Devils Lake history

The history of Devils Lake is closely intertwined with the legends of indigenous peoples and the rapid development of transport routes in North Dakota during the late 19th century.

Foundation and Origin of the Name

The city was officially founded in 1882. It owes its memorable name to the lake of the same name on whose shores it is situated.

• Indigenous Roots: In the language of the Dakota people (Sioux), the lake was called Mni Wakan, which translates as "Sacred Water" or "Spirit Water".
• Interpretation: The first European settlers interpreted this name in their own way, associating it with "bad spirits," which became established in the English version as Devils Lake.

Key Factors of Development

The transformation of a small settlement into a major regional hub was driven by several strategic reasons:

• The Railway: The arrival of the Great Northern Railway was a decisive moment. The line, laid by railway tycoon James Hill, connected the city to major markets and ensured an influx of population.
• Administrative Status: In 1883, Devils Lake became the center of Ramsey County, which strengthened its political influence in the region.
• Geography: Proximity to a vast body of water made the city a natural center of attraction for trade and logistics.

Early Culture and Economy

In the first decades of its existence, the city was distinguished by an active lifestyle, atypical for many frontier settlements.

Steam navigation played an important role: paddle steamers, such as the famous "Minnie H", actively plied the lake, transporting mail, cargo, and passengers between settlements. Additionally, Devils Lake became the center of the Chautauqua cultural movement in North Dakota. Summer educational camps and gatherings attracted thousands of visitors, contributing to the cultural enlightenment of the prairie residents.

City Development Timeline

• 1882 — Establishment of the post office and the beginning of active settlement of the territory, linked to plans for railway construction.
• 1883 — The first train of the Great Northern Railway arrives in the city, opening the way for mass migration and trade.
• 1884 — Devils Lake officially receives city status and forms local government bodies.
• 1890 — Opening of the North Dakota School for the Deaf, becoming one of the oldest educational institutions in the state.
• 1893 — Beginning of the Chautauqua movement in the region, turning the city into a summer cultural and educational hub of the Midwest.
• 1910 — Completion of the public library funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
• 1940 — A record low water level in the lake is recorded due to prolonged drought, when the reservoir practically dried up.
• 1980s — Strengthening of the city's educational base with the development of the local Lake Region State College.
• 1993 — The beginning of a climatic "wet cycle," leading to a rapid and uncontrolled rise in the lake's water level.
• 1996 — Start of a massive project to construct protective dikes to save the city's infrastructure from flooding.
• 2011 — The water level in the lake reaches a historical maximum, requiring an emergency increase in the height of protective structures.
• 2012 — Commissioning of a system of outlet channels to stabilize the lake level and prevent future threats.

Stages of City Formation and Transformation

The development of Devils Lake is a story of adapting the urban environment to changing natural conditions and economic realities. Below are the key milestones that defined the modern appearance and status of the city.

• Transformation into a Railway Hub (1880s)
  The arrival of the Great Northern Railway did not just connect the settlement with the outside world but also determined its layout. The station became the center of the urban composition, and the city turned into the main logistics point for farmers in the region, ensuring an economic boom in the late 19th century.
• Creation of Social Infrastructure (1890)
  The opening of the North Dakota School for the Deaf became an important stage in institutional development. This secured the city's status as an important administrative and social center of the state, providing permanent jobs and an influx of specialists.
• The "Chautauqua" Era and Cultural Flourishing (1893–1929)
  The organization of summer assemblies of the Chautauqua movement led to the creation of a vast park zone and the construction of large public buildings (auditoriums). This formed the image of Devils Lake as the cultural capital of the region and established traditions of event tourism.
• Urbanization and Modernization (Mid-20th Century)
  In the post-war years, the city actively developed as a service center for the agricultural lands of Ramsey County. The construction of grain elevators, retail spaces, and service facilities strengthened the city's economic stability during periods of low water levels in the lake.
• Massive Hydro-technical Reconstruction (1990s – 2010s)
  An unprecedented rise in the lake's water level required radical urban planning solutions. The construction and multiple extensions of the system of protective dikes became the largest infrastructure project in the city's history, changing the coastline and road scheme, but saving residential areas from flooding.
• Formation of a Tourism Brand (Modernity)
  Adaptation to high water allowed the city to reorient the economy towards recreation. Devils Lake secured the status of the "Perch Fishing Capital of the World," which stimulated the development of the hotel business, recreation centers, and the service sector oriented towards anglers and water sports enthusiasts.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of Devils Lake reflects the typical development path of a city on the Great Plains: from rapidly erected wooden structures of the frontier era to solid brick buildings of the early 20th century and functional structures of modern times. The urban structure is strictly oriented towards the railway tracks and the coastline.

