Ruso is a city in McLean County, North Dakota, in the USA. The population was 1 at the 2020 census, making Ruso the least populous incorporated place in North Dakota. It is tied with Monowi, Nebraska at being the least populated community in the United States that is currently inhabited.
History
Ruso was founded and named on July 17, 1906, and named either after a Russian word meaning "south of us" or from the first two letters in both of the words "South Russia" by an agent who brought in immigrants from Russia. Ruso was incorporated as a city on July 7, 1909.
The city lost its last business in 1956.
In 2018 Ruso was at risk of being unincorporated after the death of its mayor, Bruce Lorenz, brought it down to two residents. North Dakota Century Code requires that an incorporated city have at least three council members. However, two new residents built a house in Ruso, doubling its population. One of those residents, Greg Schmaltz, became the new mayor and prevented the town from being unincorporated.
Three tornadoes struck the Ruso area on August 15, 2022, flipping over farm equipment and anhydrous tanks.
Geography
Ruso is in northeastern McLean County, on the west side of North Dakota Highway 41, which leads north to Velva and south to Turtle Lake. North Dakota Highway 53 passes just south of Ruso, leading east to Butte and west to Max. Washburn, the McLean county seat, is south of Ruso.
The New Town Subdivision of the CPKC railroad passes through Ruso, leading east to Drake and west to Max.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Ruso has a total area of , all land.
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|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<br>2020 Census