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COMMUNITV FACT SURVEY BY OTTER TAIL POWER COMPANY k NORTH DAKOTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IN COOPERATION WITH P F Devils Lake, North Dakota. 6hU .DU9 Dhx NORTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY BISMARCK 58501 PUQ 14^974 3 3105 00040 3335 ,M9 DEVILS LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA COMMUNITY FACT SURVEY Sponsored By Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce In Cooperation With North Dakota Economic Development Commission Bismarck, North Dakota and Area Development and Community Relations Department Otter Tail Power Company This brochure is the result of a community fact survey undertaken in Devils Lake, North Dakota, by the Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the North Dakota Economic Development Commission and the Otter Tail Power Company. The information was compiled with the hope that it would be of interest and of value to industries, commercial concerns and professional people that were considering Devils Lake as a potential site. Every effort was made to make this brochure as complete and factual as possible. For further information regarding Devils Lake, please direct your inquiry to: Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce Otter Tail Power Company Devils Lake, North Dakota Di strict Off ice Telephone No. MO 2-21 37 OR Devils Lake, North Dakota Telephone No. M0 2-U02I A word of thanks and appreciation is extended to all who assisted in the preparation of th is brochure. North Dakota State Libra?? Bismarck, ND 585J1 DEVILS LAKEAr" CITY OF DEVILS 1LAK DEVILS LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA City Commission Fred Hoghaug, President Floyd Felchle, Vice-President K. 0. Holier Arnold E. Leer Minor Jacobson F. J. Burckhard City Auditor Devils Lake, a City of 7, 000 friendly people, offers many- advantages and opportunities for any business, manufacturer or new residents. Devils Lake has excellent school facilities including a two year Liberal Arts Junior College, nice churches and good recreational facilities. The recreational facilities include a nine hole grass green golf course, water sports, duck and goose hunting, skating and skiing. Devils Lake's newest asset is its splendid water of which there is an ample supply at reasonable rates. Our City has been operated conservatively over the past years so our tax rates are competitive with cities our size. Ai Mayor of Devils Lake, I extend a cordial invitation to consider our City for any and all industries or commercial businesses. Fred Hoghaug / Mayor of the £ity of Devils'" Lake "Buy North Dakota Products" 2 DEVILS LAKE! DEVILS LAKE-¥- CHAMB: ^R OF co: MERGE "The Friendly City" DE Best Water In The State /1L S LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA We are proud of our city of Devils Lake and feel it is a growing city with a very definite future. Devils Lake is a retail center located between Grand Forks and Minot, North Dakota, 94 miles from Grand Forks and 124 miles from Minot, and serves a large area of the population between the two cities. It is serviced by two railroads, the Soo Line and the Great Northern, and is a regularly scheduled stop of the North Central airlines. Devils Lake has a daily news paper, a weekly newspaper and a radio station, two national banks, five department stores, good men's and ladies stores, four supermarkets, plus many other fine shops, an excellent hospital and two medical clinics. It is very complete in all service facilities. Devils Lake's attitude toward industrial activity and growth is extremely favorable. The business and professional people are keenly interested in attracting industry to the city and its Chamber of Commerce is eager and anxious to encourage the establishment of additional firms. A really fine welcome awaits the prospective industrialist. We hope you will read this brochure thoroughly and learn of the many fine things our city has to offer and we will be pleased to provide any additional information or help that might be requested. Milton A. Barker, President Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce HOME OF THE LAKE REGION JUNIOR COLLEGE 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduct i on I Mayor's Letter Chamber President's Letter Tab 1e of Con ten ts General I nformat ion 5-6 Raw Materials and Agricultural Production 7-9 Cl i mate 10 Mun i c i pal Serv i ces 11-13 Map of Devils Lake 14 Tax Structure I 5-1 7 Commu n i ty Se rv i ces I 8-20 Commun i ty Facilities 21-30 Transportation 31 Electric Power 32 Labor 33-34 Commun icat i ons 35 Market I nformat i on 36 Map of Trade Area 37 Industrial Development 38-39 GENERAL INFORMATION LOCATION Devils Lake, "The Heart of the Lake Region," is situated north of North Dakota's largest natural lake, in Ramsey County, in the northeastern quarter of North Dakota. U. S. Highway No. 2, a hard-surfaced east and west transcontinental highway, skirts the county seat community on the south. Entering the city from the south is North Dakota State Highway No. 57 in addition to No. 20, which continues on to the Canadian border approximately 70 miles to the north. In addition, State Highway No. 19, a hard-surfaced highway, runs west from Devils Lake and is the direct route to the airport. ELEVATION AND The highest point on which the community of Devils Lake is located is 1,470 feet above sea level, while the lowest is only 1,440. Surrounding TOPOGRAPHY the city, because of its location near the lake and because it is located on glaciated upland or the "drift prairie," the land varies greatly. To the north the land is rolling and flat; to the east and west it is flat; and to the south it is hilly, almost mountainous and rolling. In this area, the fertility of the soil is most remarkable. Because the soil is a result of glacial drift, it is a rich, black, vegetable