Rugby (Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks: real estate, rentals, HOA)

[StPauliGirl]

I lived in Rugby for about 4 years, 1987 to 1991. I haven't been back since moving away, though I do have a sister still living there. I'm wondering if any Rugby-ites could tell me how much the town's changed, what housing and employment is like, and if there is anyplace to read classifieds from the Pierce County Herald online? My sister would like me to come back, and she's reporting the town in glowing terms. Kinda looking for a second opinion LOL.....

I'm considering a move back next spring. Currently am in the Twin Cities and absolutely sick of this life here.

Thanks in Advance!

~K

[DaninEGF]

Hopefully someone from Rugby willl chime in....but my wife lives in Minot and her brother and family live in Bottineau while we live in East Grand Forks. So we frequently travel through Rugby on US 2 to Minot or take Highway 5 north from US 2 through town to Dunseith. Now I have been only going thru the area since 2001....so havent a clue what it was like before then (sorry!).

But over the past 5-6 years I havent noticed any big changes. The corner Cenex store at 2/5 junction is as busy as ever...when will they ever put in the card readers so we dont have to go in. They did move the geographic center of North America mounment to the south side of US 2 and there remains the Dairy Queen and Pizza Hut as the only fast food outlets in town as well as a couple of small family restaurants near the highway junction.

Dont know why other food places dont go in...would seem like a good place for McDonalds or the like as it is the only place between Devils Lake and Minot to stop and eat. But Rugby as always looked like a nice small town...I wouldnt say growing...the hospital is still there...and there is that nice 9 hole course on the east side of town with newer (10 yr old or so) homes just west of it. I dont recall any major employment additions of recent but also no closing either....so I would say Rugby is pretty stable as far as rural ND towns go. But this is just my impression.

I did check the North Dakota newspaper association web site and the Pierce County Herald is a weekly paper and there is no web address for it so no place to check online classifieds. From stopping at the Cenex...it seems the Minot Daily News is the main paper people use....with their TV coming from Minot and Bismarck...versus farther east toward Devils Lake where Fargo and GF media comes into play.

Hope this helps a little about what it is like now....I dont how it compares to when you were there. As for pop...2000 of 2939 via census.

Dan

[StPauliGirl]

Sounds like it hasn't changed much at all!

I'll have my sister send me a Herald so I can take a look. Just checking MLS listings, sure looks like home prices have stayed significantly low. And the hospital has expanded a lot since I was there.

Thanks Dan!!!!

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by StPauliGirl

Sounds like it hasn't changed much at all!

I'll have my sister send me a Herald so I can take a look. Just checking MLS listings, sure looks like home prices have stayed significantly low. And the hospital has expanded a lot since I was there.

Thanks Dan!!!!

Your welcome...glad I was of some help. Hopefully someone with ties to the area longer than I have will chime in. You know driving through can only give you so much. The Pamida is still there....the big house on the hill as you come into Rugby from the east is a nice one....I think my wife knows who lives there. One thing I dont know is the job market and any small time employers there.. Of course farming is king there and this year crops and prices are really good all over the state with just a few exceptions. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[fourwinds]

Rugby's job base has expanded for several reasons:

1. Hospital has expanded with more services and become more regional.
2. A new regional jail was built that specializes in housing inmates that are struggling with drug/alcohol addictions/ rehab/detox brings in "clients" from a long distance.
3. MTI call center, which provides jobs in a number of smaller ND communities (10 small towns, more than 600 jobs), and is based out of Mohall, and employs a large number in Rugby. It's higher value services than some of the call center sweat shops that were first set up.
4. Rugby Manufacturing, a maker of truck bodies, has expanded and has a new owner Rugby Manufacturing Company manufactures truck hoists, dump bodies, platforms...
5. A major new wind energy development (and related jobs) are going in north of Rugby and one near Rolla, and more such developments are expected.
http://www.growingnd.com/ShowDocument.asp?ID=51 (Wind projects, ethanol plants, and biodiesel plants seem to be popping up all over the state. Wind turbines may very well become a common site throughout ND in the next decade.)

