Independence, North Dakota

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This Northern Pacific Railroad junction in Section 11-133-60, LaMoure Township five miles east of LaMoure was built in 1886 and called VALLEY JUNCTION. In 1897 the name was changed to OAKES JUNCTION, and on April 26, 1910 a post office was established here with David Sorenson as Postmaster. It was called INDEPENDENCE, a name chosen by local settlers who had come here from Independence, Wisconsin, which was named by Giles Cripps in 1876 during the centennial celebration of American independence. A small village existed for a time, but the post office closed March 15, 1919 with mail to LaMoure. On November 20, 1919, eight months after the post office had closed, the Northern Pacific Railroad officially changed the name of the junction from OAKES JUNCTION to INDEPENDENCE.