loam mixed with lime, gypsum and other fertilizing materials. Underlaying this entire region is a heavy, rich layer of clay subsoil. POPULATION The community of Devils Lake, which covers approximately 1,596 acres of business and residential area, has a population of 6,299. In considering the population of Devils Lake itself, it must be noted that the city limits do not include the suburban developments located south of.Highway No. 2 and Lakewood Park, thus adding about 1,700 people to the 6,299. The population of the Devils Lake trade area, composed of parts of seven counties, totals over 60,000, with over 20,000 of these people living within a 25-mile radius of the city. COURT HOUSE 5 GENERAL INFORMATION BRIEF HI STORY Devils Lake bears its history proudly, but with neither the desire nor the intention of living in the past. With its name springing from the lore of its Indians and its colorful history dating back to the late 1800's, its more than 7,500 residents look to the coming decades when Devils Lake will fulfill its potential as an industrial center. The city celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in 1957 and, as part of the over-all observance, a very complete and factual history of the community was compiled. Anyone interested in details of Devils Lake's history and growth is invited to write or visit the Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce. RAW MATERIALS AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION NATURAL Devils Lake, due to its location on the main highway to the great oil RESOURCES and natural gas fields in the state, enjoys year-around traffic to and from these points. Also being close to the state's lignite coal fields, Devils Lake is an ideal location for industry able to utilize this low cost fuel. The fields produce lignite valued at $8,000,000 annually and can supply the needs of the nation for many years to come. Modern research laboratories have already found more than 30 by-products of lignite offering a great challenge to industry of tomorrow. Coal, bauxite, petroleum, sand and gravel are raw materials available in or near the vicinity of Devils Lake. Large quantities of wheat, barley, flax and other grain straw are wasted each year, which may at some time be utilized by industry. The area surrounding Devils Lake has 14,000 acres of tree growth, of which 4,800 acres are commercial forest. TOURIST AND The possibilities for further development of tourist and recreational RECREATIONAL facilities in Devils Lake are outstandingly favorable due to the abundance of wooded areas, hills, lakes, historical sites and the DEVELOPMENT invigorating climate. MATERIALS, CROPS Local processing is confined primarily to agricultural products. There AND PRODUCE PRO- are tnree meat processors, one hatchery, one dairy and three mills processing grains for various types of feed. CESSED LOCALLY FORT TOTTEN CAVALRY SQUARE 7 RAW MATERIALS AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE Supplementary to the industrial opportunities available, Devils Lake offers an opportunity to share in the wealth of tremendous agricultural development that surrounds it. Grain crops of durum, hard wheat, flax, rye, oats and corn are diversified with a strongly established beef, hog, sheep and dairying industry. As the county seat of Ramsey County, the city has at hand all of the facilities desirable for a "heart-of- the-farmland" community including: the County Extension office, the Agriculture Conservation Service office, the Soil Conservation office and the Farm Home Administration office. The major types of soil found in the Devils Lake area are loams of the Barnes, Glyndon, Hamerly and Svea varieties. These loams vary somewhat in consistency; but all are very rich, black, well-drained soils which vary from gently rolling to almost level in topographical detail. Yield per Acre Crop Acres Acres Planted Harvested Production (10-Year Average) Planted Harvested (bu.) (bu.) (bu.) Hard Red Spring Wheat 77,000 74,400 16.1 16.6 1,268,600 Durum Wheat 155,500 142,100 14.1 14.5 1,916,900 Oats 22,800 21,400 27.2 28.8 619,400 Spring Barley 134,000 129,000 20.4 21.2 2,789,600 Flax Seed 33,900 32,300 7.1 7.5 236,700 Rye (1961) 3,300 1,500 4.5 10.0 15,000 Alfalfa Hay (1961) - 26,000 - .90 Tons 23,400 Tons Number and Average Size of Farm - Ramsey County Number of Land Area in Crop Land Per Cen t of Average Years Farms Farms Harvested Land in Fiirm s Size Farm 1945 1,346 747,592 437,147 58.5 555.4 1950 1,279 768,729 412,703 53.7 601.0 1954 1,269 774,194 378,427 48.9 610.1 1959 1,079 752,948 405,698 53.9 697.8 Production of leading field crops uses 7% of the total land area of North Dakota. RAW MATERIALS AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION Services Available to Agriculture in Community: Feed grinding and mixing - fertilizer Custom spraying Machinery sales and repair Banks, FHA, Federal Land Bank Construction Veterinary Feed and livestock marketing Food locker Hatchery Fuel and electricity Pest control Transportation AUCTION MARKET In its fourth year of operation, the Lake Region Auction Market paid its first dividend to stockholders in the seven-county area it serves. Sales are conducted every Monday and amount to $2,000,000 per year. The weekly sales of cattle, sheep and horses are augmented by special sales including purebred livestock. Establishment of the market was made possible by an area-wide effort, spearheaded by the 16 directors who represent communities throughout the lake region. The facilities are under lease to Lake Region Livestock Sales, Inc. LAKE REGION LIVESTOCK SALES BARN 9 CLIMATE Government statistics show that a child born in the Dakota area had a two-year longer life expectancy than a child born any other place in the nation. The following information has been furnished by the U. S. Weather Bureau Station located in Devils Lake and is a