Every dot on the map interests me, especially the little tiny ones. Some “towns” are no more than an intersection, possibly with a store or a town hall. A few towns seem to be gone without a trace, though sometimes the tiniest evidence remains. I have photographed over 300 towns, mostly in Minnesota and North Dakota. I also have photographed a number of towns in Manitoba, Ontario, and Washington, as well as a couple in Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Iowa. I’d like to finish North Dakota first, as it seems the easiest to conquer. Note that these pictures aren’t meant to represent symbols of the town. So if your town has a big beautiful cathedral and the world’s largest woolen Guinea Hen, and I’ve only taken pictures of some bar and a closed factory, I’m sorry. But that’s what I like. I’d also like to apologize for photos through bug-splattered windshields. These photos are mostly raw and unedited, so what I shot is what you see.
See also my photos on Flickr.

Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Manitoba

Altona, Manitoba
Dominion City, Manitoba
Edenburg, Manitoba
Emerson, Manitoba
Gardenton, Manitoba
Gnadenfeld, Manitoba
Green Ridge, Manitoba
Gretna, Manitoba
Halbstadt, Manitoba
Letellier, Manitoba
Marais, Manitoba
Neubergthal, Manitoba
Silberfeld, Manitoba
Sommerfeld, Manitoba
Stuartburn, Manitoba
Tolstoi, Manitoba
West Lynn, Manitoba
Woodmore, Manitoba

