GET TO KNOW GLADSTONE

History of Gladstone, North Dakota

Gladstone is a small, historic community in southwestern North Dakota, nestled in the fertile Green River valley at an elevation of 2,349 feet. Founded in the spring of 1882, the town began as Green River Station, a settlement established by approximately 150 pioneers from Ripon, Wisconsin who were drawn to the area’s rich soils and agricultural promise. As the document notes, “bountiful crops [were] raised on newly turned sod during the first year,” helping the young community take root.

​

Early Frontier Roots

Long before Gladstone was platted, the surrounding valley held deep historical significance. The confluence of the Green and Heart Rivers served as a site for military camps during the Sully Expedition of 1864 and Custer’s Seventh Cavalry in 1876. It was also a stop along the Keogh Trail and a construction camp for the Northern Pacific Railway in 1879. These early activities set the stage for settlement once the railroad arrived. In 1882, the town was officially named Gladstone in honor of British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. Early families—including the Birdsalls, Crynes, Konos, Littles, Lawrences, Kitells, Bissells, Scofields, Jopps, Letts, and Turners—built sod houses, opened small businesses, and established the foundations of civic life.

​

Growth Along the Railroad

The arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway transformed Gladstone into a bustling prairie hub. By 1883, the town had become the first post office west of Mandan, and its population approached 300 residents. Hotels, stores, grain elevators, and banks soon followed, supported by nearby lignite coal deposits that settlers mined for clean-burning fuel. As the document describes, these coal seams were “up to 5 feet thick and mined at shallow depths of 3 to 15 feet,” providing an important early resource. German-Hungarian immigrants arrived in the 1890s, enriching the cultural fabric of the community and establishing their own parishes and social traditions. Gladstone City Hall, built in 1920, became a center for meetings, dances, and community events.

​

Challenges and Resilience

Like many rural towns, Gladstone faced hardships during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Severe droughts and dust storms devastated farms, and major fires in 1933 and 1935 destroyed portions of the business district. Despite these challenges, residents rebuilt and continued investing in their community, including the construction of a new high school in 1955. ​Throughout the mid‑20th century, agricultural consolidation and economic shifts led to population declines, but Gladstone remained a steady rural community anchored by farming, ranching, and its proximity to Dickinson.

​

Modern Gladstone

Today, Gladstone is a quiet, close-knit city with a population of approximately 271 residents. The community maintains strong ties to agriculture while also supporting regional energy industries connected to the Bakken Formation. As the document notes, Gladstone “functions as a rural hub for agriculture and energy-related industries,” reflecting both its heritage and its evolving role in Stark County. ​Residents enjoy the benefits of small-town living—community events, local services, and easy access to Dickinson—while preserving the pioneering spirit that has defined Gladstone since 1882.