matter of record over a 35-year period. TEMPERATURE Summer average (June, July, August) 66.2 degrees Winter average (December, January, February) 8.2 degrees Yearly average 38.2 degrees PRECIPITATION Low month - January .40 inches High month - June 3.18 inches Yearly average 17.61 inches HUMIDITY Over-all average 68 per cent 6:30 A.M. average 82 per cent 12:30 P.M. average 61 per cent 6:30 P.M. average 63 per cent Average snowfall 35 inches Average length of growing season 132 days Average date of earliest frost September 24 Average date of latest frost May 15 Altitude 1,471 feet Devils Lake enjoys better than 90 per cent contact flying weather and ranks exactly the same as Chicago and New York in percentage of sun shine - 59 per cent. It is above Detroit with 53 per cent and 7 per cent behind Miami, Florida, with 66 per cent. Winds prevailing north westerly have an average velocity of 9.9 miles per hour. Average Average Days Month Temperature Prec ipi tation Clear January 4.8 .53 8 February 8.7 .37 8 March 22.6 .77 7 April 40.0 1..5 1 9 May 53.0 2,.1 1 9 June 62.4 3..3 6 9 July 69.3 2..5 7 13 August 66.8 2 .18 13 September 56.3 1.7 0 11 October 43.9 1 .07 10 November 25.1 .68 7 December 11.2 .49 8 Source: U. S. Weather Bureau and North Dakota Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, Fargo, North Dakota. 10 MUNICIPAL SERVICE GOVERNMENT The community of Devils Lake, as a city, is governed by a City Commis sion with a very active planning commission. City elections are held the first Tuesday in April of even numbered years. FIRE PROTECTION Devils Lake boasts a Fire Department composed of 4 full-time firemen including the fire chief and 32 volunteers, bringing the total to 36 trained fire fighters. To aid these men, Devils Lake has almost 200 fire hydrants located throughout the commercial and residential areas of the city. Included among the equipment of the Fire Department are a utility truck with 2-stage centrifugal pumper, a 1946 Seagrave fire truck with a pumping capacity of 1,000 gallons per minute, and a 1947 Seagrave fire truck with a pumping capacity of 750 gallons per minute. The units are complete with salvage covers and resuscitators, a 65-foot aerial ladder and a total of 250 feet of ground ladders, and 6,850 feet of 2/i inch hose and 900 feet of 1/2 inch hose. Because of the relatively large area encompassed by the community, the Fire Department does not provide protection for areas outside the city limits; but the community does have a fire insurance classification of number 6. Also, construc tion of a new fire station is planned in the near future. A special feature of the services offered by the Fire Department is the Firemen's Emergency Ambulance Service. The service, supported by over 800 persons in Devils Lake and the surrounding area, offers a 1961 Cadillac ambulance on 24-hour call to members and nonmembers alike. In 1962, the ambulance responded to over 400 calls, covering well over 22,000 miles. In addition to the usual services of first aid, splints, oxygen, etc., the service also has access to 3 iron lungs. POLICE The Devils Lake Police Department offers the finest protection available DEPARTMENT ^or tne business and residential areas of the community. The police force, composed of a chief, eight patrolmen and one policewoman, is trained in the most up-to-date methods of combating crime. With special emphasis placed upon keeping in contact with the police network through out the state, the city force utilizes patrol cars equipped with short wave radio units, a state-wide short-wave radio located in the Police Department, and a radio relay station. Special police patrol and protec tion is provided to all existing industries. 11 MUNICIPAL SERVICE WATER The city is justly proud of a new water system and of the quality of its drinking water. "The best water anywhere" was made possible by a two million dollar pipe line bringing water to Devils Lake in an inexhaust ible supply from an aquifer located 20 miles southeast of the city. The Devils Lake municipal water system derives its water from four 150- foot wells. The pumping capacity of this water system is 1,750 gallons per minute or about 2% million gallons per day. Only about one million gallons of this water is currently being used per day during the maximum summer months, and only 300,000 gallons are consumed per day during the minimum winter months. U.S.P.H.S. Drinking Water Standards - Devils Lake Municipal 1916 Maximum Concen- Water Supply Quality tration Total solids 359 ppm 500 ppm Alkalinity 224 ppm Total hardness 188 ppm Magnesium 13.3 ppm 125 ppm Calcium 49.3 ppm Sodium 21.0 ppm Fluoride .15 ppm 1.3 ppm * Chlorides .0 ppm 250 ppm Sulphates .0 ppm 250 ppm Bicarbonates 273 ppm Nitrates .0 ppm 10 ppm ** * Optimum recommended by North Dakota State Department of Health for prevention of tooth decay. Concentrations of greater than 1.5 have caused mottled enamel. ** Recommended by the North Dakota State Department of Health. Throughout the entire year the average tap water temperature remains a constant 39 degrees and hardness is about 188 or 11 grains per gallc Storage capacity of the system is about 3% million gallons per day, which insures a constant supply of water. About 95 per cent of the community is served by water mains. Monthly Water Rates - City of Devils Lake First 500 cubic feet $1.00 per 100 cubic feet $5.00 $5.00 Next 500 " " 0.80 "" " " 4.00 9.00 Next 1,000 • " 0.60 " 6.00 15.00 Next 3,000 " " 0.40 " " " " 12.00 27.00 Next 10,000 " " 0.30 " " " 30.00 57.00 Over 15,000 " " 0.20 "" " " Minimum Monthly Water Charge - $5.00 12 MUNICIPAL SERVICE SEWERAGE Devils Lake has a modern disposal system of the lagoon type, designed for a growing community. The present average daily flow is estimated at only 300,000 gallons while the estimated total daily capacity is two million gallons. GARBAGE The community of Devils Lake