There is one unique ZIP code in Forbes, North Dakota and it is 58439. Area code: 701.
1
ZIP codes
185.97
sq mi land
2.58
sq mi water
701
area code
Forbes, ND ZIP code map
About Forbes, ND
Forbes, North Dakota is a small rural community located in Dickey County in the south-central part of the state, carrying the ZIP code 58439. Situated in the heart of the Great Plains, Forbes reflects the quiet, tight-knit character that defines many of North Dakota's agricultural towns. The community is served by the 701 telephone area code, which covers the entire state of North Dakota.
Location & geography
Forbes is located in Dickey County in south-central North Dakota, positioned relatively close to the South Dakota border and within reasonable driving distance of larger regional towns such as Ellendale, the Dickey County seat, roughly 20 miles to the northeast. The surrounding landscape is characteristic of the Northern Plains, featuring gently rolling glaciated terrain, productive farmland, and open prairie stretching in all directions. The community's total area encompasses 185.97 square miles of land and 2.58 square miles of water, the latter reflecting the small lakes, wetlands, and prairie potholes common to this region of North Dakota.
Community & economy
Forbes embodies the close-knit, self-reliant spirit that defines rural Great Plains life, where neighbors know one another and community events carry significant social importance. Agriculture is the backbone of the local economy, with grain farming — including wheat, corn, soybeans, and sunflowers — along with livestock operations shaping daily life and the regional identity. Residents typically travel to Ellendale or larger cities such as Aberdeen, South Dakota, for expanded shopping, medical services, and entertainment options.
Transportation
Forbes is accessible via North Dakota's rural highway network, with state and county roads connecting the community to nearby towns and regional corridors. The nearest commercial air service is available at Aberdeen Regional Airport in Aberdeen, South Dakota, or at Jamestown Regional Airport to the north, both of which offer connections to larger hub airports. Personal vehicles are the primary mode of transportation in this rural area, as public transit options are extremely limited throughout Dickey County.
History
Forbes was established as a small agricultural settlement during the late homesteading era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when waves of settlers arrived in the Dakotas to take advantage of free or low-cost land under federal homestead legislation. Like many small North Dakota communities, its early growth was tied closely to the expansion of the railroad network, which made it possible to ship grain and livestock to distant markets. Over the decades, Forbes has endured the cycles of drought, economic hardship, and rural depopulation that have challenged small farming communities across the Great Plains.
Did you know?
One noteworthy aspect of Forbes is that despite its modest size, it presides over a geographic footprint of nearly 186 square miles of land, illustrating how sparsely populated and expansive even small incorporated places can be on the Northern Plains. The presence of more than two and a half square miles of water area within that footprint also highlights the region's network of prairie potholes and wetlands, which are vital habitats for migratory waterfowl along the Central Flyway.
