Lignite, North Dakota

About Lignite

Set in the northwestern part of North Dakota, Lignite is a tiny community, home to 134 residents as of the latest Census estimates.

Officially, Lignite is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 0.16 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 838 residents per square mile.

📰 Lignite News Today

• How North Dakota’s lignite helped launch an innovation powerhouse at UND University of North Dakota (UND) · Aug 4
• ND Today: Lignite Energy Council Conference - KFYR-TV KFYR-TV · Aug 11
• EPA change to mercury emissions rules a win for North Dakota lignite coal industry North Dakota Monitor · Mar 5
• North Dakota Electricity Prices (August 2026) ElectricChoice.com · Aug 6
• Sen Cramer: DOE Selects UND Pilot Project for Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Recovery Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota (.gov) · Jul 1

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Lignite Unique

• The only place in America named Lignite — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• One of the smallest municipal footprints in the country at just 0.16 sq mi.
• One of the northernmost communities in the lower 48 states.
• Positioned in northwestern North Dakota, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.

Why People Love It Here

• Small-town pace of life: less traffic, more community, and neighbors who wave.
• Housing dollars stretch further here than in the nearest metro.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 11 miles.

🏫 Schools in Lignite

• BURKE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• BURKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Lignite

🏘️ Nearby Communities