Grand Rapids Township in LaMoure County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Grand Rapids, North Dakota

The Chan SanSan Scenic Backway

— James River Valley Scenic Backway —

Grand Rapids, North Dakota Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, August 31, 2025

1. Grand Rapids, North Dakota Marker

Inscription.

Map inset
The pristine 35 miles of the Charles SanSan Trail / James River Valley Scenic Byway offers visitors splendid views of unspoiled, rich North Dakota landscapes. Along the route are many scenic and historic places to visit and explore. Enjoy them all!

Grand Rapids, North Dakota

The town of Grand Rapids developed after Captain Homer T. Elliot filed the first land owner papers in LaMoure County in August 1879. His house was the first building built between Jamestown and Huron, Dakota Territory. Because he had the only homestead, he had to travel several miles to receive his mail. Not wanting this inconvenience, Elliot appointed himself postmaster by telling the government there was a small town called Grand Rapids, so the stage line was switched to run to this mythical town.

Elliot then built an overnight stop for the Jamestown and Columbia Stagecoach Line. Later when the railroad reached Ellendale, another stage line passed through with Grand Rapids as an overnight stop between Ellendale and Jamestown. The stage stop was a short distance south of Grand Rapids. Three months after Elliot had built his home

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and the overnight stage coach stop, Grand Rapids became the first organized town in the county on June 17, 1880. Five years later in a general election, a vote was taken and LaMoure was declared the county seat. Grand Rapids would not recognize the decision, claiming bribery and illegal voting. It was finally settled in court and LaMoure became the county seat. Despite losing the county seat, Grand Rapids thrived with grain farmers and live stock producers, and some of the first irrigated crops were raised in the area. Grand Rapids' rich history and historic buildings continue to attract tourists and has become a favorite destination along the James River Scenic Backway.

Picture: One of the early buildings in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids School

Early class mottos:
1938-Safe on first, now score.
1939-We have crossed the bay, the ocean lies before us.
1940-Paddle, don't drift.

The first school building in Grand Rapids Township was built south and west of present day Grand Rapids. It was a wooden frame structure, which was moved to a new site around 1909. In 1916, a new two-story brick school was built. The brick school still

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, August 31, 2025

2. Grand Rapids, North Dakota Marker

stands today, but hasn't been in use since 1962.

Grand Rapids did not have a four-year high school until 1937-1938. The first graduating senior class had four students and over the next seven years, 33 more seniors graduated. From 1943 to 1945 the high school reverted to only freshman and sophomore classes. The following year there was no high school and most of the students transferred to LaMoure High. In 1947 four seniors returned to Grand Rapids and were the last graduating class. The following year, the school taught freshman and sophomores, but it was the last year high school classes were taught in Grand Rapids.

Grades one through eight continued through 1958-1959 and then grades were reduced to first through sixth. The school was closed after the 1961-1962 school year.

Photos courtesy of the James Valley Scenic Backway Committee

Erected by North Dakota Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1879.

Location. 46° 26.553′ N, 98° 22.197′ W. Marker is in Grand Rapids, North Dakota, in LaMoure County.

Grand Rapids Public School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, August 31, 2025

3. Grand Rapids Public School

It is in Grand Rapids Township. It is at the intersection of 7th Street North and Taylor Aveenue, on the right when traveling west on 7th Street North. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lamoure ND 58458, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Drift Prairie.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lamoure County Museum (approx. 0.9 miles away); LaMoure County Courthouse (approx. 6.7 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps Project (approx. 6.8 miles away); Symbol of Freedom (approx. 6.9 miles away); Honorable Milton R. Young (approx. 6.9 miles away); Steamboats on the River (approx. 6.9 miles away); Early Settlers of the Valley (approx. 11 miles away); St. Ansgar Lutheran Church (approx. 12.1

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miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2025, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 1, 2025, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.