Father DeSmet, the Roman Catholic missionary, conceived this place in the 1860's, but development did not begin until about 1889 in Sec. 4-147-90, Elbowoods Twp. The name noted a peculiar bend in the Missouri River and the heavy wooded river bottoms at this site. Both the Mandan and Arikara tribes called this place Elbow Woods in their native languages. A post office was established July 31, 1893 with Mary Farrell pm, and it was the agency headquarters for the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation 1893-1953. After many years of effort, the Catholic mission school was founded in 1910, and it was the center of activity in the community until it burned in 1939. A population of 175 was reported in 1930, and a famous bridge across the Missouri River was completed here in 1934. The post office closed April 15, 1954 with mail to Emmet, and the site is now inundated by Lake Sakakawea.

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