provides a garbage collection system that is handled by a contract with a commercial hauler. The garbage is DISPOSAL collected at the following rates: Industrial ------Volume rate per month Commercial ------Volume rate per month Residential------$1.50 per month It is then disposed of by means of a sanitary land fill program. The burning of trash within the city limits is not permitted by city ordi nance . STREETS Devils Lake has about 25 miles of city streets. One mile of concrete, 16 miles of bituminous and 8 miles of gravel make up the community's transportation network. The city employs 9 men and 16 vehicles, including trucks, plus an additional 15 other pieces of specialized street cleaning and maintenance machinery to maintain these streets. This includes a Michigan tractor with blower and snow plows, plus a patrol for quick snow removal, and a street sweeper (Austen Western). The complete busi ness area has sidewalks along with 90 per cent of the residential area. Of this total, about 65 per cent of the streets have curb and gutter. In an effort to keep up the maintenance and improvement of the streets in Devils Lake, the community has a number of projects underway. State Highways 19 and 20 within the city limits have been resurfaced with the total cost of the project being about $275,000. There are no road restrictions in Devils Lake. BU I LD I NG AND The community of Devils Lake subscribes to and enforces in all building 7 ON ING REGULA- with the city the National Building Code, State Plumbing and Electrical Codes, and the National Board of Fire Underwriters. On the following 11u page is a map of Devils Lake showing the areas of the community which are zoned specifically for: 1. Residential 2. Multiple residential 3. Commercial 4. Industrial 13 CO»PO«*TE <£> L2l.r ST. CITY OF DEVILS LAKE NORTH DAKOTA HEO-EKM 1. Residential 2. Multiple Residential 3. Commercial 4. Industrial TAX STRUCTURE VALUES FOR TAX Five Years Ago (1957) True & Ful1 Value Taxable Value LEVY PURPOSES Real Property $5,459,968 $2,729,984 Personal Property 4,097,902 2,048,951 Total $9,557,870 $4,778,935 Current Year (I 962) Real Property $5,998,708 $2,999,354 Personal Property 4,269,755 2,134,800 Total $10,268,463 $5,134,231 ASSESSMENT (True and Full to Market Value) RATIOS Residential, commercial, industrial, public utility, farm and other: 25-30% of selling price or true value. TAX RATE (Mills) F ive Years Ago Current Year City 44.80 54.51 School District 45.17 48.31 County 37.93 44.42 State 4.25 3.88 Total 132.15 151.12 15 TAX STRUCTURE TAXABLE VALUE 1958 Assessed Value Taxable Value Real Property $ 5,516,534 $ 2,758,267 Personal Property 4,048,164 2,024,082 $ 9,564,698 $ 4,782,349 Total 1962 Real Property $ 5,998,708 $ 2,999,354 Personal Property 4,269,754 2,134,877 Total $10,268,462 $ 5,134,231 ASSESSMENT RATIO Assessed to Market Value Kind Per Cent Residential 25% Commercial 25% Industrial 25% Public Utility 40% MILL RATE Tax Origin 1958 1962 City 50. ,17 54. ,51 School District 49. .00 48. ,31 County 37. ,74 44. 42 State 3.,9 2 3. 88 Total 140.83 151.12 Note: Out of each $100 of taxes paid: The State receives $ 2.57 School receives 31.96 City receives 28.23 * County receives 29.40 Park General Fund receives 3.51 Recreational Fund receives 1.64 Library receives 1.64 Cemetery Fund receives .39 $ 100.00 This includes a 21-mill county equalization fund levy. 16 TAX STRUCTURE EXAMPLE This is the way taxes are computed: Assume that a new 20,000 square foot building has been erected for industrial purposes. It cost $100,000 to build and is placed on five acres which cost $5,000. This is how real estate taxes would be computed: $100,000 — Cost of Build:•n g + 5,000 = Cost of Land $105,000 z= Cost - Market Value x 25% = Assessment Ratio $ 26,250 = Assessed Value x 50% — Tax Factor $ 13,125 — Taxable Value x 151.12 = 1962 Mill Rate Rate $ 1,983.46 = Annual Tax at 1962 TOTAL City INDEBTEDNESS 1 terns Balance Due Totals Sewer and Water Improvements $ 235,900 Curb and Gutter 29,000 Sidewalks 12,000 Sewers 1,500 Parking Lots 17,000 Water 1,810,800 Street Improvements 75,500 Sewage Dispo:sa l Plant 10,000 $ 2,191,700 Note: This includes special assessments and bonded indebtedness. County 1962 $ 210,000 School District 1962 $ 470,000 Grand Total $ 2,871,700 17 COMMUN ITY SERVICES PROFESSIONAL Attorneys 9 Chiropractors i Dentists 5 Funeral Directors 2 Optometrists 3 Osteopaths 1 Physicians and Surgeons 11 Veterinarians 1 BUSINESS AND Agricultural Implement Dealers 6 COMMERCIAL £££? 1 Auto Parts and Supplies ° Auto Repair 7 Bakeries 2 Barber Shops 6 Beauty Shops ° Bowling Alleys 1 Camera, Photographic Supplies Contractors ° Department Stores 4 Direct Selling Organizations 3 Drug Stores 3 Dry Cleaners and Laundries 4 Electrical Supplies ° Feed and Seed ' Florists ^ Fuel Dealers (Coal - Wood) 4 Fuel Oil Dealers Furniture Stores 4 Gift, Novelty, Souvenir Stores 1 Groceries and Markets Hardware Stores 6 Hatcheries Hotels 4 Household Trailer Dealers 3 Insurance *" Jewelry Stores 3 Laundromats 3 Liquified Petroleum Gas Dealers 5 Liquor Stores - Off Sale 3 Lumber Yards 3 Mail Order Houses 2 Millinery Stores Motels 5 Motorcycle, Aircraft, Boat Dealers Music Stores 1 Newspapers 2 Newsstands Office Equipment and Supplies 2 Paint and Glass Stores 2 Photographic Studios Plumbing Supply Stores 2 Propane Dealers 2 Real Estate Dealers 6 18 COMMUNITY SERVICES .Restaurants 15 Secondhand Stores 1 Service Stations 16 Shoe Repair Shops 2 Shoe Stores 1 Sporting Goods Stores 2 Stationery Shops 2 Taverns and Clubs 12 Television and Radio Repair 4 Variety Stores 3 Vending Machine Operators 4 FINANCIAL Name Cap tal Surf lus Depos ts Date First National $200,000 $200,000 $8,365,256.47 12-31-62 Bank Ramsey National 200 000 200,00 0 8,916,215.84 12-31-62 Bank Gate City Savings and Loan Association: Dividends added during 1962 - $2,025,443.68 Reserve and undivided profits - $4,113,434.23 