The 1920 North Dakota blizzard was a severe

blizzard A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds and low visibility, lasting for a prolonged period of time—typically at least three or four hours. A ground blizzard is a weather condition where snow is not falling b ...

that killed 34 people from March 15–18, 1920 in the state of

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...

. It is considered among the worst blizzards on record in North Dakota. High winds and an eight-inch (20 cm) snowfall stopped rail service in

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 state's second-most populous city, after Fargo. The city's population was 73,622 in the 2020 census, while its metropolitan popula ...

, and only one telephone line functioned between

Fargo, North Dakota Fargo ( /ˈfɑɹɡoʊ/) is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, North Dakota, United States. According to the 2020 census, its population was 125,990, making it the most populous city in the state and the 219th-most populous city in ...

, and

Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

. Telephone service was out between

Devils Lake, North Dakota Devils Lake is a city in Ramsey County, North Dakota, Ramsey County, North Dakota, United States. It is the county seat of Ramsey County. The population was 7,192 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is named after the nearby body o ...

, and Fargo, North Dakota. Among the victims were five country school students, including Hazel Miner and Adolph, Ernest, Soren, and Herman Wohlk. Also killed were a young mother, Mrs. Andrew Whitehead; Charles Hutchins, north of

Douglas, North Dakota Douglas is a city in Ward County, North Dakota, Ward County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 93 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is part of the Minot, North Dakota, Minot Minot micropolitan area, Micropolitan Stati ...

; the twelve-year-old son of Matt Yashenko, who lived five miles south of

Ruso, North Dakota Ruso is a hamlet in McLean County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 1 at the 2020 census, making Ruso the least populous incorporated place in North Dakota. History Ruso was founded and named on July 17, 1906 and named either af ...

; and "Chicken Pete" Johnson, a Minot

eccentric Eccentricity or eccentric may refer to: * Eccentricity (behavior), odd behavior on the part of a person, as opposed to being "normal" Mathematics, science and technology Mathematics * Off-center, in geometry * Eccentricity (graph theory) of a v ...

, who was found dead in his dug-out on South Hill in

Minot, North Dakota Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the 20 ...

See also

References

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