1641‑ Earliest recorded white history and formal control of land including Foster County. All the Mississippi Basin was claimed by DeSoto for Spain.
1680‑ LaSalle claims the same area for France.
1700‑ Yanktonai and Teton Dakota Indians move from Minnesota to the Drift Prairies of land now called North Dakota.
1738‑ LaVerendrye establishes trade with the Indians. Interest in the fur trade leads to more exploration of the area. He may have crossed present area which includes Foster County enroute to the Missouri River.
1762‑ France transfers her American land claimed by LaSalle to Spain.
1801‑ Spain grants her American possessions back to France.
1803‑ France sells a parcel of land known as the Louisiana Purchase to the United States. The area including part of Foster County became known as the District of Orleans.
1804‑ Lewis and Clark are sent on an expedition in the newly acquired area to chart information and to look for a route to the Pacific Ocean.
1834‑ Area including Foster County forms a part of Territory of Michigan.
1835‑ Hudson Bay Company hunters pass through the county.
1837‑ Michigan is admitted to Union. Area including Foster County becomes part of Wisconsin.
1838‑ June 12‑ Iowa is made separate territory and includes Dakota Territory.
1840‑ Red River Valley Buffalo hunters pass through the county in pursuit of game.
1849‑ Eastern part of Dakota Territory including Foster County becomes Minnesota Territory.
1853‑ Government railroad surveyors come to area led by Isaac Stevens, who was Governor of Washington territory.
1861‑ Civil War. Dakota Territory created on March 2.
1862‑ Gold was discovered in Montana. Forts were built to protect miners from the Indians. Emigrant wagon train, led by James Fisk stopped to camp in the county on the way to Idaho. Indian War in Minnesota forces many tribes to come to North Dakota. Homestead Act passed by Congress providing an opportunity to acquire land easily.
1863‑ General Sibley is sent to track down the Indians. He and his troops spent six nights in Foster County. Dakota Territory opened for Homesteading.
1864‑ Congress charters the Northern Pacific Railroad and gives it a grant of 50 million acres of land to enable it to build from Duluth to Puget Sound. Jay Cooke, a Philadelphia banker, was commissioned to sell bonds.
1866‑ Joe Belland, a loner, hunter and trapper, became the first white man to reside permanently in area. He built a house on the west bank of Lake Juanita, which was formerly known as Belland Lake.
1867‑ Fort Totten established as an Indian Reservation.
Mail route from Fort Abercrombie to Fort Totten established.
1868‑ James Lee, who lived on Jim Lake, opened heavy freight transfer line through area enroute between Fargo and Fort Totten. It sometimes stopped at Belland's place. Railroad completed to Jamestown. Fort Seward established.
1871‑ Old Ox Cart Stage Coach Trail was formed between Fort Seward (Jamestown) and Fort Totten. Mail route is established. Railroad reaches as far as Moorhead. James Foster was put in charge of settling Dakota Territory.
1873‑ The 10th Territorial Legislature meeting in Yankton establishes Foster County. This was made from the land which was a part of the Pembina and Buffalo counties. It included land that is now known as Foster, Wells, and Eddy counties. First mail route was established. It ran from Fort Seward to Fort Totten. It followed the James River through Foster County.
1875‑ Bonanza farming started in North Dakota.
1876‑ Captain William Larrabee and his family settled on the west bank of James River, just south of Juanita Lake.
1876‑ First white family to locate in county was that of Lieutenant William H. Larrabee, his wife, and two daughters, Mamie and Maude.
1877‑ First white child born in county is Berkley Terry, son of Lieutenant and Mrs. Larrabee; born in a small cabin on east bank of James River just south of Lake Juanita.
1880‑ Squatters coming to county in larger numbers.
1881‑ Engineer, J.F. Donnelly, surveys route for Northern Pacific Railroad branch line from Jamestown northwest through county.
