Several families, mostly Scandinavians, came here in 1905 from Ulen, Keene Twp., Clay County MN, which had been named for a Civil War veteran who homesteaded there.  The post office was established May 13, 1911 with Swend A. Martinson, pm at his home in SE 1/4 Sec. 11-152-96, Keene Twp. The name Keene was adopted only after Mr. Martinson's suggested name of Pioneer had been rejected. By 1915 a small townsite had begun to develop, and the post office was moved to the drugstore run by new pm Olof T. Kjorlaug.  A population of 26 was reported in 1920.  In October 1934 pm Catherine Schuman moved the facility five miles SSW to NW 1/4 Sec. 2-151-96, Blue Butte Twp, which was the site of a new commumnity called UNION CENTER.  There is evidence that the actual move had taken place as early as October 15, 1932.   Within a short time, KEENE was almost universally accepted as the name of the new location.  This small settlement about 20 miles NE of WATFORD CITY  still exists, although its population has never exceeded 50.  The Zip Code is 58847.


This was a rural post office established March 6 ,1908 with Fred Kramer pm. It was located in NW 1/4 Sec. 8-152-95, Hawkeye Twp, seven miles NE of Keene, and closed February 15, 1910 with mail to Charlson.  The origin of the name is unknown.  Kingsley is an erroneous spelling.