Driving across the Great Plains can be a challenge. The roads tend to be straight and stretching on for what seems like forever and the landscape does not have many features. However, there are lovely towns and small cities where you can take a break and stretch your legs. One of these is Wahpeton.
The town, which is officially called a city, is the county seat for Richland County. This county covers the southeastern corner of North Dakota. The city itself lies on the western bank of the Red River of the North, with its sister city Breckenridge lying on the opposite bank, in Minnesota. The Red River actually starts here, formed by the confluence of the Boix de Sioux River and the Otter Tail River. The former flows from the south while the latter meets it from the east.
The city got its name from the first people who lived here, the Wakhpetonwan Dakota people. The first European settler moved in in 1869 and when the railroad came to town in 1872, the little village quickly became a bustling town. The rivers that meet here also provided many economic opportunities and flatboat building was a specialty in the communities on both banks of the Red River.
Today, a little less than eight thousand people call the county seat home. The majority are of European descent, with their ancestors moving here from places like Bohemia, Scandinavia and Germany over a century ago. Minorities include Native Americans, Latinos and African Americans. Today much of the economy is based on the manufacturing plants located here.
The history of the local Native American population as well as those early pioneers of European descent is told at the Richland County Historical Museum. A tragic event from 1897 is commemorated in the Riverside Cemetery. A group of circus performers were putting up the circus tent when lightning struck and killed some of them. Today circus performers still hold memorial services at the Circus Monument erected in their memory. At Abercrombie, several miles north of town, is the historic Fort Abercrombie. To see how a bonanza farm operates, head west to the Bagg Bonanza Farm.
If you've always wanted to tee off in two different states, be sure to play a round of golf at the Boix de Sioux Golf Course, which lies partially in North Dakota and partially in Minnesota. Chahinkapa Park, home to the Chahinkapa Zoo, is nearby and has several sports facilities. Near City Hall is a quirky but popular attraction in the form of a huge fiberglass statue of a catfish. Its name is Wahpper.
The surrounding area is a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors. There are plenty of places to go camping, bird-watching and hunting in the county. The rivers and lakes offer great fishing and water sports too and in winter, snowmobiling is a popular pastime. For a great night out, nearby Hankinson is home to a casino.
You'll find many interesting little shops in town. There are plenty of places to eat too, with different cuisines on offer. A range of hotels, motels, lodges, cabins and camp grounds offer accommodation.
The town, which is officially called a city, is the county seat for Richland County. This county covers the southeastern corner of North Dakota. The city itself lies on the western bank of the Red River of the North, with its sister city Breckenridge lying on the opposite bank, in Minnesota. The Red River actually starts here, formed by the confluence of the Boix de Sioux River and the Otter Tail River. The former flows from the south while the latter meets it from the east.
The city got its name from the first people who lived here, the Wakhpetonwan Dakota people. The first European settler moved in in 1869 and when the railroad came to town in 1872, the little village quickly became a bustling town. The rivers that meet here also provided many economic opportunities and flatboat building was a specialty in the communities on both banks of the Red River.
Today, a little less than eight thousand people call the county seat home. The majority are of European descent, with their ancestors moving here from places like Bohemia, Scandinavia and Germany over a century ago. Minorities include Native Americans, Latinos and African Americans. Today much of the economy is based on the manufacturing plants located here.
The history of the local Native American population as well as those early pioneers of European descent is told at the Richland County Historical Museum. A tragic event from 1897 is commemorated in the Riverside Cemetery. A group of circus performers were putting up the circus tent when lightning struck and killed some of them. Today circus performers still hold memorial services at the Circus Monument erected in their memory. At Abercrombie, several miles north of town, is the historic Fort Abercrombie. To see how a bonanza farm operates, head west to the Bagg Bonanza Farm.
If you've always wanted to tee off in two different states, be sure to play a round of golf at the Boix de Sioux Golf Course, which lies partially in North Dakota and partially in Minnesota. Chahinkapa Park, home to the Chahinkapa Zoo, is nearby and has several sports facilities. Near City Hall is a quirky but popular attraction in the form of a huge fiberglass statue of a catfish. Its name is Wahpper.
The surrounding area is a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors. There are plenty of places to go camping, bird-watching and hunting in the county. The rivers and lakes offer great fishing and water sports too and in winter, snowmobiling is a popular pastime. For a great night out, nearby Hankinson is home to a casino.
You'll find many interesting little shops in town. There are plenty of places to eat too, with different cuisines on offer. A range of hotels, motels, lodges, cabins and camp grounds offer accommodation.
About the Author:
Come and visit the stunning Wahpeton in North Dakota and discover all its wonderful sites. To learn more about this destination, click on http://www.visitwahpeton.com.
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