Pierce

North Dakota's ghost towns are homestead-era towns the drought and the Depression emptied in a single brutal decade.

Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,990, and was estimated to be 3,838 in 2025. The county seat and the largest city is Rugby.

The on-the-ground condition of Pierce is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Pierce is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Pierce is roughly 48.2389, -99.9665 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.