The Hospital has a number of openings, as well as Rugby Manuf:
Rugby Area Chamber of Commerce - Jobs (broken link)

[StPauliGirl]

Awesome!!!

Now, to start looking into housing.....I've had zero luck in looking for rentals online, so I'm going to have to see what my sister can come up with. If I had my way I'd be moving long before next spring....I just want to get an idea of the rent range in the area. It used to be absolutely dirt cheap.

I knew about the new jail - my sister has worked for Pierce County law enforcement as a jailer/dispatcher for close to 20 years. When I left the area, Rugby Manufacturing was barely surviving. Nice to see they're doing great, and wonderful to see all the other opportunities that have sprung up as well That's a good sign that Rugby is thriving.

[MikeyToo]

Thought I would drop a few bits and pieces regarding Rugby.

These are most of the realtors that have Rugby properties:
Yes! Still some good deals in Rugby.

Brokers 12: Property Listings
Watne Real Estate - Home
Real Estate 7 - The "Action" People

Having graduated from RHS in 1964, Rugby has changed.
It use to have a lot more hustle-bustle, the downtown was always busy.
Of course, we drove a 100 miles some weekend evenings just driving up/down
Main. That probably hasn't changed too much. But the downtown is weaker
than I remember it being. Could use some new business/restaurants.
Still has a good grocery store and what use to be the Lyric theater still has movies (I use to run the projector at the Lyric). I also worked for the Pierce
County Trubine for awhile (Printers Devil). The Tribune did a lot of Job work plus we printed newspapers for
other communities in the area.
Bottineau will soon have a SuperWalmart store. It will have a little bit of everything, including a garden center. But, Minot is only 10 miles further than
Bottineau if you need more shopping variety.
RHS I believe only graduated around 40-45 students last year. Down a lot from earlier years. In 1964, we graduated around 114 students.
Good Hospital which is always looking for help. Rehab center recently opened on the outskirts of town.
I have fond memories of Rugby....

[StPauliGirl]

My brother in law is the general manager of Leevers Super Valu in Rugby. When I was there, there was also a Bickler's on the other end of main street.

I used to "take Main" on weekend nights - a LOT of us did. Seemed like your choices for entertainment consisted of that or hanging out at Pete's or the Shadow Bar. Hehe. Is the dirt track north of town still there? We used to watch races out there right from our upstairs window across the street. Good times

Now I'm seriously homesick.

I see that Heart of America (was called Good Samaritan..I was a CNA there) now offers nursing classes so one can get their LPN or RN degree. What a fabulous idea! I went to school intending to be a nurse but had to leave and work fulltime. So I already have several credits toward that degree. Whoever thought of doing that at HOA is brilliant - Rugby is just remote enough that it's hard to go to college and live there, and with the nursing shortage, it's a fantastic solution to keep people living there and attain their educational goals at the same time.

I think I'm about 3/4ths the way in making the decision to go back. You all have helped out a LOT! Thank you!

One last thing - how's waterfowl hunting in the area? My significant other is an avid duck/goose hunter, and my son is going hunting for the first time this year. I know goose hunting there is great - how about ducks?

[MikeyToo]

Bicklers is gone, I believe. We tried to stay away from the bad side of town (The North).. In my younger days, remembered chasing the nurses in training at Good Samaritan..
Leevers is a good store. Lee's Bar was the hang-out I actually go to when I'm in the area. I still have cousin's living in the Rugby area as well. Many of my ancestors are buried in Little Flower Cemetery.

This is a great Web-site for anything outdoor ND fishing/hunting:

Home - Fishing Buddy North Dakota Outdoors

Your significant other will love the waterfowl hunting in the Rugby area.
With the good rains they have had the last few years. All the holes in the
ground are filled up. I have cousins in Seattle, WA area that come out every
fall for the goose and duck hunting. They always get their limits.

Good Luck! on your return to NoDak...

[snowblind9]

Being a Harvey Alumni, I have to say this with all the good things being mentioned about Rugby. Boooooo, Panthers! Goooooo, Hornets!!!!!!!