Historic Center and Commercial Development (1880–1910s)

The heart of the city was formed during the economic boom caused by the arrival of the railway. This area is included in the National Register of Historic Places.

• Style: Late Victorian commercial architecture, elements of Italianate style, and Richardsonian Romanesque.
• Characteristic Features: Use of red brick, decorative cornices, arched windows, and parapets concealing flat roofs.
• Landmarks: The Devils Lake Commercial District, where bank buildings, hotels, and trading shops from the late 19th century have been preserved.

Civic Architecture and Public Buildings (1910–1940s)

As prosperity grew, monumental public buildings began to appear in the city, designed to demonstrate the stability and cultural level of the community.

• Classicism and Neoclassicism: Popular styles for educational and administrative institutions of that time. A vivid example is the Carnegie Library, built in 1910. The building is distinguished by symmetry, the presence of columns, and strict proportions characteristic of the "Greek Revival."
• Art Deco and Stripped Classicism: In the 1930s, during the implementation of "New Deal" projects, the World War Memorial Building (1937) was erected. It combines monumentality with geometric simplicity and restrained decor typical of interwar architecture.

Residential Development and Religious Structures

The city's residential quarters and churches demonstrate a variety of styles adapted for the American heartland.

• Neo-Gothic: Traditionally used in the construction of local churches. Pointed arches, stained glass windows, and soaring spires can be found in the city's oldest temples, such as the Episcopal Church.
• Residential Styles: In the old part of the city, houses in the Queen Anne style with their asymmetry and turrets have been preserved, as well as later and more practical bungalows in the Craftsman style, popular in the 1920s.

Modern Development and Hydro-technical Architecture

In the second half of the 20th and early 21st centuries, the urban planning vector shifted from aesthetics to survival and functionality.

• Modernism and Functionalism: The buildings of the college (Lake Region State College) and new schools are executed in a concise style where form follows function.
• Engineering Dominance: The main urban planning element of modern times has become the massive system of dikes and embankments. These structures visually separated the city from the lake, changing familiar panoramas but ensuring the safety of residential areas.

Prominent Figures of Devils Lake

Despite its modest size, the city of Devils Lake has become the birthplace of a number of people who have achieved national and global recognition in politics, the arts, science, and sports.

• Phyllis Frelich
  Stage and screen actress, activist
  A native of the city and a graduate of the local North Dakota School for the Deaf. Phyllis made history as the first deaf actress to be awarded the prestigious Tony Award (1980) for Best Actress in the Broadway play "Children of a Lesser God." Her success opened doors to the arts for many hearing-impaired artists.
• William L. Guy
  Politician, 26th Governor of North Dakota
  Born in Devils Lake in 1919. He holds the record for the longest tenure as governor of the state (1961–1973). He played a key role in modernizing North Dakota's administrative system and developing the region's energy sector.
• Rick Helling
  Professional baseball player (pitcher)
  Born in Devils Lake in 1970. He had a successful career in Major League Baseball (MLB), playing for teams such as the Texas Rangers and the Florida Marlins. With the latter, he became a World Series champion in 2003. He is also known for his principled stance against doping in sports.
• Heber M. Creel
  Military topographer, city founder
  Although Creel was not born here, he is a key figure in the city's history. A retired officer and West Point graduate, he surveyed the land in 1882 and founded the settlement of Creelsburg, which soon received the name Devils Lake. His entrepreneurial activity laid the economic foundation of the city.
• Mary Wakefield
  Stateswoman, healthcare administrator
  A native of Devils Lake who reached high posts in the US federal government. In the administration of Barack Obama, she served as Acting Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, becoming one of the highest-ranking nurses in the history of the American civil service.
• Karen Ordahl Kupperman
  Historian, professor
  Born in Devils Lake. An outstanding scholar specializing in the history of early colonial America and the Atlantic world. Author of fundamental works on the interaction between European settlers and indigenous peoples, and a laureate of prestigious academic awards.