Minnesota

Albany, Minnesota
Alberta, Minnesota
Albert Lea, Minnesota
Alma, Minnesota
Angus, Minnesota
Anthony, Minnesota
Argyle, Minnesota
Arlington, Minnesota
Artichoke, Minnesota
Assumption, Minnesota
Averill, Minnesota
Avon, Minnesota
Baker, Minnesota
Barnesville, Minnesota
Barrett, Minnesota
Baudette, Minnesota
Beaulieu, Minnesota
Bejou, Minnesota
Belgrade, Minnesota
Belle Creek, Minnesota
Beltrami, Minnesota
Benoit, Minnesota
Berner, Minnesota
Big Bend, Minnesota
Birchdale, Minnesota
Bongards, Minnesota
Border, Minnesota
Borup, Minnesota
Brooks, Minnesota
Brooten, Minnesota
Burwell, Minnesota
Caribou, Minnesota
Carp, Minnesota
Casperson, Minnesota
Castle Rock, Minnesota
Chamberlain, Minnesota
Clementson, Minnesota
Cleveland, Minnesota
Cordova, Minnesota
Crookston, Minnesota
Dale, Minnesota
Davidson, Minnesota
Dennison, Minnesota
Donaldson, Minnesota
Donnelly, Minnesota
Dorothy, Minnesota
Dugdale, Minnesota
Duxby, Minnesota
East Union, Minnesota
Eden Valley, Minnesota
Eidswold, Minnesota
Elbow Lake, Minnesota
Eldred, Minnesota
Ellerth, Minnesota
Elmdale, Minnesota
Elysian, Minnesota
Englund, Minnesota
Enok, Minnesota
Erie, Minnesota
Erskine, Minnesota
Espelie, Minnesota
Euclid, Minnesota
Eureka Center, Minnesota
Fairfield, Minnesota
Fairland, Minnesota
Farwell, Minnesota
Faunce, Minnesota
Felton, Minnesota
Finkle, Minnesota
Flaming, Minnesota
Flensburg, Minnesota
Flom, Minnesota
Florian, Minnesota
Fossum, Minnesota
Foxhome, Minnesota
Freeport, Minnesota
Frontier, Minnesota
Gary, Minnesota
Gatzke, Minnesota
Gentilly, Minnesota
Germantown, Minnesota
Girard, Minnesota
Gluek, Minnesota
Goodridge, Minnesota
Gotha, Minnesota
Graceton, Minnesota
Grasshopper Corner, Minnesota
Green Isle, Minnesota
Greenland, Minnesota
Greenview, Minnesota
Gully, Minnesota
Hackett, Minnesota
Hadler, Minnesota
Hagan, Minnesota
Hallock, Minnesota
Halma, Minnesota
Hamburg, Minnesota
Harold, Minnesota
Haug, Minnesota
Hawley, Minnesota
Hazel, Minnesota
Hazelwood, Minnesota
Heiberg, Minnesota
Heidelberg, Minnesota
Henderson, Minnesota
Henderson Stn, Minnesota
Highlanding, Minnesota
Hill Siding, Minnesota
Hitterdal, Minnesota
Hoffman, Minnesota
Holloway, Minnesota
Holt, Minnesota
Humboldt, Minnesota
Huot, Minnesota
Indus, Minnesota
International Falls, Minnesota
Karlstad, Minnesota
Kennedy, Minnesota
Kensington, Minnesota
Key West, Minnesota
Kimball, Minnesota
Lake Bronson, Minnesota
Lancaster, Minnesota
Leader, Minnesota
Le Center, Minnesota
Leo, Minnesota
Leonard, Minnesota
Le Sueur, Minnesota
Lindford, Minnesota
Littlefork, Minnesota
Lockhart, Minnesota
Loman, Minnesota
Lonsdale, Minnesota
Lowry, Minnesota
Luna, Minnesota
Lyndale, Minnesota
Mahnomen, Minnesota
Mallory, Minnesota
Malung, Minnesota
Mandus, Minnesota
Manitoba Junction, Minnesota
Manitou, Minnesota
March, Minnesota
Marcoux Corner, Minnesota
Marcoux, Minnesota
Marshall County, Minnesota
Marysburg, Minnesota
Mattson, Minnesota
Mavie, Minnesota
Mayer, Minnesota
Melvin, Minnesota
Mentor, Minnesota
Middle River, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Morris, Minnesota
Morristown, Minnesota
Muskoda, Minnesota
Newfolden, Minnesota
New Prague, Minnesota
New Rome, Minnesota
Norcross, Minnesota
Norris Camp, Minnesota
Northcote, Minnesota
Noyes, Minnesota
Olga, Minnesota
Orleans, Minnesota
Oshawa, Minnesota
Oslo, Minnesota
Ottawa, Minnesota
Paynesville, Minnesota
Pelan, Minnesota
Pelland, Minnesota
Pennington County, Minnesota
Pitt, Minnesota
Radium, Minnesota
Randolph, Minnesota
Ranum, Minnesota
Rindal, Minnesota
Riverton Township Clay County, Minnesota
Roan, Minnesota
Roberts, Minnesota
Roland, Minnesota
Rome, Minnesota
Roon, Minnesota
Roosevelt, Minnesota
Rosewood, Minnesota
Ross, Minnesota
Rustad, Minnesota
Ryan, Minnesota
Sabin, Minnesota
Salol, Minnesota
Sedan, Minnesota
Sherack, Minnesota
Shevlin, Minnesota
Silverton Township, Pennington County, Minnesota
Skime, Minnesota
Sogn, Minnesota
South Haven, Minnesota
Stanton, Minnesota
Stephen, Minnesota
St Henry, Minnesota
Stockwood, Minnesota
Strandquist, Minnesota
St Thomas, Minnesota
St Vincent Jcn, Minnesota
St Vincent, Minnesota
Sultan, Minnesota
Sundal, Minnesota
Swift, Minnesota
Syre, Minnesota
The Pines, Minnesota
Tilden Jct, Minnesota
Ulen, Minnesota
Vasa, Minnesota
Viking, Minnesota
Wangs, Minnesota
Wannaska, Minnesota
Warren, Minnesota
Warroad, Minnesota
Warsaw, Minnesota
Wastedo, Minnesota
Waterville, Minnesota
Waubun, Minnesota
Waukon, Minnesota
Wayland, Minnesota
Webster, Minnesota
Welch, Minnesota
Wendell, Minnesota
Western, Minnesota
White Rock, Minnesota
Williams, Minnesota
Winger, Minnesota
Winner, Minnesota
Winnipeg Junction, Minnesota
Winsor, Minnesota
Wylie, Minnesota

North Carolina

Asheboro, North Carolina
Denton, North Carolina
Farmer, North Carolina
Franklinville, North Carolina
Mechanic, North Carolina
New Hope, Randolph County, North Carolina
Ramseur, North Carolina
Randolph County, North Carolina