SERVICE CLUBS Rotary International Kiwanis International CIVIC CLUBS Chamber of Commerce Junior Chamber of Commerce Civic Club Business and Professional Club Civic Music Association United Fund United Commercial Travelers P.T.A. Council V.F.W. Salvation Army American Legion LITTLE THEATER IN CAVALRY SQUARE AT FORT TOTTEN Nortb Dakota State Library 19 COMMUNITY SERVICES FRATERNAL Eagles Elks Odd Fellows Knights of Columbus Beta Sigma Phi Masons Order of Eastern Star OTHER Pioneer Daughters Boy Scouts Girl Scouts Cub Scouts For the woman who lives in or plans to move to Devils Lake, life is far from dull. The community offers a wide range of interests and activities both social and professional. There are more than twenty- five women's clubs including church, business and professional women, lodges and veteran's auxiliaries. The Town and Country Club offers golf, dinners, bridge and other social activities and contacts. It is, indeed, a complete family and home community. TOWN AND COUNTRY CLUB 20 COMMUNITY FACILITIES SCHOOLS The Devils Lake school district, consolidated on July 1, 1960, comprises 354 sections of land surrounding the city proper. The present taxable valuation of this district is $8,848,000. The Devils Lake school system offers vocational courses in home eco nomics, industrial arts, farm shop and commerce at the secondary level. Special educational facilities include speech therapy and special education. The schools have both an intramural and an interscholastic athletic program. The intramural program offers competition in foot ball and basketball; while hockey, track, basketball and football are engaged in at the interscholastic level. Another vital asset to the community is a we 11-developed, locally supported junior college one of the factors which has helped in the development of a healthy growth pattern which finds territory salesmen and block managers for such companies as Standard Oil and other highly welcomed family groups moving into the lake region and Devils Lake. The Lake Region Junior College is an accredited two-year college and business school. This college will be expanded in the near future which should double or triple enrollment. A new site has been acquired and new buildings are in the planning stage. Other colleges near by include: University of North Dakota 95 Miles Minot State Teachers College 125 Miles Jamestown College 100 Miles Bottineau School of Forestry 110 Miles Present Enrollment Publ ic Schools Grade Levels Enrollment Capacity Central High School 7-12 817 850 Prairie View 1-6 402 420 Sweetwater 1-6 177 180 Minnie 1-6 176 180 Penn 1-6 22 75 Webster 1-6 64 120 Noonan 1-6 30 60 Paroch ial Schools St. Mary's 9-12 116 300 St. Joseph's 1-8 468 500 Nursery Schools One Kindergartens One 21 COMMUNITY FACILITIES SCHOOLS Also in Devils Lake is the North Dakota School for the Deaf. This is a free residential school for deaf and hard of hearing children who cannot make satisfactory progress in the public schools. The school is controlled by the State Board of Administration. The academic program covers a thirteen-year period. As soon as pupils acquire sufficient vocabulary, regular public school textbooks are used. The curriculum includes extensive vocational training. This school is a member of the Class B High School League and participates in all athletic events with high schools in its district. Also main tained is a beautiful wildlife exhibit. STATE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 23 COMMUNITY FACILITIES CHURCHES There are presently 9 churches in or near the City of Devils Lake. The various denominations are: Denominat ion Number of Churches Members Assembly of God 50 Baptist 145 Evangelical United Brethren 34 Lutheran (All Bodies) 2,171 Methodist 420 Presbyterian, United U.S.A. 323 Protestant Episcopal 183 Roman Catholic 3,400 CLINICS AND The Public Health Service has its district office in Devils Lake. HOSPITALS Two clinics and 1 hospital attend to the health of Devils Lake's citizens. Mercy Hospital has 120 beds. The 2 clinics have 10 doctors and 6 nurses in attendance. Nine physicians, 3 surgeons, 1 osteopath, 6 dentists, 1 chiropractor, 3 optometrists, 1 radiolo gist, 1 anesthetist, 55 graduate nurses, 18 licensed practical nurses and 59 nurses aides also administer to the citizenry. The new Lake Region Lutheran Home is a 68-bed licensed nursing home serving the entire lake region area. It is owned and operated by a corporation consisting of the members of 17 Lutheran congregations. The 30 employees of the home are dedicated workers who do their ut most to make life pleasant and challenging for those who are living in the twilight years of life. Since it is important that the "whole man" be served, every effort is made to provide physical, social and spiritual care for each resident. Entertainment by various groups brings pleasure to the residents; the occupational therapy program provides an outlet for those with hobbies or other interests; and worship services are conducted regularly. The home is here to serve people, regardless of social, economic or religious status. All are welcome. 