Tagus
Prairie Ghost
State: North Dakota
County: Mountrail County
Founded: 1916
Abandoned: 1980s
Peak Population: 500
Tagus was a wheat farming community that thrived during the homesteading era. As farms consolidated and young people left for cities, the town slowly emptied. Today, abandoned grain elevators and houses stand on the windswept prairie.
Homesteading Era
Homesteaders arrived in the 1910s, drawn by railroad promotions promising fertile land. Tagus served as their supply center.
Farm Consolidation
When small farms merged into large operations, fewer people were needed. Tagus lost its reason to exist.
Timeline
- 1916 - Founded Railroad brought settlers
- 1920s - Peak Farming heyday
- 1980s - Abandoned Last businesses closed
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Summer
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 30 minutes
Quick Facts
- Typical of Great Plains ghost towns
- Grain elevator still stands
- Named for a town in Portugal
Location
Address: Near Stanley, North Dakota
Coordinates: 48.1333, -102.45