920.

1900founded
0on the National Register
73%homes built before 1940
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Photo: S. Clyde · Public domain
Quick answers

How Kathryn began, and where its name came from

When was Kathryn founded?

1900

Kathryn dates its founding to 1900 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1920.

First census: 289 in 19202020 census: 66126 years

How did Kathryn get its name?

Kathryn was named after the daughter of a railroad man.

Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1901. Name: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What stands out about Kathryn’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 Kathryn are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18973 editions of the USGS map, 1897 to 1986. Watch Kathryn change.Old housesHalf of Kathryn’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Kathryn’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Kathryn’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

Kathryn on the map, 1897 to 1986

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

Kathryn on the 1897 USGS mapKathryn on the 1967 USGS mapKathryn on the 1986 USGS map1897Tower 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 Kathryn.

The story so far

Kathryn, in brief

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

Kathryn is a city in Barnes County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 66 at the 2020 census. Kathryn was founded in 1900. It was named after the daughter of a railroad man.

Kathryn was established in 1900. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 52 to 66 (+27%).

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

Timeline

Kathryn, 1897 to 1901

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1897On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  3. 20th century
  4. 1900
    FoundingKathryn is established
  5. 1901Post officeThe Kathryn post office opens
By decade

Kathryn, decade by decade

Today4 recent
Kathryn, North Dakota 6-8-20082008Kathryn, North Dakota 6-8-2008Kathryn, North Dakota2008Kathryn, North DakotaSheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway - Church and Steeple in2006Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway - Church and Steep…Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway - A Quiet Morning in2006Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway - A Quiet Morning …
People over time

Kathryn, census by census

0100200300192019401960198020002020Peak: 289

Between 52 and 289 people in every census since 1920.

11 censuses, 1920–2020.

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

Famous people

Famous people close to Kathryn

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

See all →
Earl PomeroyAmerican politician · b. 1952
James M. McPhersonAmerican historian · b. 1936
Tyrell TerryAmerican basketball player · b. 2000
G
George W. MasonAutomobile industry executive · b. 1891
C
Chet PollertAmerican politician · b. 1955
D
David NethingAmerican politician · b. 1933

Questions about Kathryn’s history

What year was Kathryn founded?

In 1900, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Kathryn’s post office opened in 1901, and the census of 1920 counted 289 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 (4), 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.