The topographic features of Foster County may be divided into five main regions. They are:
1. Gentle rolling to rolling upland: Longview, Wyard, Melville. The lower areas are drained by small creeks. The Pipestem drains to the southeast.
2. Gentle rolling upland: the top soil is quite free of stones. Occupies two‑thirds of Melville Township. Located just east of region one.
3. Level to nearly level upland: remaining west of James River. Nearly level to gentle rolling: east half Rose Hill, Nordmore.
4. Valley land with usual steep slopes extending back two miles on each side of almost level valley bottom. Northern border from middle of Nordmore to Griggs and Nelson counties. Drained by the James River, coulees and creeks. Contains the highest water level in Foster County.
5. Level, nearly level, except extreme southwestern part which is described as gently undulating in Rolling Prairie, Glenfield, Eastman, McKinnon, southern half of Florence and McHenry. Quantities of stone but no problem.
The elevation of Carrington is 1585 feet above sea level. Compare this with Fargo which is 905 feet and Grand Forks which is 832 feet.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 2