North Dakota

Abercrombie, North Dakota
Absaraka, North Dakota
Alexander, North Dakota
Alkabo, North Dakota
Alpha, North Dakota
Alton, North Dakota
Ambrose, North Dakota
Amenia, North Dakota
Amidon, North Dakota
Ardoch, North Dakota
Argusville, North Dakota
Arnegard, North Dakota
Arthur, North Dakota
Arvilla, North Dakota
Auburn, North Dakota
Banks, North Dakota
Bartlett, North Dakota
Beach, North Dakota
Belfield, North Dakota
Bentley, North Dakota
Blanchard, North Dakota
Bounty, North Dakota
Bowesmont, North Dakota
Bowman, North Dakota
Brocket, North Dakota
Brooktree Park, North Dakota
Bucyrus, North Dakota
Buffalo Springs, North Dakota
Burt, North Dakota
Buxton, North Dakota
Caledonia, North Dakota
Calspur, North Dakota
Cashel, North Dakota
Cavalier, North Dakota
Chaffee, North Dakota
Chama, North Dakota
Charlson, North Dakota
Christine, North Dakota
Clifford, North Dakota
Colgan, North Dakota
Columbus, North Dakota
Conway, North Dakota
Crary, North Dakota
Croff, North Dakota
Crosby, North Dakota
Crystal, North Dakota
Cummings, North Dakota
Dahlen, North Dakota
De Mores, North Dakota
Dengate, North Dakota
De Sart, North Dakota
Devils Lake, North Dakota
Dickinson, North Dakota
Doyon, North Dakota
Drayton, North Dakota
Durbin, North Dakota
Eland, North Dakota
Emerado, North Dakota
Essex, North Dakota
Flaat, North Dakota
Flaxton, North Dakota
Fleece, North Dakota
Fordville, North Dakota
Forest River, North Dakota
Fortuna, North Dakota
Fryburg, North Dakota
Galchutt, North Dakota
Galesburg, North Dakota
Gardner, North Dakota
Gascoyne, North Dakota
Gilby, North Dakota
Golva, North Dakota
Grafton, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grandin, North Dakota
Greenfield, North Dakota
Griffin, North Dakota
Haley, North Dakota
Hamilton, North Dakota
Hannah Jct, North Dakota
Hannah Junction, North Dakota
Harwood, North Dakota
Hastings, North Dakota
Hatton, North Dakota
Hawkeye, North Dakota
Haynes, North Dakota
Hettinger, North Dakota
Hickson, North Dakota
Highland Park, North Dakota
Hillsboro, North Dakota
Holmes, North Dakota
Honeyford, North Dakota
Hoople, North Dakota
Hope-Nixon, North Dakota
Horace, North Dakota
Hunter, North Dakota
Inkster, North Dakota
Ives, North Dakota
Johnsons Corner, North Dakota
Johnstown, North Dakota
Joliette, North Dakota
Judson, North Dakota
Keene, North Dakota
Keith, North Dakota
Kelso, North Dakota
Kempton, North Dakota
Kermit, North Dakota
Kildeer, North Dakota
Kincaid, North Dakota
Lakota, North Dakota
Larimore, North Dakota
Larson, North Dakota
Lawton, North Dakota
Litchville, North Dakota
Lithia, North Dakota
Lynchburg, North Dakota
Manvel, North Dakota
Mapes, North Dakota
Mapleton, North Dakota
Marmarth, North Dakota
Mayville, North Dakota
McCanna, North Dakota
McKenzie County, North Dakota
Medora, North Dakota
Mekinock, North Dakota
Merrifield, North Dakota
Michigan, North Dakota
Minto, North Dakota
Nash, North Dakota
Neche, North Dakota
New Hradec, North Dakota
Newman, North Dakota
Niagara, North Dakota
Noonan, North Dakota
Norman, North Dakota
North Almont, North Dakota
North Grand Forks, North Dakota
North Lemmon, North Dakota
North River, North Dakota
Northwood, North Dakota
Orr, North Dakota
Oxbow, North Dakota
Park River, North Dakota
Paulson, North Dakota
Pelto, North Dakota
Pembina, North Dakota
Petersburg, North Dakota
Petrel, North Dakota
Pierce, North Dakota
Pinkham, North Dakota
Pisek, North Dakota
Pittsburgh, North Dakota
Portland, North Dakota
Powell, North Dakota
Preston, North Dakota
Prosper, North Dakota
Rawson, North Dakota
Reeder, North Dakota
Reynolds, North Dakota
Rhame, North Dakota
Rider, North Dakota
Rohrville, North Dakota
Roseville, North Dakota
Schafer, North Dakota
Scranton, North Dakota
Sentinel Butte, North Dakota
Shawnee, North Dakota
Six Mile Crossing, North Dakota
Skaar, North Dakota
Southam, North Dakota
South Heart, North Dakota
Squaw Gap, North Dakota
St Benedict, North Dakota
Strange Siding, North Dakota
St. Thomas, North Dakota
Sully Springs, North Dakota
Taft, North Dakota
Thelan, North Dakota
Thompson, North Dakota
Three V Crossing, North Dakota
Trotters, North Dakota
Vance, North Dakota
Veseleyville, North Dakota
Voss, North Dakota
Walser Crossing, North Dakota
Warren, North Dakota
Warsaw, North Dakota
Watford City, North Dakota
Watrous, North Dakota
Wheatland, North Dakota
Wild Rice, North Dakota
Zenith, North Dakota 

