Thingvalla Township, Pembina County, North Dakota

Thingvalla Township
Township
Thingvalla Township is located in North Dakota
Thingvalla Township
Thingvalla Township
Location within the state of North Dakota
Coordinates: 48°39′58″N 97°51′3″W / 48.66611°N 97.85083°W / 48.66611; -97.85083
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Dakota
CountyPembina
Organized1882
Area
 • Total36.05 sq mi (93.4 km2)
 • Land36.04 sq mi (93.3 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation
1,014 ft (309 m)
Population
 (2000)[1][2]
 • Total252
 • Density3.4/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code701
FIPS code38-78620[3]
GNIS feature ID1036722[4]

Thingvalla Township is a township in Pembina County, North Dakota, United States. The 2000 census reported a population of 121, and an estimated population of 103 as of 2009.[5] President Ólafur Grímsson of Iceland visited the area in 1999 to dedicate a monument to poet K. N. Julius at Thingvalla Church,[6] and Prime Minister Geir Haarde visited in 2007 to dedicate a memorial to the church, which burned to the ground in 2003.[7]

The 2nd of August Celebration, commonly known as the "Deuce of August" is an annual event in the township. It commemorates the adoption of a new constitution on August 2, 1874, when Iceland was still a part of Denmark.[8] While it was never an official national holiday in Iceland, it is very popular among Americans of Icelandic descent.[6] The celebration in Thingvalla Township is reportedly the largest Icelandic ethnic event in the United States.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference geo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ND2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference popest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference walshpress was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference herald1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference herald6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).