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]
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]