Tuttle, North Dakota

Tuttle is a city in Kidder County, North Dakota, United States.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2), all land.

[4] Because of its location in the Prairie Pothole Region and the Central Flyway, residents enjoy access to outdoor hunting activities.

On January 21, 1917, fire completely destroyed the Miller General Store and several other Tuttle businesses.

Many family histories recorded in the anniversary book tell of extreme hardships with the weather which can produce severe cold and blizzards in the winter and blazing heat and strong storms in the summer.

A strong wind came up first and hail started falling and, combined with drenching rain, it caused significant damage to Tuttle and surrounding areas.

Reportedly, nearly every window facing north and west was broken in homes and business places.

As the tornado drew closer to the town, residents reported hearing a sound like "hundreds of freight trains bearing down."

The funnel could not be seen in Tuttle as there was so much dust in the air, but people south of the town reported seeing it very clearly.

The tornado heavily damaged several homes in Tuttle, but the majority were not touched.

The fire did not destroy the field stone and concrete walls, and the building was restored by 2011.

[5] Like many other small towns on the North American Great Plains that were settled in the early 20th century, nearly a century after its founding Tuttle has experienced the closure of many business which has paralleled a population trend of outmigration of young people to larger cities and a subsequent aging of its population.

Today, Tuttle is without a bank, a school and newspaper, but is home to a well stocked co-op grocery store and grain elevator.

Map of North Dakota highlighting Kidder County