Arena
Railroad bypass killed prairie town
State: North Dakota
County: Burleigh County
Founded: 1880s
Abandoned: 1920s
Arena was a small prairie town that died when the Northern Pacific Railroad built its line elsewhere. Without rail access, farmers couldn't ship grain. Without grain shipments, the town had no purpose. Like hundreds of Dakota ghost towns, Arena returned to grassland.
Quick Facts
- Railroad bypass killed the town
- One of hundreds of Dakota ghost towns
- Prairie has reclaimed the site
- Typical American Great Plains pattern
Location
Address: Burleigh County, North Dakota
Coordinates: 46.8756, -100.9017