This was by many standards the most successful of the Garrison Dam boom towns that developed before the creation of the government-sponsored town of Riverdale. Big Bend was favored locally as the name of Riverdale, and was adopted here only after the government town's name had been chosen. The name noted a major change in direction from East to South made by the Missouri River in central ND. The post office was established October 1, 1946 with Agnes Butts pm, and the site boasted among its businesses a grocery store, hardware store, cafe and a bowling alley. After an initial boom, the first census in 1950 showed just 207 people living here, and the site declined rapidly when construction ended a few years later. The post office closed August 31, 1957 with mail to Coleharbor, and the last census in 1960 showed a count of just 39. Big Bend was located in Sec. 6-146-83, Longfellow Twp., just SE of Riverdale.

Alexander Bible Presbyterian Cemetery
Section 22

Zoar Congregational Cemetery  Section 35

Churches

Historical, Genealogical and Ethnic Events

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