Cooperstown

History

The city is named for R. C. Cooper, a bonanza farmer who built the first wood-frame house in the area in 1880. Prior to Cooper's arrival, most settlers or the era lived in sod houses, covered wagons, tents, or log cabins (especially near the Sheyenne River where trees were numerous). Cooperstown was laid out on October 26, 1882, soon before the railroad was extended to that point. On November 7, 1882, the Griggs County Board of Commissioners voted to locate the county seat on one of Cooper's properties in Cooperstown. Prior to this, the county records were housed in Hope, North Dakota. The residents of Hope were determined that the county seat be located in their town and refused to surrender the records to Cooperstown. The County Commissioners forcibly removed the records by their next meeting on November 18. Sometime the following month, an armed party from Hope overpowered three guards in the new county office and returned the records to their town. In early 1883, the North Dakota Territorial Legislature created Steele County with Hope serving as the new county's seat. Hope returned Griggs County's record to Cooperstown after an election on June 2, 1883.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• GRIGGS COUNTY CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · Cooperstown · 197 students · 14.1:1 ratio
• GRIGGS COUNTY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
  High · Cooperstown · 68 students · 9.7:1 ratio