Sherbrooke, North Dakota
Encyclopedia
Sherbrooke is an ghost town
in Steele County
in the U.S. State
of North Dakota
. It was the county seat
from 1885 to 1919, when the government moved to the current county seat of Finley
. It is located in Sherbrooke Township
.
, Canada
, which itself was named after Sir John Coape Sherbrooke
(1764 – 1830), Governor General of Canada
from 1816 to 1818.
The Sherbrooke House Hotel was a prominent fixture in the community. The hotel was purchased in 1893 by Washington Irving Warrey
, who served as Steele County judge from 1894 to 1905. Hotel records indicate President
William McKinley
stayed at the hotel in 1896 during a trip to North Dakota.
On June 28, 1918, county residents voted to move the county seat from Sherbrooke to "some other and more convenient place", since Sherbrooke did not lie along the railroad or an interstate river. Finley, North Dakota
, received the most votes. Residents of Sherbrooke petitioned the North Dakota Supreme Court
for an injunction to stop the relocation. The Supreme Court denied the petition, and the county seat was moved in 1919.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Steele County
Steele County, North Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,258 people, 923 households, and 635 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 1,231 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
in the U.S. State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
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....
. It was the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
from 1885 to 1919, when the government moved to the current county seat of Finley
Finley, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 515 people, 224 households, and 144 families residing in the city. The population density was 147.4 people per square mile . There were 256 housing units at an average density of 73.3 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.28% White, 1.75% Native...
. It is located in Sherbrooke Township
Sherbrooke Township, Steele County, North Dakota
Sherbrooke Township is a township in Steele County in the U.S. State of North Dakota. Its population as of the 2000 Census was 62, which had dropped to an estimated 46 people as of 2009. The township shares its name with Sherbrooke, North Dakota, which was the county seat from 1885 to...
.
History
Sherbrooke was named after Sherbrooke Village in QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, which itself was named after Sir John Coape Sherbrooke
John Coape Sherbrooke
Sir John Coape Sherbrooke was a British soldier and colonial administrator. After serving in the British army in Nova Scotia, the Netherlands, India, the Mediterranean , and Spain, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia in 1811.His active defense of the colony during the War of 1812...
(1764 – 1830), Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
from 1816 to 1818.
The Sherbrooke House Hotel was a prominent fixture in the community. The hotel was purchased in 1893 by Washington Irving Warrey
Washington Irving Warrey
Washington Irving Warrey was an American pioneer settler and county official in Steele County in the U.S. state of North Dakota. He operated a hotel in Sherbrooke, North Dakota and served as county judge from 1894 to 1905.-Early life:Washington I. Warrey was born in Columbia County, New York,...
, who served as Steele County judge from 1894 to 1905. Hotel records indicate President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
stayed at the hotel in 1896 during a trip to North Dakota.
On June 28, 1918, county residents voted to move the county seat from Sherbrooke to "some other and more convenient place", since Sherbrooke did not lie along the railroad or an interstate river. Finley, North Dakota
Finley, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 515 people, 224 households, and 144 families residing in the city. The population density was 147.4 people per square mile . There were 256 housing units at an average density of 73.3 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.28% White, 1.75% Native...
, received the most votes. Residents of Sherbrooke petitioned the North Dakota Supreme Court
North Dakota Supreme Court
The North Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court of law in the state of North Dakota. The Court rules on questions of law in appeals from the state's district courts....
for an injunction to stop the relocation. The Supreme Court denied the petition, and the county seat was moved in 1919.