24 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EPISCOPAL CHURCH ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH FIRST METHODIST CHURCH 25 BETHEL EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH ST. OLAF LUTHERAN CHURCH ST. PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCH 26 LAKE REGION LUTHERAN HOME MERCY HOSPITAL AND ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL 27 COMMUNITY FACILITIES LIBRARIES A Carnegie Library with 10,000 volumes serves the public of Devils Lake. The junior high, senior high and elementary schools each have libraries. HOUSING In the past five years, over 150 new homes have been built in the Devils Lake area! Excellent new residential areas have been developed, all with water, sewer, curb and gutter. LIBRARY RESIDENTIAL SCENE 28 COMMUNITY FACILITIES RECREATION The Devils Lake area has a great deal to offer in the way of recreation and tourist attractions. Devils Lake, the largest natural lake in the state, has a beautiful lake shore drive. The city's park system has been outstanding in providing a well-rounded program for its citizens. Its facilities include a tennis court, roller skating rink, winter sports building, outdoor skating, softball fields, handball courts, skiing, tobogganing, archery and canoeing. A public boat dock is main tained at Lakewood. Swimming facilities include swimming in the lakes and at the Devils Lake municipal pool. Another municipal pool is pro posed for construction within the next year. In addition, the city has a beautiful nine-hole, grass green golf course; theaters; rifle and skeet ranges; gymnasiums; and bowling lanes. Baseball fans enthusias tically support the Devils Lake baseball team, a member of the Tri- county League, Sully's Hill National Game Preserve is located a few miles south of the city. It is an ideal picnic spot and proudly preserves a herd of bison, elk, deer and a flock of Canadian geese. With its many lakes in the vicinity, Devils Lake is the heart of the goose hunting country. Many hunters from all over the United States travel to the lake region every fall during the duck and goose hunting season. Good fishing can be had on Wood Lake, just 20 miles south of the city. Fort Totten, with its unusual Cavalry Square and Pioneer Museum located in the heart of "Indian Country," will become a major tourist attraction in the Midwest in the very near future. All of these attractions, when considered with the fabulous Skyline Drive through hilly woodlands and the color ful Sioux Indians, will continue to keep many a tourist family linger ing in the area beyond the time they had allotted. 29 COMMUNITY FACILITIES RECREATION Ice skating is a favorite wintertime sport in Devils Lake. The Park Board provides indoor and outdoor rinks, and features a vigorous hockey schedule with youngsters as young as three and four years old playing the game on up through high school. Several young players from Devils Lake have gone on to play college hockey at various colleges throughout the United States. Games are played almost every weekend in the winter sports building at Roosevelt Park. The Lake Region Skating Club is a member of the U.S.F.S.A., has a membership of almost 100 families and presents the only sanctioned amateur ice show in the state with children and adults taking part. These shows usually have a cast of 110 to 140 with guest amateur skaters from Canada also taking part. The ice shows are presented in the winter sports building at Roosevelt Park during the last weeks in February. The Little Theater in Cavalry Square at Fort Totten offers residents in the lake region opportunities to participate in Broadway plays and musicals during the summer months. These productions are staged under professional supervision. The shows, running from the begin ning of July through the middle of August, serve local citizens and tourists with wonderful entertainment and enjoyment in an unique historical setting. The indoor theater has a seating capacity of 300 seats; its 60-foot stage area is complete with orchestra pit. The facilities an made available through the auspices of the Fort Totten-Sully's Hill Asso ciation and the North Dakota State Historical Society. Summer pro ductions are sponsored by the Fort Totten Little Theater Company, a nonprofit corporation made up of representatives from community service groups. SKYLINE SKIWAY 30 TRANSPORTATION A I R The Devils Lake Municipal Airport is located two miles west of the city. It has two paved runways with design wheel loading of 74,000 pounds. Runways are 4,300 feet long and 150 feet wide. The airport occupies 640 acres of land with complete drainage facilities. It is equipped with a 51-foot beacon tower and light. There are four hangars; two are privately owned, which are located near the administration building, and two are city owned and located on the northwest edge of the field. The airport is approximately one and one-half miles from two railroads, the Great Northern and the Soo Line. Commercial transportation is provided by North Central Airlines. They maintain a homing beacon and are equipped with V.H.F. radio. Present plans are to install a V.O.R. station. At this time, a new terminal is being constructed. Customer facilities include a lunch room, rest rooms, telephone, gaso line, taxi service and rent-a-car service. Devils Lake also has two charter services located on the Municipal Airport and also a private airport located one mile east of the city near Highway No. 2. MOTOR U. S. Highway No. 2, State Highways No. 57 and No. 20, and County High way No. 19 all pass through the city. Two interstate and three intra state truck lines serve the community and maintain local terminals in Devils Lake. Passenger service is made available by the Star Bus Line which makes daily stops in Devils Lake. The city also has taxi service. RA | L Excellent service is provided by the Great Northern and Soo Line Rail roads to and from all points east and west. Both lines maintain freight and passenger depots locally. The Great Northern makes eight freight and four passenger stops daily. The Soo Line makes two mixed stops daily. 