BlockBefore

Sargent County, North Dakota

35 topographic sheets cover 20 settlements here, and 1 property is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

1 National Register listing published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

North Dakota within the United States
Sargent County within North Dakota

What the record shows

  • 161 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 1 property here is on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a building.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 20 populated places in this county; 20 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

1

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Sargent County Courthousebuilding198080002927

Wildfire, 1992 to 2019

47 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 47 of them, burning about 1,555 acres. 1 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning22
Equipment and vehicle use11
Missing data/not specified/undetermined7
Smoking4
Other causes1
Natural1
Arson/incendiarism1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
15 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined200 acresNorth Dakota State Forest ServiceHUFFMAN FIRE
4 April 2004Missing data/not specified/undetermined180 acresTewaukon National Wildlife RefugePWK
22 March 2016Equipment and vehicle use160 acresNorth Dakota State Forest ServiceGIBBON
28 March 2005Debris and open burning150 acresTewaukon National Wildlife RefugeFRENIER
24 April 1998Debris and open burning130 acresTewaukon National Wildlife RefugeBN OLSON
13 April 2003Debris and open burning100 acresTewaukon National Wildlife RefugeWOYTASSEK
6 May 1997Debris and open burning90 acresTewaukon National Wildlife RefugeLABELLECRK
21 February 2002Smoking70 acresTewaukon National Wildlife RefugeHARTLEBEN