Ontario

Barwick, Ontario
Devlin, Ontario
Emo, Ontario
Fort Frances, Ontario
Kenora, Ontario
La Vallee, Ontario
Rainy River, Ontario
Sleeman, Ontario

South Dakota

Lemmon, South Dakota
Milbank, South Dakota
Roslyn, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
White Butte, South Dakota

Washington

Beverly Junction, Washington
Beverly, Washington
Aberdeen, Washington
Adams County, Washington
Almira, Washington
Alstown, Washington
Atwood, Washington
Badger Wells, Washington
Baird, Washington
Barham, Washington
Batum, Washington
Beebe, Washington
Bluestem, Washington
Bridgeport, Washington
Bruce, Washington
Canby, Washington
Carlmar, Washington
Cement, Washington
Centralia, Washington
Chehalis, Washington
Coulee City, Washington
Crater, Washington
Creston, Washington
Cunningham, Washington
Curry, Washington
Davenport, Washington
Del Rio, Washington
Denmark Hall, Washington
Desert Aire, Washington
Douglas County, Washington
Douglas, Washington
Downs, Washington
Dry Falls Junction, Washington
Dyer, Washington
Earl, Washington
Edgemont, Washington
Edwall, Washington
Eleanor, Washington
Emden, Washington
Fairview, Douglas County, Washington
Fairview Hall, Washington
Farmer, Washington
Fordair, Washington
Four Corners, Washington
Frischknecht, Washington
George, Grant County, Washington
Govan, Washington
Grant County, Washington
Gravelle, Washington
Hanson, Washington
Hartline, Washington
Hatton, Washington
Highland, Washington
Hillcrest, Washington
Holmes, Washington
Hoquiam, Washington
Howard, Washington
Jameson, Washington
Jantz, Washington
Keystone, Washington
Kittitas, Washington
Koren, Washington
Laing, Washington
Lamoine, Washington
Lamona, Washington
Lamont, Washington
Lauer, Washington
Leahy, Washington
Mansfield, Washington
Marcellus, Washington
Marengo, Adams County, Washington
Mattawa, Washington
Matthiesen, Washington
McCall, Washington
McDonald, Washington
Mitchell, Washington
Mohler, Washington
Mold, Washington
Mondovi, Washington
Moody, Washington
Nemo, Washington
Nilles Corner, Washington
Novara, Washington
Odair, Washington
Odessa, Washington
Omans, Washington
Orondo, Washington
Othello, Washington
Osborne Corner, Washington
Packard, Washington
Paha, Washington
Paxton, Washington
Pe Ell, Washington
Pizarro, Washington
Port Angeles, Washington
Providence, Washington
Quincy, Washington
Ralston, Washington
Regal, Washington
Reiman, Washington
Revere, Washington
Ritell, Washington
Ritzville, Washington
Riverland, Washington
Rock Island, Washington
Rocklyn, Washington
Roxboro, Washington
Ruff, Washington
Schaeffer Spur, Washington
Schlomer, Washington
Schoonover, Washington
Schrag, Washington
Schwana, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Servia, Washington
Shano, Washington
Sherman, Washington
Sieler, Washington
Simenson, Washington
Simonsen, Washington
Sims Corner, Washington
Slusser Elevator, Douglas County, Washington
Sprague, Washington
St. Andrews, Washington
St. Hubert, Washington
Supplee, Washington
Telford, Washington
Thrall, Washington
Tiflis, Washington
Tokio, Washington
Touhey, Washington
Trinidad, Washington
Vantage, Washington
Voltage, Washington
Wampum Village, Washington
Waterville, Washington
Waukon, Washington
Weber, Washington
Wheeler, Washington
Wilbur, Washington
Withrow, Washington

Wisconsin

Emerald, Wisconsin