Shields, North Dakota
Encyclopedia
Shields is an unincorporated community
in Grant County
, North Dakota
, United States
. Founded by Nathaniel J. Shields and his wife Mary and their four children in 1896. Shields' population peaked in 1920 with 250 people. Its elevation is 1,808 feet (551 m). Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office
, with the ZIP code
of 58569.
still existed. Nathaniel Shields built St. James Catholic Church in 1890 and other buildings. The government soon designated Shields as a village in 1891. In 1901, the townsite was relocated 2 miles south along the banks of the Cannonball River
.
The town grew initially, reporting a population of 250 in the 1920s. Shields billed itself as "The Gateway City of Southern Grant County". By 1923 no sod houses existed in Shields; they were replaced by wooden homes. Three of the most famous Native Americans lived near or in Shields at one time, Rain-in-the-Face
, Chief Gall
, and Sitting Bull
. The population declined to just 99 in 1950. In 2002, it was reported that 15 people called Shields home.
newspaper ran a headline asking "Is this the end of Shields?", and the local sherrif was quoted saying "There is no more Shields." However, one resident interviewed by the paper said the community would survive.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Grant County
Grant County, North Dakota
-Major highways:* North Dakota Highway 21* North Dakota Highway 31* North Dakota Highway 49-National protected areas:*Cedar River National Grassland *Pretty Rock National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded by Nathaniel J. Shields and his wife Mary and their four children in 1896. Shields' population peaked in 1920 with 250 people. Its elevation is 1,808 feet (551 m). Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, with the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 58569.
History
Shields was established September 16, 1896, when Nathaniel J. Shields established a rural post office in his sod home. Nathaniel J. Shields and his wife Mary. They had four children, Mark, Arthur, Maude (Browning), and Laura (Martin) who were the first to live in Shields in the 1880s, when the Dakota TerritoryDakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
still existed. Nathaniel Shields built St. James Catholic Church in 1890 and other buildings. The government soon designated Shields as a village in 1891. In 1901, the townsite was relocated 2 miles south along the banks of the Cannonball River
Cannonball River
The Cannonball River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 135 mi long, in southwestern North Dakota in the United States....
.
The town grew initially, reporting a population of 250 in the 1920s. Shields billed itself as "The Gateway City of Southern Grant County". By 1923 no sod houses existed in Shields; they were replaced by wooden homes. Three of the most famous Native Americans lived near or in Shields at one time, Rain-in-the-Face
Rain-in-the-Face
Rain-in-the-Face was a warchief of the Lakota tribe of Native Americans. His mother was a Dakota related to the band of famous Chief Inkpaduta. He was among the Indian leaders who defeated George Armstrong Custer and the U.S...
, Chief Gall
Chief Gall
Gall Lakota Phizí, was a battle leader of the Hunkpapa Lakota in the long war against the United States. He was one of the commanders in the Battle of Little Bighorn.-Early years:...
, and Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
. The population declined to just 99 in 1950. In 2002, it was reported that 15 people called Shields home.
2002 Wildfire
On July 1, 2002, a wild-fire destroyed most of Shields, destroying 30 structures and displacing 15 families. The wildfire was said to be caused by lightning striking dry pastures. After the fire, the Bismarck TribuneBismarck Tribune
The Bismarck Tribune is a daily newspaper printed in Bismarck, North Dakota. The Tribune is the primary daily newspaper for south-central and southwest North Dakota. Its average daily circulation is 31,081 on Sundays and 27,620 on weekdays. One notable reporter for the paper was Mark H...
newspaper ran a headline asking "Is this the end of Shields?", and the local sherrif was quoted saying "There is no more Shields." However, one resident interviewed by the paper said the community would survive.