Backoo, North Dakota Explained

Official Name:Backoo, North Dakota
Pushpin Map:North Dakota#USA
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:North Dakota
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Pembina
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:912
Coordinates:48.8367°N -97.7103°W
Area Code:701
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1027778

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  2. Book: Wick, Douglas A. . North Dakota Place Names . 1988. Hedemarken Collectibles . Bismarck, North Dakota. 75. 0-9620968-0-6 . 191277027.
  3. Web site: The Dakota Icelanders Project . Icelandic Settlers of Advance (Avon) Township. 2009. 2010-07-02.
  4. Book: Patera, Alan H. . John S. Gallagher. North Dakota Post Offices, 1850-1982 . 1982. The Depot . Burtonsville, Maryland. 106–108 . 09763647 .
  5. Web site: Postmaster Finder . U.S. Postal Service . 2010-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100723003437/http://www.usps.com/postmasterfinder/ . 23 July 2010 . dead .
  6. http://www.zipinfo.com/cgi-local/zipsrch.exe?cnty=cnty&zip=58220 Zip Code Lookup
  7. Book: Williams, Mary Ann (Barnes) . Origins of North Dakota Place Names. Bismarck Tribune, 1966. Bismarck, North Dakota. 224. 1966. 431626.