Backoo, North Dakota
Unincorporated community
Backoo, North Dakota is located in North Dakota
Backoo, North Dakota
Backoo, North Dakota
Backoo, North Dakota is located in the United States
Backoo, North Dakota
Backoo, North Dakota
Coordinates: 48°50′12″N 97°42′37″W / 48.83667°N 97.71028°W / 48.83667; -97.71028
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Dakota
CountyPembina
Elevation
912 ft (278 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code701
GNIS feature ID1027778

Backoo is an unincorporated community in Advance Township in North Dakota's Pembina County, United States, located approximately five miles northwest of Cavalier.[1] It was established in 1887 as a townsite along the Great Northern Railroad.[2]

History

Backoo was a town of roughly 50 people, and was one of the more prominent communities in the township.[3] The post office was established September 26, 1887, and was in continuous operation for more than 100 years, closing October 11, 1988.[4][5] The post office was assigned the ZIP code of 58215. Mail service is now handled through Cavalier.[6]

John Mountain, one of its first settlers, is reported to have named the town after the Barcoo River in his home country of Australia.[7] Other sources credit the origin of the name to Baku, a city in Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea.[2]

References

  1. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Wick, Douglas A. (1988). North Dakota Place Names. Bismarck, North Dakota: Hedemarken Collectibles. p. 75. ISBN 0-9620968-0-6. OCLC 191277027.
  3. ^ The Dakota Icelanders Project (2009). "Icelandic Settlers of Advance (Avon) Township". Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  4. ^ Patera, Alan H.; John S. Gallagher (1982). North Dakota Post Offices, 1850-1982. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. pp. 106–108. OCLC 09763647.
  5. ^ "Postmaster Finder". U.S. Postal Service. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  6. ^ Zip Code Lookup
  7. ^ Williams, Mary Ann (Barnes) (1966). Origins of North Dakota Place Names. Bismarck, North Dakota: Bismarck Tribune, 1966. p. 224. OCLC 431626.


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