Seamands, Sydney2024-05-102024-05-102023https://hdl.handle.net/10365/33821Rural North Dakota has become somewhat of an abandoned land. There are dozens of small communities, with major service gaps and unsustainable populations. With the death of each rural town, the state loses pieces of its history, as unique cultures, and buildings decay alongside the highways. Witnessing these townships fall into despair, going unused with years of embodied energy wasted, has partly inspired this investigation. Why didn't these towns survive? Are all of North Dakota's small rural communities destined to meet the same fate? Exploring the possibility of reviving historically declining rural towns would not only breathe new life into the state, but also respond to modern challenges. This research aims to identify a program for successful rural revitalization in North Dakota. Socioeconomic policies and facility updates and additions will inform best practices for the prosperity of rural towns looking to attract residents, businesses, and opportunities.NDSU policy 190.6.2https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdfWorking Paper