1882‑ Northern Pacific starts construction of roadbed between Jamestown and Leeds. Newport, first town in county, begun. Ed Leavenworth is named the first postmaster. Site was laid out by William Keepers. Range and township lines surveyed. Melville and Carrington platted on the railway line. Dispute between Keepers and the Railroad over the price of the site for the depot. Railroad picks the site now known as Melville. All Newport buildings moved to this site.
1883‑ Foster County organized: Charter board of County Commissioners is appointed. Carrington named as temporary county seat. Newport post office discontinued. Leavenworth becomes postmaster at Melville. On February 15, Arthur C. Hasley was named postmaster at Carrington.
July, Volume 1, Number 1 of the Carrington News, a weekly paper, appears. It was edited by James Morley Wyard. September, prairie fire breaks out near Melville and sweeps to the northwest. Mr. Ossian A. Lemereaux and Miss Florence N. Steadman were the first couple to be married. Carrington and Casey Land Company began breaking up sod, 40‑60 acres in many quarter sections so they could sell it.
School districts organized in Melville and Carrington. Average of 200 people arrive by train a day. Kirkwood Hotel, first in Foster County is ready to serve public. Venison on regular menu. Buffalo bones furnish cash income to settlers. Section lines surveyed.
1884‑ First County election. Railroad replaces the stage coach line that had been operating for 13 years. Freak electrical storm that was followed by a severe snowstorm.
Barlow community settled. School district organized in Estabrook, Birtsell and Larrabee townships. Mr. Joseph Farquer was elected first County Superintendent. County Commissioners employ William D. Nickens to transfer records from Stutsman county to the Foster County files.
1885‑ Dispute between Carrington and New Rockford over the permanent location of the county seat results in splitting the area into two counties of Foster and Eddy, March 31.
Prairie fire burned through western part of county. School districts organized in Longview and Eastman townships. Carrington Gazette, a weekly paper, makes initial appearance.
1886‑ School district organized in Bucephalia and Lake George. Severe blizzard passes through county in November. Severe drought, farmers cut hay on Arrowwood Lake bottom.
1886‑ Severe blizzard. May 18‑ Carrington, Casey Land Company donate site for new courthouse. February 1‑ Northern Pacific branch line train is snowbound. Large group of Indians were encamped by Pipestem River. School District organized in Wyard.
1888‑ Rose Hill Township is named and school district organized. April 6‑ County Commissioners accept new courthouse. Spanish‑American War.
1889‑ Foster County becomes part of the state of North Dakota on November 3. School District organized in Glenfield Township. Melby, a rural post office on a star route from Cooperstown is established. Mail is received once a week.
1890‑ School District established in Melby.
1891‑ December 2‑5; one of the worst blizzards to visit the county depleted fuel bins.
1892‑ Sioux Ste. Marie (Soo Line) arrives in area as part of the Valley City to Harvey route. Bordulac springs up at this time. March 8‑ severe blizzard rages through county.
1893‑ First bank failure; O.G. Meecham's institution, first in county closes doors.
1895‑ "Billy" Sunday plays baseball with the Foster County nine. Ed Sunday, a brother, resident of the county is team manager. Fire breaks out in Sheyenne River Valley, threatening town of Sutton.
Loaded wheat wagons in ploughed field are consumed near McHenry. Chihuan (Bordulac) is platted and lots sell rapidly. Post office is established.
1896‑ Amish‑Mennonite group come to Guptil area to homestead. They didn't stay long. Left to go to Texas. Blizzard at Thanksgiving time trapped Sioux in the Hawsknest area. They finally made it to George Hall residence where they received provisions. Tents were set up by the Kirkwood Hotel. Carrington‑Casey Ranch has 8,000 acres under cultivation. April 9‑ Dunkards arrive in area. Dunkard elders look over Foster County with view of colonizing.
1898‑ George Palmer imports mules to work the land. Haven and Campbell school districts organized.
1899‑ Northern Pacific Railroad extends from Cooperstown to McHenry. Telephone service (local and long distance) established in Carrington.
