The time period and the pioneer conditions that existed when north central and northwestern North Dakota were settled determined the type of rural schools that were established there. Those areas were settled between 1885 and 1910. Most of the settlers in that area of the state were of Scandinavian (particularly Norwegian) extraction. The vast majority came from a background that valued universal free education. Most early rural schools were small frame buildings with a common dimension of 18 by 32 feet. As far as can be determined, none of the early schools in the area had their architecture inspired by ethnic influences. The majority were built to meet state specifications and copied from designs in state plan books. Exceptions were the very early sod and log schools; sod schools appeared more frequently in the communities composed of Germans from Russia. Trees were seldom a feature of the school grounds. School outhouses often lacked attention. A considerable number of rural schools in North Dakota are being preserved and restored, but not in their original setting. Although many rural schools remain scattered over the countryside in their original locations, nearly all are abandoned and neglected. (Appended charts detail school locations and construction.) (Author/CM)