Underwood, ND

Underwood grew along the Soo Line between Bismarck and Max after 1903, when the railroad laid out a town named for Fred D. Underwood, one of its vice presidents. The rail line put a McLean County farming community on a through route, and early residents included homesteaders and German immigrants from Russia. A 1925 brick school building still stands as a reminder of the town’s first civic generation. Underwood’s history then widened with the Garrison Dam era and the energy and processing businesses that arrived around the basin.

On an ordinary day, Underwood feels like a small service town with a wider industrial horizon. City Hall and Carl Bader Hall share a civic role, with the hall used for recreation and community meetings. Underwood Public School remains part of the town’s center, while the surrounding area includes the Coal Creek power plant, Falkirk Mine, Blue Flint Ethanol, and newer energy operations. Churches, local government, and the McLean County Fair’s June run give residents recurring places to meet. Bismarck is close enough for larger errands, but town life still follows the grain, school calendar, and county roads.