31 ELECTRIC POWER Otter Tail Power Company, an investor-owned operating electric utility, serves Devils Lake, North Dakota, along with 477 other communities, having 101,785 customers in eastern North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota and northwestern and west-central Minnesota - in all, an area roughly the size of the State of New York. Devils Lake is served by Otter Tail's 15,500 KW net capability electric generating plant at Devils Lake and a 41,600-volt transmission system which is a network of lines linking communities with eight steam electric generating plants at Washburn, Jamestown and Wahpeton in North Dakota, and with Bemidji, Crookston, Fergus Falls, Ortonville and Canby in Minnesota. In addition, there are interconnections with other members of the Upper Mississippi Valley Power Pool. Otter Tail Power Company has we11-qualified construction crews and servicemen in Devils Lake to assure dependable electric service. Electric distribution service in Devils Lake is supplied at 4,160 volts from two substations, one located at the Company's Devils Lake plant grounds connected to a 41,600-volt transmission line. The second substation is located at the northeast corner of the city and is connected to transmission lines from the east and north. Otter Tail also has a 5,000 KVA portable substation and two portable generators - a 400 KVA and a 300 KVA - that can be used for planned outages and emergencies to supply electric service. A new steam generating unit of 80,000 KW net capability under construction at Hoot Lake Station in Fergus Falls (to be completed and in service by July 1, 1964) will furnish more than adequate reserve generating capability. Otter Tail is continually increasing the capacity of its transmission lines and steam generating plants to meet growing needs. Otter Tail Power Company welcomes new industry into this region and assures pro spective customers of a plentiful supply of electrical power for all needs. Otter Tail is capable, willing and will gladly provide service to customers at any economically feasible point within its service area. 32 LABOR CURRENT Number of Workers EMPLOYMENT Industry Male Female Construction 68 1 Manufacturing 62 5 Utilities 159 37 Wholesale and Retail Trade (Including salesmen living in the community) 518 346 Finance, Insurance and Real Estate 31 38 Government Employees 300 122 Occupati on Male and Female (Total for Ramsey County) Professional and Managerial 1,123 Clerical and Sales 926 Service 688 Skilled 455 Semi-skilled 367 Unskilled 167 LABOR SUPPLY Occupational Group Male Female AVAILABLE Professional and Managerial 11 0 Clerical and Sales 18 25 Service 11 39 Skilled 71 0 Semi-skilled 261 7 Unskilled 70 0 Agricultural 95 _0_ Total 537 71 Also available are about 400 Indians living on the Fort Totten Reser vation who are unemployed. These people have inherited the patience and manual labor skills of their forefathers. They are noted for finger dexterity and they are especially adapted to repetitive and intricate work such as found in the electronics industry. Basically the workers are unskilled but readily trainable. Following are the results of a recent survey made of the fully employ able labor force on the Fort Totten Reservation: Age Group Male Female 15-18 88 48 19-35 200 187 36-65 160 167 33 LABOR WAGES Trades Wage per Hour Warehouse Help 1.25-1.60 Common 1.35-1.50 Semi-skilled Labor 1.75 Carpenters 2.00 Electricians 2.25 Painters 2.00 Cement Finishers 2.00 Bricklayers 3.50 Plumbers 2.00 Truck Drivers 1.50 Operating Engineers: Shovel Operator 2.25 Cat Operator (bulldozer) 2.25 Cat Operator (end loader) 2.25 Crane Operator 2.25 Air Compressor Operator 2.00 Hoist Operator 2.00 Office Clerks (male) 1.50 Clerks (female) 1.00-1.25 Secretaries (female) 1.25-1.50 Stenographers (female) 1.25-1.50 Typists (female) 1.00-1.25 General Manufacturing Carpenters (maintenance) 2.00 Electricians (maintenance) 2.00 Helpers (trade maintenance) 1.25-1.50 Mechanics (maintenance) 1.50 Sheet-metal Workers (maintenance) 1.50 Common labor (male) 1.35-1.50 Common Labor (female) 1.15-1.25 Laborers (material handling) 1.25-1.60 Order Fillers 1.25-1 50 Receiving Clerks 1.50 Shipping Clerks i rn Truck Drivers, Light (under VA tons) i 25 Truck Drivers, Medium (1/2 and including 4 tons) j rn Truck Drivers, Heavy (over 4 tons, trailer type) 1 jc Truck Drivers, Heavy (over 4 tons, other than trailer type) 2 00 Truckers, Power (forklift) j ^c Truckers, Power (other than forklift) j ^c 34 COMMUNICATIONS NEWSPAPER Devils Lake has both a daily and a weekly newspaper. The "Devils Lake Journal" is its daily with a 3,290 circulation. The "Devils Lake World," its weekly newspaper, has 2,810 subscribers. Other newspapers available locally are the "Grand Forks Herald," "Fargo Forum," "Minot Daily News" and the "Minneapolis Tribune" - all daily deliveries. POST OFFICE The Devils Lake Post Office, an imposing building of solid granite, was erected in 1910. The installation presently services five star routes to Hamlin, Hamar, Belcourt, Jamestown and Grand Forks. Postal Year - 1962 Money orders $336,489.26 Postal Beceipts $123,240.57 Number of Employees 22 It has been proposed that Devils Lake become a sectional postal center, but specific plans have not yet been formulated. TELEGRAPH The local Western Union office is open 9 hours daily, The Great North- em depot maintains a 24-hour telegraph service. TELEPHONE The Iowa-Illinois Telephone Company, with its main office in New London, Iowa, maintains a district office in Devils Lake. Modern up-to-date dial service is available. Also available through the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company are private line and teletypewriter circuits linking various district or division offices with their respective general offices. TELEVISION Devils Lake is served by two television stations which are very well received locally. RADIO KDLR Radio, broadcasting on a frequency of 1,240 kilocycles, is the second oldest radio station in North Dakota and has been serving the Devils Lake area for the past 39 years. It is a Mutual affiliate with a 90-mile primary radius. KDLR also serves as the weather station for the lake region. 