Editing Ruso, North Dakota

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Ruso, North Dakota
|settlement_type          = [[List of cities in North Dakota|City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Ruso, North Dakota.jpg
|imagesize                = 275px
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = ND McLean County Ruso.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in McLean County and the state of North Dakota
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[North Dakota]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in North Dakota|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[McLean County, North Dakota|McLean]]
<!-- Government -----------> 
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = July 17, 1906
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = July 7, 1909
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web |title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files: North Dakota|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_38.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=April 7, 2025}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 0.64
|area_land_km2            = 0.64
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.25
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.25
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 5
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 1
|population_density_km2   = 1.55
|population_density_sq_mi = 4.02
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = –6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = –5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 632
|elevation_ft             = 2074
|coordinates              = {{coord|47|50|14|N|100|56|03|W|region:US-ND|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 58778
|area_code                = [[Area code 701|701]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 38-69140
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1036247<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1036247}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Ruso''' is an [[incorporated community|incorporated]] tiny [[List of cities in North Dakota|city]] in [[McLean County, North Dakota|McLean County]], [[North Dakota]], in the United States. The population was 1 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Ruso_city,_North_Dakota?g=160XX00US3869140 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 12, 2023}}</ref> making Ruso the least populous incorporated place in North Dakota.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/502234/smallest-town-each-50-states|title=The Smallest Town in Each of the 50 States|work=Mental Floss|date=August 25, 2017|accessdate=June 25, 2018|author=Rivero, Nicolas}}</ref> It is tied with [[Monowi, Nebraska]], as the least populated community in the United States that is currently inhabited. There are no longer any businesses or services in Ruso; but said to be present is a [[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints|FLDS]] compound<ref>{{Cite web |last=Craven |first=Erika |date=2023-04-05 |title=FLDS members ‘gather’ in North Dakota and why some have left the group |url=https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/04/05/flds-members-gather-north-dakota-why-some-have-left-group/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.kfyrtv.com |language=en}}</ref> that has been of concern to the Attorney General of the state.

==History==
Ruso was founded and named on July 17, 1906,<ref name="digitalhorizonsonline.org">{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Mary Ann Barnes |title=Origins of North Dakota place names |page=182 |url=http://www.digitalhorizonsonline.org/digital/collection/ndsl-books/id/16860/ |access-date=October 4, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and named either after a [[Russian language|Russian]] word meaning "south of us" or from the first two letters in both of the words "[[Russian Empire|South Russia]]" by an agent who brought in immigrants from Russia.<ref name="digitalhorizonsonline.org"/><ref name=Wick>{{cite web|last=Wick|first=Douglas A.|title=Ruso (McLean County)|url=http://www.webfamilytree.com/North_Dakota_Place_Names/R/ruso_%28mclean_county%29.htm|work=North Dakota Place Names|accessdate=6 May 2011}}</ref> Ruso was incorporated as a [[city]] on July 7, 1909.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://local12.com/news/nation-world/smallest-north-dakota-city-to-double-in-population-to-4-09-01-2018|title=Smallest North Dakota city to double in population to 4|publisher=Local 12|accessdate=September 1, 2018}}</ref>

The city lost its last business in 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://local12.com/news/nation-world/smallest-north-dakota-city-to-double-in-population-to-4-09-01-2018|title=Smallest North Dakota city to double in population to 4|publisher=Local 12|accessdate=October 4, 2021}}</ref>

Three tornadoes struck the Ruso area on August 15, 2022, flipping over farm equipment and anhydrous tanks.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=William |title=North Dakota Tornadoes Twisters and Cyclones |date=2024 |publisher=Valley Star Publications |year=2024 |isbn=979-8-89480-378-4 |location=Dickinson, ND |publication-date=2024 |pages=61}}</ref>

==Geography==
Ruso is in northeastern McLean County, on the west side of [[North Dakota Highway 41]], which leads north {{convert|15|mi}} to [[Velva, North Dakota|Velva]] and south {{convert|23|mi}} to [[Turtle Lake, North Dakota|Turtle Lake]]. [[North Dakota Highway 53]] passes just south of Ruso, leading east {{Convert|13|mi}} to [[Butte, North Dakota|Butte]] and west {{convert|18|mi}} to [[Max, North Dakota|Max]]. [[Washburn, North Dakota|Washburn]], the McLean [[county seat]], is {{convert|46|mi}} south of Ruso.

The New Town Subdivision of the [[CPKC]] railroad passes through Ruso, leading east to [[Drake, North Dakota|Drake]] and west to Max.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city of Ruso has a total area of {{convert|0.25|sqmi|2}}, all land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 141
|1920= 120
|1930= 104
|1940= 65
|1950= 37
|1960= 31
|1970= 15
|1980= 12
|1990= 8
|2000= 6
|2010= 4
|2020= 1
|estyear=2023
|estimate=5
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=June 11, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 11, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}
===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there was one person and zero families residing in the city. There were four housing units.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 4 people, 3 households, and 1 family residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|16.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3 housing units at an average density of {{convert|12.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]].

There were 3 households, of which one was a [[Marriage|married couples]] living together and the other two single people living alone. 66.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 33.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.33 and the average family size was 2.00.

The median age in the city was 58.5 years. 0.0% of residents were under the age of 18; 0.0% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 0.0% were from 25 to 44; 75% were from 45 to 64; and 25% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 75.0% male and 25.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 6 people, 3 households, and 3 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 23.9 people per square mile (9.3/km{{sup|2}}). There were three housing units at an average density of 11.9 per square mile (4.6/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 100% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]].

There were three households, out of which none had children under the age of 18 living with them, and 100% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together. The average household size was two and the average family size was two.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.3% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 33.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. There were three males and three females.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $41,250. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,050. None of the population and none of the families were below the [[poverty line]].

==Education==
It is within the [[Velva Public School District 1]]<!--UNI 17040-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st38_nd/schooldistrict_maps/c38055_mclean/DC20SD_C38055.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: McLean County, ND|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-28}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st38_nd/schooldistrict_maps/c38055_mclean/DC20SD_C38055_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{McLean County, North Dakota}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in McLean County, North Dakota]]
[[Category:Cities in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1906]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Russian-American culture in North Dakota]]