Country School House Project

In 2009, the theme of the ND Governor's History Conference was education. As part of that conference, the State Historical Society asked members of the public to help document the country school houses that remain on our landscape. Several individuals sent in information about schools, but one lady, now known in many parts of the state as "The School Lady," has compiled information on over 730 country schools. Kathy Wilner started with one school in particular, the Ingersoll School, and then decided to do some schools around her county. Over time, she partnered with County Historical Societies and won grants to continue documenting schools around the state. Ms. Wilner was awarded the Heritage Profile Honor Award in 2017.

Hard copies of all the information Ms. Wilner compiled are available for viewing at the County Historical Societies, and digital copies are available on this page. In some cases, the names and locations of schools have changed over time, and these records are based on the information available at the time the record was made. The State Historical Society will continue to add records about country schools as it receives them.

Name: LUND TOWNSHIP SCHOOL #1
ID: 32WD02168
County: Ward     Township: 153     Range: 087     Section: 11
Geographic Location Key: 015308711WD
Name: LUND TOWNSHIP SCHOOL #2
ID: 32WD02169
County: Ward     Township: 153     Range: 087     Section: 16
Geographic Location Key: 015308716WD
Name: VANG TOWNSHIP SCHOOL #1
ID: 32WD02170
County: Ward     Township: 153     Range: 085     Section: 19
Geographic Location Key: 015308519WD
Name: Linton Township School
ID: 32WD02171
County: Ward     Township: 153     Range: 086     Section: 08
Geographic Location Key: 015308608WD
Name: Denmark Township School
ID: 32WD02172
County: Ward     Township: 161     Range: 088     Section: 14
Geographic Location Key: 016108814WD
Name: Mayland Township School
ID: 32WD02173
County: Ward     Township: 157     Range: 085     Section: 26
Geographic Location Key: 015708526WD
Name: Willis Township School
ID: 32WD02174
County: Ward     Township: 153     Range: 082     Section: 23
Geographic Location Key: 015308223WD
Name: Vang Township School #2
ID: 32WD02175
County: Ward     Township: 153     Range: 085     Section: 08
Geographic Location Key: 015308508WD
Name: HIDDENWOOD SCHOOL #2
ID: 32WD02459
County: Ward     Township: 152     Range: 087     Section: 27
Geographic Location Key: 015208727WD
Name: HIDDENWOOD SCHOOL #1
ID: 32WD02460
County: Ward     Township: 151     Range: 087     Section: 15
Geographic Location Key: 015108715WD