2014 Map of Portal

About this map

Portal stands as a primary gateway on this Burke County landscape, situated directly at the international border with Canada. The settlement pattern here reflects the agricultural and industrial history of northwestern North Dakota, with the town of Lignite anchoring the southern portion of the map. Between these hubs, the prairie is marked by small crossroads such as Sevenmile Corner and the former rail stop at Rival. The cultural history of the area is particularly evident in its numerous cemeteries, including Saint Marys Cem, Swedish Cem, and Norwegian Cem, which denote the diverse immigrant heritage of the homesteading era. Water is sparse across this terrain, with Little Slough being one of the few named natural features amidst a grid of section roads like 102nd St N and 84th Ave NW that define the local transport network.