Richland County Township History: Great Bend

Great Bend City Taken from the Richland County History Book Page 295

The village of Great Bend was founded in 1880.

It was first called Berlin and the name was later changed to Great Bend. The townsite was platted on the homestead of George Worner, who came to this region in 1874. The railroad spur from the Northern Pacific was built into Great Bend in 1885 and the first elevator was built the next year. Previous to the building of the spur, the farmers of the district hauled their grain to the elevator at the Adams Farm, a bonaza farm north of Great Bend. The home of George Worner, postmaster, served as the post office.

Great Bend was close to the old freighters trail which led from Fort Abercrombie in North Dakota to Fort Wadsworth in South Dakota and the river bank near the village of Great Bend was a favorite overnight camping place. It was also a favorite camping place for the Native Americans who would sometimes gather there in large numbers. The Native Americans were friendly but they often frightened the settlers. The freighters trail led to the Indian Reservation at Sisseton, South Dakota.