User:Dcmacnut/Haley, North Dakota

Haley is an unincorporated community in Bowman County in the U.S. state of North Dakota. Founded in 1898, it is the oldest town in the county, established in 1898.

History
Haley was founded in 1898 when the area was still part of Billings County. Bowman County was founded and organized in 1905. Haley was supposed to be named Galey, in honor of William Gay], a prospector who discovered gold in Grand River around. Howver, a clerical mistake made by postal official lead it to be named Haley, instead. [[Richard Ludlow Jackson (1842 – 1915) was the village's first settler, and he operated a post office out of his sod home until and several neighboring buildings were destroyed by fire in 1921. The post office was moved to the town's hotel, it remained in operation until 1965.

According to a history of Haley, it is the oldest town in southwestern North Dakota. The town experienced an early population boom, with hotels, general stores, banks, butcher, blacksmiths, and barbers all opening up businesses. A newspaper, the Haley Herald began in 1911 by a local pastor. The town's doctor, John Poppe, died as a result of the Spanish flu outbreak, during which he treated many of the town's residents for the illness.

Geography
Haley is located in southeastern Bowman County, near the North Dakota-South Dakota border. It is roughly 30 mi from the county seat of Bowman.

Bowman Haley Dam and Reservoir is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 11 miles south of Bowman, is a major recreation area near Haley. Constructed in 1966, the dam provides flood control, recreation, water supply, and fish and wildlife habitat. The lake is formed by the confluence of Spring Creek, Alkali Creek, and the North Fork of the Grand River. The dam measures approximately 5,730 feet in length, with a maximum height of 79 feet from the stream bed to the top of the dam. The lake has 17 miles of shoreline and an average depth of 39 feet. The lake drains an area of approximately 446 square miles and has a storage capacity of 18,765 acre-feet. Activities that can be enjoyed at the Bowman-Haley project include picnicking, boating, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, and photography. The North Shore Area, located north of the dam, has a boat ramp, picnic shelters, fireplaces, and drinking water. The South Shore Area, located south of the dam, has a boat ramp, picnic shelters, and fireplaces. QUICK FACTS: Location: 11 miles south of Bowman, North Dakota on highway 85 then follow the signs 5 miles east

Factoid: Bowman-Haley Lake, ND formed at the confluence of Spring Creek, Alkali Creek, and North Fork Grand River; has 17 miles of scenic shoreline. The 1,740-acre V-shaped lake offers year-round recreational opportunities including camping, boating, and fishing. Surrounding the lake are 6,720 acres of prairie creeks and rolling uplands, which provide a haven for a wide variety of wildlife and waterfowl.

Demographics
Haley never achieved large scale population growth's population, and its population was around 112 residents in 1950. [ Block 2276] [ Block 2258]

Notable people

 * W. R. Gardner (1881 – 1957): Member of the South Dakota Legislature from 1930 to 1950. Homestead in Haley from 1907 to 1913.