Rugby is considered the geographical center of North America
Rugby’s claim to fame is that it’s widely regarded as the geographical center of North America, marked by a large stone pillar on the side of U.S. Route 2 that has become a popular stopping point for road-trippers. “Today, I went out to lunch at Rancho Grande at the corner [of the sign]. I was sitting so I could watch the monument. There were five different groups that came by and took a picture,” says Mandie Medalen, the Library Director of the Heart of America Library and a resident of Rugby for nearly 20 years. “Hopefully, they stick around and use our services.” About a mile north of the monument, unique small businesses and local eateries make up downtown Rugby.
Original Craftsman houses, pre-1940 cottages and ranch-style homes
Gridded residential streets shaded by mature trees and lined with homes that gaze at the road from a distance make up Rugby. Cottages and original Craftsman houses built prior to 1940, as well as ranch-style homes from the 1960s, range from $45,000 to $165,000. Most properties come with detached garages or storage sheds, and many have outdoor living spaces as well. Lots can go up to about half an acre in size.
A retro restaurant, boutiques and a sports bar in downtown Rugby
Downtown Rugby stretches for about three blocks along South Main Avenue, near the city’s train station. Rockin’ Relics takes diners back in time with an authentic 1940s soda fountain, retro barstools and vintage posters. One block south, 3rd Street Station is a sports bar with plenty of entertainment, from a golf simulator to slot machines and a pool table. A few other local businesses make up the downtown district. “There’s Main Street Boutique with very nice clothing,” Medalen says. “Liverpool is one of the brands she sells, and she has great household items.” For groceries, Leevers Foods is about one block away. Farther south of downtown, Dakota Farms Family Restaurant offers classic breakfast plates and comfort meals, like chicken-fried steak, herb chicken alfredo as well as liver and onions.
The “Orange Park’s” new splash pad and live music at Ellery Park
Rugby has several kid-oriented recreation spaces throughout the city. The Rugby Jaycees Park has been nicknamed the “Orange Park” for its large, bright play set — which has several slides — and it received a new splash pad in 2025. On the other side of Rugby, Ellery Park has another playground and a disc golf course. Its shaded gazebo hosts live music on Wednesday evenings during the summer as part of the Music in the Park series. “There’s free ice cream and you get to hear some pretty big names,” Medalen says. “Tigirlily [Gold] used to come here quite often before they got pretty big.” Daily admission to the city’s indoor pool costs less than $5, and swimming is also popular at Sand Lake, about 15 miles northeast of town. A pier hovers above the almost perfectly circular body of water, teeming with yellow perch and northern pike below the glassy surface.
Fine arts and career-oriented electives at Rugby High School
Children in Rugby may start their K-12 journeys at Ely Elementary School, which scores a B-minus from Niche. They may then move forward to Rugby High School, earning an A-minus, for seventh through 12th grade. Students can choose from more than 10 athletic teams to join, including hockey, golf and wrestling. Career-oriented electives at the high school include marketing education, agricultural education and sports medicine; its fine arts program offers piano lessons, as well as courses in game design fundamentals and scientific/anatomy drawing.
At the intersection of Nebraska state Route 3 and U.S. Route 2
Two of Rugby’s main thoroughfares — Nebraska state Route 3 and U.S. Route 2 — intersect in the southwest portion of the city. Nebraska state Route 3 travels north to south, where it eventually connects with Interstate 94. United States Route 2 travels west to the city of Minot, about 65 miles away, and east to Grand Forks, home to the University of North Dakota and a stretch of Interstate 29. Grand Forks is roughly 150 miles away.
Rugby is located between the Devils Lake Regional Airport — which offers daily service to the Denver International Airport — and the Minot International Airport, where passengers can fly to Denver, Minneapolis or Phoenix. The Devils Lake Regional Airport is about 60 miles to the east of Rugby. The Souris Basin Transportation system maintains a Rugby-to-Minot route, though reservations are required. The city’s Amtrak train station sits between downtown and Nebraska state Route 3.
