Fort Buford Ghost Town
Williams County, North Dakota47.9864, -104.0010
Can you visit?
Likely private land
Private or unlisted land · Ask the owner first
- Nearest town
- 20 miSidney, MT
- Mild months
- Apr–Oct7 of 12
- Next ghost town
- 2.4 miJava
Fort Buford is a former settlement in Williams County, North Dakota, listed among the ghost towns of North Dakota. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
On the map
- Private or unlisted
Star: Fort Buford. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Sidney, MT, about 20 miles south in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Bismarck, ND, 171 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- Java2.4 mi west
- Mondak3.2 mi northwest
- Charbonneau14 mi southeast
- Schafer40 mi east
- Wheelock41 mi northeast
- Appam45 mi northeast
- Temple52 mi northeast
- Comertown64 mi north
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
Private or unlisted land
The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run April to October, judging by NOAA normals from Williston Exp Farm. August brings 10 or more days at 90°F and up; snow is normal from October to April.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Williston Exp Farm station (USC00329430), 16 miles away. About 14.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Williams County, North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 47.98640, -104.00100 |
| Protected as | National Register of Historic Places (NRHP 75001308) |
| Sources | Wikidata Q13634816 · Wikipedia article · NPS register file |
Questions
Where is Fort Buford ghost town?
In Williams County, North Dakota, at 47.9864, -104.0010. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Sidney, MT, about 20 miles south in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Bismarck, ND, 171 miles away.
Can you visit Fort Buford?
Likely private land. The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
When is the best time to visit Fort Buford?
Mild months here run April to October, judging by NOAA normals from Williston Exp Farm. August brings 10 or more days at 90°F and up; snow is normal from October to April.
Are there other ghost towns near Fort Buford?
Yes. Java (2.4 mi), Mondak (3.2 mi), Charbonneau (14 mi), Schafer (40 mi).
