SW North Dakota

We were overwhelmed by the oil boom traffic and the thick dust around Dickinson and I was tired of the freeway so we went south on 85 and then west on 12 to Miles City for a really enjoyable ride.  Here are some highlights - Amidon.

Here is what Wikipedia says: "Amidon is a city in Slope County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of Slope County.[4] The population was 20 at the 2010 census, making it the third least populous county seat in the United States, behind Mentone, Texas (population 19), the county seat of Loving County and Brewster, Nebraska (population 17), the county seat of Blaine County, Nebraska.[1]

Amidon was founded in 1910 at the anticipated terminus of a Milwaukee Road branch line that diverged from the railroad's Pacific Extension in McLaughlin, South Dakota. The line was ultimately never built farther west of New England, North Dakota, making Amidon one of the few surviving North Dakota cities to have never been served by a rail line.[5]

Located on US 85 about 31 miles (50 km) north of Bowman, North Dakota, it is the closest city to White Butte."


Watch out for local cop - a stuffed policeman in the local patrol car - if he comes to life you are nailed.

Our next favorite was Marmarth -  the photos tell it all.  Yes it is a ghost town, but people still live there.






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