1900‑ Carrington is incorporated as a city on October 1. McHenry becomes a major grain-shipping center.
1901‑ December 25‑ Berkley Terry Larrabee, first white child in Foster county marries at Greenville, New Hampshire.
1902‑ January 14‑17 severe blizzard rages with heavy loss in county. (Stock)
1903‑ McHenry incorporated as a city on June 30. First tractor shipped into North Dakota is unloaded at Carrington.
1905‑ early settlers organize under name of "Old Settlers Organization." 262 acres in Foster County still available for homesteading.
1908‑ Large part of the business section of Carrington consumed by fire.
1910‑ Foster County builds second courthouse.
1912‑ Great Northern Railroad builds Fargo‑Surrey cut‑off through Foster County. Its route following closely that of Gov. I.I. Stevens in 1853. This branch went through Glenfield, Grace City, and Juanita.
1914‑ Rolling Prairie is organized as a school district.
1917‑ United States enters WW I. Enlistments and draft take many Foster County men to war.
1920‑ First County Agent, Charles C. Lake is hired.
1923‑ December 15‑ Bus route between Devils Lake and Jamestown via Carrington is opened.
1929‑ Depression hits! Crop failures and dust storms also occur.
1931‑32‑ Grasshoppers appear‑ doing much damage.
1932‑ Dedication of Methaney Airfield at Carrington.
1934‑ Minot‑Fargo bus lines begin operation through county.
1935‑ Works Project Administration established by U.S. Government provides work for needy persons on public works projects.
1937‑ Auto Booster Club travels to 19 towns - covered 250 miles. November 11‑ Arrowwood and Jim Lake go completely dry for the second time in 51 years. CCC planted wild onions and wild rice on floor of Jim Lake. A person could walk across Arrowwood Lake to the Observation tower.
1938‑ Tri‑County Electric formally chartered to provide electricity to rural areas; includes Foster, Eddy, Griggs counties. A.I. Sharpe, first manager.
1941‑ U.S. enters WW II. National Guard again called into service.
1944‑ Soil Conservation District was created. Promote better soil and water management.
1951‑ Dakota Central Rural Telephone Cooperative is established to provide telephone service in rural areas. Howard Wolle, first manager.
1959‑ Experiment and Irrigation station set up by the North Dakota State University. Manager is Howard Olson. Experiment and grains, also livestock to utilize hay and other products grown. Record yields in county small grains. School reorganization‑ Rose Hill, Haven, Bucephalia, and Lake George join Carrington District. Racetrack laid out near Barlow. Stock car races in summer and snowmobile races in the winter.
1960‑ Viet Nam Conflict. Many residents again asked to serve their country.
1961‑ Northern Pacific suspends passenger service through Carrington. Lose of revenue and mail contracts.
1966‑ Carrington is chosen as the site for the Garrison Diversion Headquarters. Severe blizzard‑3 days. Vernon Cooper, first manager in Carrington.
1967‑ Post office at Melville closes its doors. Area becomes part of Route 3 ‑ Carrington.
1972‑ New Garrison Headquarters built north of Carrington.
1974‑ McHenry celebrates 75th Anniversary. Rural mail service from Bordulac discontinued‑ became part of Carrington system.
Weather Modification equipment set up at Matheney Air field, Carrington. Planes stationed at Harvey, Cooperstown, Valley City, Jamestown, and Carrington.
1975‑ Foster County joined Eddy, Wells, Benson and Sheridan and formed Multi‑County Special Education Program. Foster County representatives are A.K. Johnson, Mrs. Avis Lowe, McHenry and Joseph Vlack, Glenfield.
1976‑ Bicentennial Year. Celebrations held throughout the county.
1981‑ Carrington High School Football team captures the State "B" Championship.
1983‑ Foster County celebrates its Centennial Year.
2076‑ Bicentennial "Time Capsule" that holds records of the community is to be opened. A fiberglass tank is buried on the corner of the lot by the swimming pool.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 68