The history of the beginnings of Blackwater 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 a farm post office established March 17, 1898 with Annie Minehan pm. It was located on the farm owned by her husband, Patrick J. Minehan, in NW 1/4 Sec. 6-148-87, Blackwater Twp., seven miles SE of Roseglen, and named for the Arikara Indians, a local tribe, whose name means horns of the elk, referring to their hair styles. The spelling of the post office name was an alternate form in vogue at the time. The post office was discontinued April 20, 1899 with mail to Fort Berthold.

This post office opened December 22, 1906 with Ira Matheny (1873-1945) pm. Mr. Matheny came to Fort Berthold in 1902 as a teacher at the mission school, and in 1906 built a country store in SW 1/4 Sec. 17-148-87, Blackwater Twp., nine miles north of the fort, whose post office was replaced by the Blackwater facility. It was named for nearby Blackwater Lake, named by the Indians to note the murkiness of its water, thought to be caused by the coal deposits in the area. Mr. Matheny operated the facility until 1923. A population of 10 was reported in 1930, and a count of 6 was made in 1940, but the post office closed May 31, 1941 with mail to Emmet.

Business History

Schools

O'Shea School Number 2  Section 8

O'Shea School Number 3  Section 11

Blackwater Cemetery  Section 15

Assumption Catholic Cemetery  Section 15

Churches

Historical, Genealogical and Ethnic Events

Photographs

Personal and Community Stories about this Area