In
January 1931, an U.S. Geological Survey
determined the center of North America in
Pierce County. The Survey Bulletin Number
817 states:
“The geographic center on an area
may be defined as that point on which the
surface of the area would balance if it
were a plane of uniform thickness, or in
other words the center of gravity of the
surface.
The triangular station is the reference
point for all property lines and city, county,
State and international boundaries on the
North American Continent that are tied to
the national triangulation network of the
united State, Canada, Mexico, and Central
America. This triangulation station is the
base point of origin of geodetic positions
and directions in the triangulation net
of the United States because it is at the
junction of the main east-west transcontinental
triangulation arc stretching from the Atlantic
to the pacific Coast and the main north-south
arc, which follows approximately the 98th
meridian from the Canadian border to the
Rio Grande. The following position should
be considered as approximations only.
North America Continent – 6 miles
west of Balta, Pierce County N.D. Latitude
48 ,10’ longitude 100,10’
The center is marked with a monument or
cairn that is pyramid form in shape. It
is 21 feet high, 6 feet wide at its base,
and setting on a heart shaped foundation.
It was built across the highway, Northwest
of its present location, by W.B. Paterson
and E.B. Paterson with the assistance from
local Boy Scouts and other young men in
the community. The Rugby Lions Club donated
cement and other materials used in the construction.
It was completed in August 1932.
It
remained at that location until July 1971
when Highway 2 was four laned, and its location
was becoming a frontage road. At that time
it was moved to its present location on
the southeast corner of the intersection
of Highway 2 & 3. In 1955, work was
done to beautify the area around the monument
with a rock garden welcoming you, an information
board, and three new flagpoles representing
each of the countries making up North America.
(Canada, United States, and Mexico)
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