Buford, North Dakota: America's Smallest Town (Population 1)

Buford, North Dakota, in Williams County near the Montana border, holds the distinction of being the smallest incorporated town in the U.S. with a population of 1 person (2020 Census).

History

• Founded 1880 as a Northern Pacific Railroad shipping point.
• Once had several hundred residents, a school, post office, and businesses.
• Declined steadily; last residents left except one.

Recent Fame

• 2012: Put up for auction; sold for $900,000 to Vietnamese investor Phạm Đình Nguyên (renamed "PhinDeli Town Buford" briefly).
• Now: Single resident maintains the town's legal incorporation; gas station/convenience store operates seasonally.

Buford is a surreal symbol of rural depopulation—and a quirky roadside stop on US-85.