Rugby, North Dakota

The Geographical Center of North America

A monument to a town's status as the center of the continent...off by a few miles

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Contributors: Dylan

Shortly after the U.S. Geological Survey determined in 1931 that a point near Rugby, N.D., is the center of North America, two volunteers erected a 15-foot obelisk in town.

The location of the monument was 15 miles northeast near the intersection of two highways, U.S. Highway 2 and North Dakota Highway 3, where more motorists can see it. When U.S. 2 expanded to four lanes in 1971, the obelisk was moved a short distance away.

  • Hours
    Open all day everyday. It's in a parking lot.
  • Website
  • Address
    U.S. Highway 2 and North Dakota Highway 3, Rugby, North Dakota, 58368, United States
  • Cost
See an error? Know more? Edit this place.
Sources
  1. * Rugby Chamber of Commerce history of the monument.
  2. * Wikipedia entry on Rugby, N.D.
  3. * U.S. Geological Survey page on elevations and distances.
  4. * Google map page showing actual location of geographical center using USGS coordinates.
Map/Directions
Go to Rugby, N.D., on U.S. Highway 2 to the intersection with North Dakota Highway 3. The monument is at the southeast corner.
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