Balfour, ND
McHenry County
Inhabited as of 6/05

Balfour was founded in in 1898 at it's present location, about 35 miles southeast of Minot. It was named for Arthur, Lord Balfour, a British statesman and essayist. Population is said to have peaked at 390, but it now holds less than thirty.

Balfour is home to numerous vacant structures, including an impressive abandoned school. Balfour's current residents are doing a very good job of safeguarding the town's history when it comes to out of town visitors. They approached us for a friendly chat within ten minutes of our arrival.

Click images to see the full-size pics. Photos with a yellow border=no enlargement available.

Some of Balfour's residents told us the owner of the old school was interested in turning it into a bed and breakfast, but structurally the building is beyond saving. It will eventually have to be torn down.

The big home pictured below sits all by itself on the top of a hill, just north of Balfour. Some of the residents told us it's Balfour's official ghost house. The former resident of the house told many stories about strange phenomena in her house.

The Balfour Community Hall is a good example of how Balfour's resident's are taking care of their town. It's in great shape with modern windows and doors, but nearly restored to original condition everywhere else. We applaud the owner and Balfour's residents for recognizing the value of this old structure.

source material - North Dakota Place Names by Douglas A. Wick, Hedemarken Collectibles