Ruso, North Dakota, 2008
Ruso’s story
120 years in pictures
Census counts: 141 in 1910, 1 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2008 and 3 maps from 1929 on.
- 1906Ruso is settled
RusoND
A town of 4, settled in 1906.
Photo: Andrew Filer · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
4
2025 Census estimate · +0% since 2020
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Ruso a good place to live?
Only 1 of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare have a lower July high than Ruso. 41% of the land in Ruso is conserved, above both North Dakota’s towns (2.8%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Ruso has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
4 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Ruso: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ruso, and how to reach them.
PowerOtter Tail Power11.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet1 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Ruso’s trash rules yet
Register to voteNot requiredNorth Dakota has no voter registration: you show ID at the polls.vote.govWho runs elections hereMcLean County AuditorMcLean County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2022
ZIP code5877858778 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Jul 30, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ruso.
Outdoors
In Ruso, trail density runs higher than in the typical North Dakota or U.S. town
Ruso’s trail density is 5.0 miles per square mile, above both the North Dakota town median (0.7) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). 1.0 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.
40.5%conserved
40.5%
conserved · 64 of 158 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 5 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazards
Ruso faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 77% of U.S. communities.
23risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingHail
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Ruso
Ruso has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Ruso’s January low is 3°F.
49″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–22°
Spring29–51°
Summer54–78°
Fall33–53°
Sep 28
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Ruso stands out in North Dakota and nationally, with more of its adults who have high blood pressure
47% of adults have high blood pressure in Ruso. Of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Ruso. 18% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Ruso.
| Ruso | North Dakota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 31% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 15% | 17% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 8.9% | 12% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 82% | 73% | 79% |
32 measures vs. North Dakota
9 better14 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Ruso | ND |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.3% | 8.9% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 4.7% | 6.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.6% | 8.2% |
CHI St. Alexius Health Turtle Lake
22.1 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ruso
15pages on Ruso
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ruso; the nearest are
Minot State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Minot32.9 mi$8,702 in-state tuitionDakota College at BottineauCommunity college · Public · Bottineau72.4 mi$5,388 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Ruso residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across North Dakota.
About Ruso
City in North Dakota, United States
Ruso is a city in McLean County, North Dakota, in the USA. The population was 1 at the 2020 census, making Ruso the least populous incorporated place in North Dakota. It is tied with Monowi, Nebraska at being the least populated community in the United States that is currently inhabited.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1906
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,087 ft
- ZIP code
- 58778
- Area code
- 701
Questions about Ruso
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ruso, ND a good place to live?
Ruso has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.