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History · Lawton Township

Lawton Township dates to 1902, and 25% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1972 on and the census since 1920.

1902founded
0on the National Register
25%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Andrew Filer · CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answers

How Lawton Township began

When was Lawton Township founded?

1902

Lawton Township dates its founding to 1902 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1920.

First census: 227 in 19202020 census: 40124 years
Founding year: Wikidata.

What stands out about Lawton 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 Lawton Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Lawton Township’s homes were built before 1964.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Lawton Township’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story so far

Lawton Township, in brief

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

Lawton is a city in Ramsey County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 15 as of the 2020 census, and was estimated at 18 in 2025.

Lawton Township was established in 1902. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 28 to 40 (+43%).

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

By decade

Lawton Township, decade by decade

Today1 recent
Lawton, North Dakota2006Lawton, North Dakota
On the map

Lawton Township on the map, 1972 to 1993

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

Lawton Township on the 1972 USGS mapLawton Township on the 1985 USGS mapLawton Township on the 1993 USGS map1972Lawton sheet · 1:24,000

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

People over time

Lawton Township, census by census

0100200192019401960198020002020Peak: 233

Between 15 and 233 people in every census since 1920.

11 censuses, 1920–2020.

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

Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Triumph TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townShepherd TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townLillehoff TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townNewland TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Lawton Township’s history

What year was Lawton Township founded?

In 1902, according to Wikidata. the census of 1920 counted 227 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.