#1Valley City
Barnes County · 6,430 peopleHistory grade, better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #6 of 23 in ND
Valley City, #1 on this list · Valley City Municipal Auditorium · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0North Dakota rankings · History
Most historic towns in North Dakota
Valley City ranks first on history among North Dakota’s 23 towns of 2,500+; 1 of the 23 grade A− or better on history nationally.
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work
#1A−
#2Grand Forks
Grand Forks County · 60,365 peopleHistory grade, better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #19 of 23 in ND
#3Jamestown
Stutsman County · 15,688 peopleHistory grade, better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #16 of 23 in ND
All 23 towns
History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
23 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
2Grand ForksGrand Forks County · 60,365 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #19 of 23
16Hay Creek TownshipBurleigh County · 4,380 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 23
21Apple Creek TownshipBurleigh County · 3,515 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 23
22Minot AFBunincorporated, Ward County · 4,878 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #22 of 23
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most historic town in North Dakota?
Valley City (Barnes County) ranks first on history among 23 towns, with an A−; Grand Forks and Jamestown follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (23 in North Dakota). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the North Dakota page.
Go deeper
All North Dakota rankings →More North Dakota lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live23 towns · #1 LincolnMost affordable towns23 towns · #1 New TownSafest towns16 towns · #1 New TownTowns with the best schools23 towns · #1 WahpetonHealthiest towns23 towns · #1 Hay Creek TownshipBest towns for jobs & income23 towns · #1 Hay Creek TownshipMost walkable towns23 towns · #1 Grand ForksTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk23 towns · #1 Tatman TownshipBest towns for the outdoors23 towns · #1 BismarckTowns with the most civic life22 towns · #1 GraftonTowns with the least snow20 towns · #1 BeulahDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns20 towns · #1 MinotDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters24 towns · #1 DickinsonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers24 towns · #1 WillistonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers24 towns · #1 Devils LakeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes23 towns · #1 Hay Creek TownshipDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes21 towns · #1 New TownDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns23 towns · #1 HoraceDescribed, no letters
Other states