These North Dakota towns may be small, but they are full of character, history, and other interesting quirks that make them unique. Some of them have populations dwindling in the single digits, but that doesn't mean there is nothing there. Let's explore what makes these 8 places special. You may not have even heard of all of them before.

1. McClusky

The town of McClusky - population 380 - has the claim to fame as the "heart of North Dakota." It got this title because it is the town marks the geographical center of the entire state. It is also the county seat of Sheridan County.

2. Edinburg

With a motto like "the kind of small town every other small town would like to be" as stated on the town's official website, you know this place must be nice, and it is. This cute town is picture perfect in every way. Even though only 196 people live in this town, the community is strong and the residents take pride in their home.

3. Marmarth

One of the very western towns of North Dakota, nestled right along the Little Missouri River, is Marmarth. At one point, this town was home to over 1,300 people. It saw famous figures like Sitting Bull and Theodore Roosevelt, in fact the latter (who was an avid hunter) was said to have shot his first grizzly bear near Marmarth and made frequent visits to the town. There is even deeper history to the town. A rare dinosaur fossil that had the skin, muscles, and soft tissues fossilized as well as the bones, known as the Dakota Fossil, was found here. Today, many of the original buildings still stand but stand empty.

4. Cando

Cando was named after exactly what you'd think it was: a "can do" spirit, referring to that of the pioneers who settled the land back in the late 1800s. It is credited as the duck hunting capitol of North Dakota, being nestled in the Prairie Pothole region with excellent opportunities to spot waterfowl.

5. Ruso

This is the least populated town in all of North Dakota. Only four people live here, and even historically the town has never been much higher than 100 residents. Despite its small size, this town has international fame across the ocean. The European movie The Cut uses Ruso as an important plot point to the story.

6. Karlsruhe

Karlsruhe shares the same name as a much larger city in Germany, and was named such by the Germans from Russia who immigrated here in the late 19th century. Less than 100 people live here, but the history is strong. Two historical sites are located here, and many beautiful old buildings still stand.

7. Tolna

The lovely town of Tolna is a great example of small town North Dakota. "A century of traditions" was the town's motto for its centennial in 2006, and it embraces its history well. Tolna is located in Nelson County.

8. Antler

Antler, ND was named after Antler Creek, which to some resembles the part of a deer it references. It's teeny tiny, with only 26 residents, and lies right on the Canadian border. At one point, it was home to the world's largest quilt, which was made to resemble North Dakota for the state's 100th anniversary. It covers a span of about 11,390 square feet.

Want to know which towns in North Dakota are the absolute smallest, tiniest towns? We know now Ruso is number one, but there are others that are just as small. You can find out more by clicking here.