The Dickinson Press Archive

The Dickinson Press is the official county newspaper of Stark County, North Dakota. It began March 31, 1883, in Dickinson, Dakota Territory, one year after the town site was originally platted. The Dickinson Press started as a weekly newspaper, publishing every Saturday.

Its first publisher was Joseph T. Scott, working in partnership with W.W. Mabee. The promise of this newly formed newspaper was intended "for the best interests of its patrons, the glory of Dickinson and $2.50 per year." The Dickinson Press "cannot be bought, frightened or used as a hack, but will try and give every person their just dues, always remembering that a citizen of Dickinson or Stark County is better than anybody else."

Early issues included plats of the town, advertisements, and articles highlighting the advantages of obtaining government land and moving "out west." Extensive coverage was given to news and promotion of the Northern Pacific, a reflection of the integral role the railroad served in the town's formation. Earlier issues also reported on the activity associated with the setting up and growth of Dickinson, its government and leadership, and news about the formation of surrounding towns and counties. Finally, the Dickinson Press also included farming and ranching news, short stories, and reprints of articles from other newspapers.

Myron L. Ayers as assumed the role of publisher in 1890 and the newspaper grew in length and also in local coverage. The short stories and reprints were largely replaced with county and statewide news. After serving for 25 years, Ayers retired in January 1916, when Ernest L. Peterson took over the Press.

Along with news about the railroad, farming, and ranching, other notable topics covered in the Dickinson Press include the early buffalo bone and hide trade, the discovery of both lignite and oil in the region, the opening of the Red Trail line on the National Parks Highway, and the establishment of the much anticipated Dickinson Normal School, the first public institution of higher education in western North Dakota.

In December 1927, the Dickinson Press was merged with the Recorder-Post  to form the Dickinson Press and Dickinson Recorder-Post.