Considering moving to N.Dakota (Fargo, Bismarck: for sale, how much, houses)

[Zeeya]

Im doing some research on N.Dakota as it will be my final move (I hope) ..I am on a limited income and am raising my grandaughter.I am looking for an area that is in the central part of N. Dakota,good folks,good schools a hospital not to far away and where the land is somewhat sloped with trees and pasture for a couple of ponies...being from Washington I just have to have some trees close by I love them.I am open to any suggestions and thank you for your input.

[HKB]

If trees are important to you, you might want to reconsider moving to North Dakota.

[ebitdadada]

You've just described Bismarck-Mandan. Other than that, as far as ND is concerned, you're pretty much out of luck.

[DaninEGF]

I would agree that central North Dakota would be your best chance...area from Minot to Devils Lake southward to Bismarck/Jamestown. Further east you get into the Red River valley where Fargo and Grand Forks are located and no rolling hills there. Out west such as Williston to Dickinson a bit drier climate than farther east but you do have rolling hills.

My in-laws live on a hobby farm south of Minot (about 20 miles) and they have two horses. They are out in pasture during the day and in the barn at night. They live in southern Ward county and it is fairly hilly witih sloped land and plenty of sloughs (ponds) which occasionally run dry in summer. But not many trees though. Most of the trees would be found near creeks/rivers and in shelter belts planted by farmers. I dont know much about how to search for available farm land for sale.

good luck

Dan

[Billy Baroque]

I travel all over North Dakota with my job -- most of ND is not wooded, but there are plenty of great places where trees grow, You might look along the Missouri and Little Missouri valleys, certainly -- also along the Sheyenne River, or up in the Northeast corner around the Pembina Gorge. I heven't tried to buy land myself, but what i hear is that you can find a place fairly easily. Certainly good horse country.

[arvid1985]

I have to agree will Billy's reply. Sheyanne Valley between Jamestown & Valley City is very nice. Land can be easily acquired relative cheap.

[Christine Joan]

I've been looking at the area between Jamestown and Valley City too for numerous reasons, including the fact that there appears to be plenty of treas and greenery and a lot of very affordable housing. However, is this the same valley that in another thread warns about there being mosquitoes in the valley? If so, how big of a problem do they pose. Thanks for any responses.

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by Christine Joan

I've been looking at the area between Jamestown and Valley City too for numerous reasons, including the fact that there appears to be plenty of treas and greenery and a lot of very affordable housing. However, is this the same valley that in another thread warns about there being mosquitoes in the valley? If so, how big of a problem do they pose. Thanks for any responses.

Christine...generally in eastern North Dakota when the "valley" is mentioned it is referring to the Red River valley (Fargo-Grand Forks). But the Sheyenne river valley runs from through Valley City (quite flat til you come right to Valley City then you have the bluffs). Jamestown sits in the James River valley which goes southward to Aberdeen SD. Mosquitoes would be prevelant too out there....but probably overall not as bad as in the Red River valley. But so much on mosquitoes depends on how much rain falls during the spring and early summer. If it rains a lot and there is standing water in the fields, then mosquitoes will hatch and be quite bad for a while after the rain. Usually they say 10-14 days after a major rainfall mosquito larvae will hatch...that is why most cities have a system which kills larvae before they hatch as a way of mosquito control. Last summer most of the state was in a drought and mosquitoes were very few. The NWS outlook for this summer is warmer than normal with possible continued dry conditions.

In the Red River valley...the soil is clay and water tends to pond on top of it and sit there while settling through the soil. Outside of the "valley" the soil is different (not sure what type) and the rain will soak in better and leave less standing water. And plus in hillier areas water will tend to drain better versus in the very flat Red River valley.


Dan

[Christine Joan]

Thanks again, Dan. I'm still considering locations all over the state of North Dakota. Right now I'm looking at a house in Noonan, another one in Drake and one that is about an hour southwest of Fargo. Last week I was almost ready to move to a house in Hebron. All of these are subject to change as I learn more about the particular houses and the local coummunities. It is so good to know as much as possible about the weather and local conditions before my arrival. Also, good to know that my instinct for liking a hilly area is a good strategy for dealing with mosquitoes.

There appears to be a lot of homes available in the Northwest section of the state, Crosby and Noonan, right now. Is anyone aware of any changing conditions that might be causing this or is this just being caused by the elderly moving to retirement homes and the emigration of the young?

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by Christine Joan

Thanks again, Dan. I'm still considering locations all over the state of North Dakota. Right now I'm looking at a house in Noonan, another one in Drake and one that is about an hour southwest of Fargo. Last week I was almost ready to move to a house in Hebron. All of these are subject to change as I learn more about the particular houses and the local coummunities. It is so good to know as much as possible about the weather and local conditions before my arrival. Also, good to know that my instinct for liking a hilly area is a good strategy for dealing with mosquitoes.

There appears to be a lot of homes available in the Northwest section of the state, Crosby and Noonan, right now. Is anyone aware of any changing conditions that might be causing this or is this just being caused by the elderly moving to retirement homes and the emigration of the young?

As for the small towns in North Dakota (and over the entire Plains)...as family small farms were displaced by large operations less people were needed in the small towns and surrounding areas to work. Also with the car, people could travel into larger towns for shopping, etc much more easily. Thus after peaking in the 1940s-1950s...small towns have been loosing population (some more than others) ....as farms became larger and more technology driven....youth had to go into the cities for jobs leaving the elderly behind in the small towns. So that has been the main crisis pop-wise for rural America. The larger ND towns are gaining in population but the smaller ones struggle....you only need so many to work on the farm nowadays and with services concentrated in the cities that is where the jobs are. Now with more and more people working out of the home or tele-commuting there is a slow reversal going on and this may help stop the pop loss in small town america. Each town is so different...the real small ones like with pops of 100 or 200 are really bad off....but towns with pop of 1,000 to 5,000 seem to be holding their own. With people having less kids nowadays though even growing communities are seeing less school age kids and thus school mergers are happening.

Dan