The original town site was mostly left not flooded when Lake Sakakawea was formed in the 1950s behind Garrison Dam.

The original incorporated Van Hook town's last reported US Census population in 1950 was 380,[1][4] prior to when, everyone was forced to move out by the federal government.

The Van Hook arm of Lake Sakakawea has always been very popular for recreational fishing, boating, and camping.

The rebuilt resort town began a building process in the 1970s when it became obvious that most of the main townsite did not flood and would never be flooded by the waters of Lake Sakakawea, and some of the original townsite area was initially opened for camping trailers and other similar temporary summer living quarters.

The precise current population of the unincorporated resort area/town or "new" Van Hook is not known, but in the summer with temporary residents might easily exceed the 1950 census number of 380.