Ross, ND

Ross is a quiet community set out on the prairie of northwestern North Dakota in Mountrail County. Founded in 1902 along the railroad, it has a remarkable backstory shaped by Syrian and Lebanese homesteaders who farmed the area in the early twentieth century. In 1929, they built one of the first purpose-built mosques in the United States. Though the original structure eventually deteriorated, descendants rebuilt a smaller memorial mosque on the site in 2005 to honor the families who put down roots here.

ATTRIn memoriam afiler / CC BY-SA 2.0

Day-to-day life in Ross is simple and spread out, with wide skies and a handful of neighborhood streets. Most daily errands and community services center around Stanley, which sits about seven miles east on Highway 2. That is where local kids go to school, residents pick up groceries, and passengers can board the Empire Builder train. It makes Ross a practical option if you want rural space and peace while staying close to town essentials.