Congregational church 

Kelso, Traill County, North Dakota 58045

Kelso is an unincorporated community in Traill County, North Dakota. This Great Northern Railroad station was founded in 1880 in the northeast quarter of section 5-144-50, Kelso Township and named SAFFORD. On February 1, 1882, the name was changed to KELSO for its township, which was named for Kelso, Missouri, which was named for Kelso, Scotland, a city on the Tweed River. Some say it was named for a Great Northern Railroad official. The site never experienced a boom, with a peak population of just 50 in 1890. The post office closed October 6, 1967, with mail to Hillsboro.