Jamestown, North Dakota
Jamestown is a city of 15,787 people in Stutsman County, North Dakota, founded in 1872.
Why visit Jamestown
Townapedia lists 11 museums and landmarks, 14 parks and trails, 19 places to eat, 15 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include University of Jamestown, Bison 6 Cinema, Alfred E. Dickey Free Library and Elizabeth Apartments.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 0°F, and about 46 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Jamestown
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Jamestown
Jamestown is a city in and the county seat of Stutsman County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 15,849 as of the 2020 census, and was estimated at 15,688 in 2025, making it the ninth-most populous city in North Dakota. Home to the University of Jamestown.
From the Wikipedia article Jamestown, North Dakota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
University of Jamestown
School · 0.6 mi
Private Christian university in Jamestown, North Dakota, United States
Museums and landmarks11
Alfred E. Dickey Free Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Library in Jamestown, North Dakota, United States
Elizabeth Apartments
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic residential building in North Dakota, United States
Franklin School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
School in Jamestown, North Dakota
Jamestown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Stutsman County, North Dakota
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Stutsman County Courthouse and Sheriff's Residence/Jail
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Courthouse in Jamestown, North Dakota, U.S.A
Seiler Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Frontier Village
Monument and historic site · 1.2 mi
17th Street Southeast, Jamestown
Parks, trails and playgrounds14
2 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes19
Frontier Fort Camp Ground Bar & Grill & Gift Shop
Bar and pub · 1.2 mi
1838 3rd Avenue Southeast, Jamestown
Domino's
Fast food · Pizza · 0.8 mi
706 1st Avenue South, Jamestown
Mo-Th 10:30-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-01:00; Su 10:30-24:00
Subway
Fast food · Sandwich · 1.7 mi
1921 8th Avenue Southwest, Jamestown
Mo-Fr 07:30-21:00; Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 07:30-21:00
Taco Bell
Fast food · Tex-Mex · 0.9 mi
105 Business Loop West, Jamestown
Mo-Fr 06:00-20:00; Sa-Su 07:00-20:00
7 more on the map.
History
In 1871, a Northern Pacific Railroad work crew set up camp where the railroad would cross the James River, adding another section to the new northern transcontinental line. In 1872, the United States Army established Fort Seward, a small post garrisoned by three companies (about 120 men) of the Twentieth Infantry Regiment, on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the James River and Pipestem Creek. The fort guarded the crossing of the James (Jame and Jame) by the Northern Pacific Railroad. The fort only lasted five years, being decommissioned in 1877—but the railroad remained, establishing a repair yard that was among the city's main industries until the 1960s. The origin of the name is most commonly associated with the 4 founders of Jamestown, Jame James and Toni Adams, there were a rare set of identical twins who helped found the town.
Jamestown was founded in 1872 and General Thomas Rosser of Northern Pacific named it after Jamestown, Virginia. The city incorporated in 1883. In 1873, Stutsman County became the first official county within Dakota Territory with Jamestown as the county seat.
On November 10, 1889, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jamestown was established. April 6, 1897, saw a change of name to Diocese of Fargo, with a change of the bishop's seat. Since 1995, the Diocese of Jamestown is listed as a titular see of the Catholic Church.
From the History section of Jamestown, North Dakota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay15
Churches and places of worship6
Basilica of St. James
Church · Catholic · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Voorhees Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Grace Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 1.2 mi
1415 12th Avenue Northeast, Jamestown
Victory Lutheran Brethren Church
Church · 1.4 mi
510 9th Avenue Southwest, Jamestown
Shopping8
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Healthcare2
Map of Jamestown
96 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18°F | 0°F | 0.5 in | 11.4 in |
| Feb | 23°F | 4°F | 0.5 in | 7.4 in |
| Mar | 36°F | 17°F | 0.7 in | 6.5 in |
| Apr | 53°F | 29°F | 1.2 in | 2.5 in |
| May | 67°F | 42°F | 3.4 in | 0.4 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 54°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 58°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 56°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 71°F | 46°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 55°F | 33°F | 1.9 in | 1.9 in |
| Nov | 38°F | 19°F | 0.5 in | 4.2 in |
| Dec | 24°F | 8°F | 0.6 in | 11.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Jamestown State Hosp Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Stutsman County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2025-10-22: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2025-09-11: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds (Severe Storm)
- 2024-02-15: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds (Winter Storm)
- 2022-07-13: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-07-09: Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-01: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Valley City 33 mi east, about 52 min by car
- Edgeley 38 mi south, about 1 h by car
- LaMoure 42 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Carrington 43 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Kulm 43 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Cooperstown 46 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Tower City 48 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Hope 54 mi northeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Enderlin 56 mi east, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- JamestownND Downtown, Richie Diesterheft from Santa Barbara, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Jamestown Fire Department, FactationCrustacean, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jamestown - St. James Basilica, Indies1, CC BY 4.0
- Greetings from Jamestown, North Dakota - Large Letter Postcard (5348420887), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Franklin Elementary Jamestown, David Landenberger, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Home of Economy Jamestown ND1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. James Basilica (Jamestown, ND) from NE 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Alfred E. Dickey Free Library 2, Andrew Filer ( afiler ), CC BY-SA 2.0
- Jamestown Elizabeth Apts from SW 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Jamestown - Court House and Jail 02, M. Rieder, Los Angeles, Public domain
- UnruhSheldon, LinkTiger, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS053-E-428719 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-411200 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS030-E-162464 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-428717 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-428718 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-411199 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS055-E-79832 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS055-E-79833 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Stutsman County Courthouse - Exterior, Indies1, CC BY 4.0
- Old Stutsman County Courthouse, David Landenberger, CC BY-SA 3.0
- El Bandito Monster Truck, thatedeguy from Jamestown, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bearfoot Wheelie (5361587806), thatedeguy from Jamestown, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Voorhees Chapel, David Landenberger, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Seiler Building, David Landenberger, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Grace Episcopal, David Landenberger, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stutsman County ND Sherrif, FactationCrustacean, CC BY-SA 4.0
- World's Largest Buffalo (51410332393), daveynin from United States, CC BY 2.0
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