North Dakota Has One Of The Prettiest Downtown Strips In USA

Downtowns in general are drying up across North Dakota.

This goes for our smallest North Dakota towns to our biggest cities. For the most part, retailers are getting away from downtowns and moving to strip malls or shopping centers, away from once the norm, downtown shopping.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and one North Dakota small town is being recognized for the prettiest downtown strip in the state and one of the nicest in the country.

Any guess on who's #1 when it comes to downtown strips in North Dakota?

Before we get to #1, let's run down the rest of the top 9 according to World Atlas.

9. Rugby, North Dakota: The Geographical Center of North America, and it has a pretty good, thriving downtown area as well. The article goes on to rave about the Prairie Village Museum and the Niewoehner Bell Tower.

8. Washburn, North Dakota: I personally love Washburn. Located about 40 miles north of Bismarck, and is a very scenic small town. The article is especially fond of the quaint shops that provide retail therapy.

7. Mayville, North Dakota: Located in Traill County in far eastern North Dakota, Mayville is a scenic community nestled alongside the Goose River. The article especially likes Mayville for its darling little restaurants, an island park, and amazing little pocket parks. It also has a very nice little zoo.

6. Bottineau, North Dakota: Bottineau is a beautiful little town on the edge of the Turtle Mountains in northern North Dakota. The article gives Bottineau some love for its charming streets and the numerous recreational opportunities not far from the city.

5. Lisbon, North Dakota: Lisbon is in southeast North Dakota, and the article raves about its downtown area because of its brick buildings with accented stone pieces and a touch of Art Deco. Lisbon is in the heart of the Sheyenne National Grasslands.

4. Wahpeton, North Dakota: Wahpeton is located in extreme southeast North Dakota along the banks of the Red River. The article loves Wahpeton for its quaint attractions like the 29-acre Chahinkapa Zoo and Chahinkapa Park. Many of Wahpeton's downtown buildings near Dakota Avenue are on the National Register of Historic Places.

3. Valley City, North Dakota: Valley City is a scenic community in southeast North Dakota that is nestled along the Sheyenne River. The article says the town is known for its charming bridges. However, its most famous bridge is the Hi-Line Railroad Bridge. Central Valley City has a bit of an artistic flair, with colorful murals adding to its charm.

2. Jamestown, North Dakota: Jamestown is about 100 miles east of Bismarck. The article boasts about Jamestown being a scenic, walkable community with cozy shops, and don't forget about its main attraction, the world’s largest buffalo monument, Dakota Thunder.

And finally, "The Prettiest Downtown Strip in North Dakota" and one of the prettiest in America. #1 Medora, North Dakota.

No real surprise here. It's like you step back in time when you walk the downtown streets of Medora, and you feel like you are in the Old West again. The article raves about the Old West-style buildings with the towering Badlands in the distance. So much to see and do in Medora, including the world-famous Medora Musical.

There you have it. The best in downtown life in North Dakota and some of the best in the country. Soak it all up.