Little Missouri National Grassland
Encyclopedia
Little Missouri National Grassland is a National Grassland located in western North Dakota
, USA
. At 1,033,271 acres (1,614.49 sq mi, or 4,181.5 km2), it is the largest grassland in the country. Enclaved within its borders is Theodore Roosevelt National Park
, which is managed by the National Park Service
(and therefore not included in the preceding statistics). The Little Missouri National Grasslands was once a part of the Custer National Forest, but is now a part of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
, a National Forest
unit consisting entirely of National Grasslands. A predominant feature of the grassland is colorful and beautiful badlands
, a rugged terrain extensively eroded by wind and water. It is a mixed grass prairie
, meaning it has both long and short grass.
The boundaries of the grasslands on certain maps can be misleading. Within the boundaries of the national grassland are significant portions of state-owned and privately owned land, much of it leased by cattle ranchers for grazing. Overall, in descending order of land area, it is located in parts of McKenzie
, Billings
, Slope
, and Golden Valley
counties.
White Butte
, North Dakota's highest point, is located in the extreme southeast corner of the grassland, south of the town of Amidon
.
The grassland is administered by the Forest Service as part of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
from offices in Bismarck, North Dakota
. There are local ranger
district offices in Dickinson
and Watford City
.
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At 1,033,271 acres (1,614.49 sq mi, or 4,181.5 km2), it is the largest grassland in the country. Enclaved within its borders is Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a United States National Park comprising three geographically separated areas of badlands in western North Dakota. The park was named for U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, in honor of his achievements in conservation as president and for the landscape's...
, which is managed by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(and therefore not included in the preceding statistics). The Little Missouri National Grasslands was once a part of the Custer National Forest, but is now a part of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
The Dakota Prairie Grasslands was formed in 1998. It consists of four Ranger District offices that manage four National Grasslands: the Little Missouri National Grassland, Sheyenne National Grassland and Cedar River National Grassland in North Dakota and the Grand River National Grassland in...
, a National Forest
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
unit consisting entirely of National Grasslands. A predominant feature of the grassland is colorful and beautiful badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
, a rugged terrain extensively eroded by wind and water. It is a mixed grass prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
, meaning it has both long and short grass.
The boundaries of the grasslands on certain maps can be misleading. Within the boundaries of the national grassland are significant portions of state-owned and privately owned land, much of it leased by cattle ranchers for grazing. Overall, in descending order of land area, it is located in parts of McKenzie
McKenzie County, North Dakota
-Major highways:* U.S. Highway 85* North Dakota Highway 22* North Dakota Highway 23* North Dakota Highway 58* North Dakota Highway 68* North Dakota Highway 73* North Dakota Highway 200* North Dakota Highway 1806-National protected areas:...
, Billings
Billings County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:* Little Missouri National Grassland * Theodore Roosevelt National Park -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 888 people, 366 households, and 255 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.79 people per square mile . There were 529 housing...
, Slope
Slope County, North Dakota
There were 313 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone...
, and Golden Valley
Golden Valley County, North Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,924 people, 761 households, and 506 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.92 people per square mile . There were 973 housing units at an average density of 0.97 per square mile...
counties.
White Butte
White Butte
White Butte is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of North Dakota. At an elevation of 3,506 ft , it is a prominent butte in Slope County, in the Badlands of the southwestern part of the state....
, North Dakota's highest point, is located in the extreme southeast corner of the grassland, south of the town of Amidon
Amidon, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 26 people, 14 households, and 9 families residing in the city. The population density was 41.2 people per square mile . There were 17 housing units at an average density of 26.9 per square mile...
.
The grassland is administered by the Forest Service as part of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
The Dakota Prairie Grasslands was formed in 1998. It consists of four Ranger District offices that manage four National Grasslands: the Little Missouri National Grassland, Sheyenne National Grassland and Cedar River National Grassland in North Dakota and the Grand River National Grassland in...
from offices in Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
. There are local ranger
National Park Ranger
National Park Service Rangers are among the uniformed employees charged with protecting and preserving areas set aside in the National Park System by the United States Congress and/or the President of the United States...
district offices in Dickinson
Dickinson, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,010 people, 6,517 households, and 4,020 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,690.7 inhabitants per square mile . There were 7,033 housing units at an average density of 742.7 per square mile...
and Watford City
Watford City, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,435 people, 619 households, and 378 families residing in the city. The population density was 964.8 people per square mile . There were 790 housing units at an average density of 531.2 per square mile...
.