35 MARKET INFORMATION MARKET The lake region trade area spans about 3,600 square miles, covering INFORMATION a square approximately 60 miles in all directions from Devils Lake. It includes the counties of Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Nelson, Rolette, Ramsey and Towner. There is, of course, a fringe area extending beyond this 120 mile "square," and the number of Devils Lake shoppers found in some areas within the square will vary in number. This estimate of trade area is based on a variety of things such as requests of credit clearances, deliveries of major purchases, repair orders, etc. Surveys of checks cashed in Devils Lake find it not at all unusual for checks to be presented on banks located in such towns as Dunseith, Rolla and Langdon on the north; Lakota and Petersburg on the east; Carrington, Fessenden, New Rockford and Pekin on the south; and Rugby and Harvey on the west. Canadian visitors are fre quently seen on the streets of the city and are regular patrons in the medical offices, stores, etc. The estimated annual retail sales in Devils Lake last year were: Kind Number of Outlets Amount Food 11 $ 4,000,000 Eat and Drink Places 40 1,492,000 General Merchandise 6 2,239,000 Apparel 15 1,805,000 Furniture, Household Appliances 9 509,000 Automotive 14 3,174,000 Gas Stations 16 1,422,000 Lumber, Building, Hardware 20 4,142,000 Drug 3 502,000 s 36 jji\\* v# imm mm Hurd.fi Map with Modifications by Permission of North Dakota Highway Departme 37 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY'S Devils Lake's attitude towards industrial activity and growth is ATTITUDE TOWARDS extremely favorable. The business and professional people of Devils Lake are keenly interested in attracting industry to the city, and INDUSTRIAL ACTIV its Chamber of Commerce is eager and anxious to encourage the estab ITY lishment of industrial firms. A really fine welcome awaits the prospective industrialist. The Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce enjoys high respect of the com munity and the full cooperation of city officials. The Chamber maintains a full-time paid staff, consisting of an executive secre tary and secretarial assistance. A commerce council is always ready to assist in any legal matter concerning chamber works. ATT I TUDE OF Industry in Devils Lake is perfectly satisfied with its community. EX ISTING INDUSTRY Industrial and commercial leaders work in full cooperation with . . citizens to further the aims of their Industrial Development Commis- AVAILABLE INDUS Devils Lake has one new building on Highway No. 2 containing 8,000 TRIAL BUILDINGS square feet of storage and 1,200 square feet of office space. There is also available on 30-days notice outside of the city limits one building 40 x 140 with full basement and elevator on the Great Northern Railroad siding. There are also buildings, one 4,500 square feet and one 2,300 square feet, within the city limits. INDUSTRIAL SITES Locations for new industrial sites are practically unlimited in the Devils Lake region. Some of the locations are adjacent to the main highways, some are located on present property of the two railroads, and some surround the airport. Any of these sites can be purchased at a reasonable price. And it is very possible, with CAA approval, to locate on our present airport site. Also, one-half mile south of the city is an 80-acre industrial park just adjacent to the railroad, highway and water facilities. WHY SHOULD The manpower of North Dakota is noted for its qualifications, ranking twelfth in the nation in above passing marks on selective service tests. INDUSTRY CHOOSE Here, in the Devils Lake area and the whole of North Dakota is a re DEVILS LAKE source virtually untapped and waiting to prove its worth. Lignite coal and oil are extracted in abundance from the fields 150 miles west of Devils Lake and from this area. Various raw materials, such as bauxite, sand and gravel are readily accessible. All-weather roads bisect the city in all directions and five intra and interstate truck lines main tain terminals there. The city has excellent rail facilities, being on the main line of two railroads. North Central Airlines and two charter services insure connections by air at a momant's notice. Recreational facilities are many and varied, with a range of activities adequate to suit the taste of everyone. More impelling than all of these, though, is the attitude with which the people of Devils Lake are approaching their goals. They want progress and they're going to get it. The prospective industrialist who moves into this environ ment can benefit from this inspiration, which is evidenced in the for mation of the Devils Lake Community Development Corporation with an incorporated capitalization of $100,000. It stands ready to help prospective industries in any way possible. 38 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVEL The Community Development Corporation was organized in 1956 and OPMENT CORPORATION incorporated at $100,000 for the purpose of attracting industry to Devils Lake. The corporation is managed by its directors who are authorized to invest all or any part of the corporate holdings in any venture they deem advisable. They are a fast acting board, capable of making immediate decisions. EXISTING Name Product MANUFACTURERS Bergstrom Sign Service Signs and Advertising Displays Bridgeman Creameries Dairy Products Carlson Bakery Bakery Products Coca-Cola Bottling Company Soft Drinks Concrete Sectional Culvert Company Concrete Blocks and Culverts Cox's Bakery Bakery Products Dakota liquid Fertilizers Fertilizers Dakota Radiator Company Sheet Metal Works Devils Lake Journal Newspaper - Commercial Printing Devils Lake Monument Company Monuments Devils Lake World Newspaper - Commercial Printing Lake Ready Mix and Steel Concrete and Steel Products Lake Region Rottling Works Soft Drinks Ijake Region Sheet Metal Sheet Metal Nelson Upholstery Upholsterer Northern Stramit Company Wheat Straw Fiber Board Seven-Up Bottling Company Soft Drinks World Publishing Company Commercial Printing 39 StateDoc F 644 .04 D47 1963 PERM COPY