The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-04-03

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ing that was used by the county
officers for the transaction of
business until the first court
house wa sconstructed. The at
ii cof this building represented
the towns first cooler" and while
looked upon as a terror to evil
doers, the attic window offered
hope to those who anticipated too
severe punishment.
Tho Town Develops
Development after theyear 1874
was. encouraging. By means of
the pioneer railway a vast num-
ber of settlers found their way
to the Red River Valley, and cross
ing the stream at Breckenridge
they rapidly settled upon Rich
land county land. The organiza-
ton of the county was accom-
plished in the year 1873, and the
Indian titles in tue county were
extinguished. Governor Penning
ton named the first county COM
missioners, and they were sue
ceeded by the officers selected by
the people at their first election
in the fall of 1873. This election
was held at Wahpeton, the only
precinct in the county, and about
60 votes were cast, which would
indicate reckoning the population
at five for every voter, that the
total number Of settlers in the
county at that time was approx
mately 800.
From 1873 to 1879, and espec-
tally during the years of 1877
and 1878, there was an influx of
settlers from all parts of the
country, and the desirable loca-
ton of the town of Wahpeton
proved an attraction to the pio-
neer residents Of the county.
: North 0akota's 0oom folt
1t was in the year 1 S73 that the
boom which was beginning to
sweep over North Dakota began
to be felt in Wahpeton, and with
ambition to keep we'll along with
the procession and determination
TO carry out that ambition, the
pioneer residents laid a splendid
foundation for the towns Develop
ment. 1t advancements was
steady, the town never Jagged, and
from a village of approximately
200 inhabitants in 1879 it de-
veloped into one Of the thriftiest
cities in the state, with a popu-
laton Of approximately $500 at
the present time.
Wahpeton, by all means, is en-
titled to the optimistci view it
holds Of the future. Surrounded
by an agricultural community the
equal Of any in the state, and
with rapidly developing resour-
ces to encourage the manufactur-
er and a population developing at
q rate that offers equally encour-
aging opportunities in the way
of a splendid market, it is certain
to prove an attraction for the
investment of capital.
The City Today
Wahpeton, the county seat Of
Richland county, has a popula-
ton Of $500 good and true Ameri
can citizens, who are ever awake
to the best interests Of the city
and community in general. With
the splendid school and church
advantages, and the general bene-
fits afforded by modern city i'm
provements, it affords a splendid
home for its citizens and has an
equal attraction for new home
seekers.
Wahpeton has three banks, the
Citizens National, the National
and the Peoples State bank. All
are in a fourishing condition
and are abreast of the best bank
ing institutions in the northwest.
It boasts of some of the best and
most substantial business firms
in the state, meeting in court
eous and efficient manner the re-
quirements of both the retail and
wholesale trade. It has all the
institutions that mark the wide
awake and prosperous growing
city, and with an increasing popu-
lation in city and rural districts
unsurpassed railway facilities and
kindred advantages it represents
an admirable field of opportunity.
Wahpeton has complete sew
er system, comprising three trunk