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1956 to 2025

60 of 361 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 361 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $3,763,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail177
Thunderstorm Wind110
Tornado26
Flash Flood22
Funnel Cloud12
Flood12
Lightning1
Heavy Rain1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2011Tornado (EF2)Nicholson$800,000This tornado was enshrouded in downburst winds and heavy rains, but was briefly visible to spotters near Cogswell. The tornado ripped out nearly seven miles of dual wooden high voltage power line along its track. Numerous trees and singular power poles were snapped and pole sheds and steel grain bins were destroyed at multiple locations. Peak winds were estimated at 120 mph.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindCrete$500,000Three of four 44,000 bushel grain bins were blown over at the Crete Elevator complex. The fourth, which was full of grain, remained standing. Eight 40,000 bushel grains bins were also damaged and one 40,000 bushel grain bin was blown down.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindHavana$400,000Two 30,000 bushel grain bins were destroyed by the strong wind. The tops of two 4,000 bushel grain silos were damaged. A flag pole and large trees were blown over. Ten homes had broken windows, damaged siding, and damaged roofing.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindForman$250,000Several houses lost shingles or had siding or roofing damages. Numerous large trees and tree limbs were broken down around town. Widespread wind damage was evident throughout Bowen and Forman townships.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindRutland$250,000Numerous tree limbs were broken down around town. Fields were flattened by wind or stripped bare by wind driven hail. Wind damage occurred throughout Rutland and Dunbar townships from the 80 mph gusts.
July 1973Tornado (F3)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 2006FloodCountywide$245,000Water tables remained high across Sargent County after substantial rainfall in 2005. Many roads and bridges were damaged and vehicles were getting stuck on soft rural roads. Several residents reported water in their basements. Sargent County received a Presidential Disaster Declaration for damages caused by spring flooding.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindCogswell$200,000Numerous large tree limbs were broken down around town. A center pivot irrigation system four miles west of town was flipped. Widespread wind damage was evident throughout Harlem and Sargent townships.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindCayuga$150,000Numerous large tree limbs were broken down around town. Roofing materials were also torn off of buildings. Wind damage throughout Ransom and Kingston townships indicated widespread peak winds from 70 to 80 mph with episodes of wind driven hail.
July 2011Tornado (EF1)Milnor Muni Arpt$100,000This tornado was likely wrapped in heavy rains and downburst winds for much of its track. The tornado snapped or uprooted numerous elm and ash trees in farm shelterbelts and in the town of Delamere. Peak winds were estimated at 100 mph.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindHavana$100,000The corrugated steel roof of a 110x40 foot hog barn was ripped off by the wind and lifted over a second building.
July 2018Tornado (EF1)Milnor$50,000A partially rain wrapped tornado tracked across Milnor Township. The tornado broken numerous branches and a tree in Milnor. Further east, tree damage was also noted just south of county road 13, along with the roof of a large farm shed. Several funnel clouds were reported as the circulation weakened.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindHavana$50,000A roof was torn off a steel grain bin. Numerous large tree limbs were broken down. Widespread wind damage was evident throughout Weber and Rutland townships.
April 2019FloodCrete$50,000no account filed
May 1996HailCayuga$50,000no account filed
July 2003Thunderstorm WindBrampton$40,000Three 5,000 bushel steel grain bins were torn off their anchor bolts and destroyed.
June 2013Flash FloodGwinner Arpt$25,000Widespread street and basement flooding occurred in Gwinner. The Bobcat plant was partially flooded with several inches of water on the floor.
June 1992Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1991Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1975Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1958Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 2012Thunderstorm WindGwinner Arpt$20,000The wind gust was measured by the Gwinner, North Dakota AWOS. Several power poles were snapped along a section line near Gwinner.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindHavana$20,000Tin roofing was blown off a machine shop and large tree limbs were broken down. Widespread wind damage was evident throughout Taylor Township.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindForman$15,000Strong winds blew down a pole barn.
June 2013Flash FloodStirum$10,000Highway 13 was closed west of Gwinner due to water washing over the road.
July 2003HailStraubville$10,000Wind driven hail damaged vinyl siding and some shingles. Windows were also broken out.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindRutland$10,000A tree was blown over onto a house. Several other trees fell across the city streets.
September 2001Thunderstorm WindMilnor$10,000Several large trees were blown over in Milnor. One tree fell on top of 2 parked vehicles.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindHavana$10,000A grain bin was damaged in the strong wind.
October 2008LightningRutland$5,000Lightning struck a moving pickup truck on Highway 11, between Rutland and Cayuga. The three passengers were unharmed, but the pickup itself was damaged. The antenna, electrical systems, one tire, and the windshield were damaged on the vehicle and a small hole was created in the pavement on Highway 11.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindCogswell$5,000Tree damage was reported in Cogswell and a barn was destroyed.
March 2009FloodCrete$5,000no account filed
April 2009FloodCrete$5,000no account filed
May 2009FloodCrete$5,000no account filed
May 1994HailCogswell$5,000no account filed
May 1994HailMilnor$5,000no account filed
October 1979Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 1972Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindMilnor$2,000Tree limbs were blown down.
June 1999Thunderstorm WindCayuga$2,000The wind blew the roof off a shed.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindForman$2,000Many trees were blown down just northeast of Forman.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindCogswell$1,000A satellite dish and a tree were blown down by the strong wind.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindForman$1,000Strong wind knocked down trees in Forman.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindCogswell$500Branches were blown down.
August 2025HailGwinner Arpt-Estimated half dollar to ping pong ball sized hail east of Gwinner. Time estimated from radar.
July 2025HailBrampton-Corn fields damaged. Hail size estimated.
July 2025HailCayuga-Photo showing collection of hail estimated to be the size of half dollars. Time estimated by radar.
July 2025HailGeneseo-Public observed mostly pea to nickel sized hail, with up to quarter sized hail intermixed. Time estimated by radar.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindMilnor-Public reports corn fields damaged.
April 2022HailRutland-Estimated hail size via social media photo.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindGwinner Arpt-Peak wind measured at the Gwinner Airport (KGWR).
July 2022HailGwinner Arpt-Received a public report of 1 inch hail; time is estimated based on radar.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindRutland-Received a public report of a snapped power pole, as well as shingles and siding panels blown off a nearby pole shed. Time estimated based on radar.
July 2022HailBrampton-Dime to Quarter-sized hail fell across central portions of Brampton Township, along with strong winds. There was a swath that had a width of one quarter to one half mile wide, and extended for around one mile. This swath contained damaged crops, with corn stalks stripped and about 80 percent of the soybeans defoliated.
July 2022HailRutland-Wind driven 1.25 inch hail caused damage across portions of western and central Tewaukon Township. This impacted several sections of farmland from 2 south of Rutland to around 8 south of Cayuga.
October 2021Tornado (EF0)Crete-A tornado tracked intermittently for nearly two miles from just north of HWY 13 through the buns slough area of central Denver Township, o around 5 NNE of Crete by 408 PM CDT. The tornado repeatedly showed a dust plume but stayed mainly over open grassland. Peak winds estimated to 70 mph, with a max width of 25 yards.
October 2021Funnel CloudCrete-A persistent funnel cloud developed and tracked just to the east of Crete.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindGwinner Arpt-Peak wind gust was measured at the Gwinner Airport KGWR.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindStirum-Peak 3-meter wind was measured at an NDAWN station.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindGwinner Arpt-A small shed was blown down the street, siding was peeled off a trailer, and several large tree branches were snapped. Time estimated based on nearby airport wind observations and radar.

Every populated place in the county

20

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Sargent County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.