The history of the beginnings of Basto Township is covered in the Post Office histories below.

Towns / Cities
All Information from the Book "North Dakota Place Names" by Douglas A Wick

This was an early rural community founded about 1878 by Charles Weller in SE 1/4 Sec. 12-145-83, Basto Twp., fourteen miles NW of Washburn. The name noted some springs on the Weller homestead, which was in a coulee. Reports of a post office are not supported by government records. When Mr. Weller did in fact establish a post office here on February 26, 1883, he was appointed as the pm and named it for himself.

This was a rural post office established February 26, 1883 with Charles Weller, a Civil War veteran who settled here in 1878 and promoted a community called Spring Coulee, as pm. It was located in NE 1/4 Sec. 12-145-83, Basto Twp., fourteen miles NW of Washburn, and later moved to SE 1/4 Sec. 1-145-83, and Sec 10-145-83, both in the same immediate area. The post office closed April 15, 1903 with mail to Washburn. It reopened May 27, 1903, closing for good October 31, 1906 with mail to Underwood. A population of 20 was reported in 1890.

This rural post office was established June 18, 1901 with John A. Lundquist pm in his home in NW 1/4 Sec. 30-145-83, Basto Twp. His daughter, Esther (1885-1965), actually performed most of the duties of the office. Located about twelve miles SSE of Riverdale, the post office closed December 31, 1912 with mail to Washburn. The origin of the name is unknown.

Business History

Schools

Basto Cemetery  Section 30

Birka Lutheran Cemetery  Section 22

Churches

Historical, Genealogical and Ethnic Events

Photographs

Personal and Community Stories about this Area