Ambrose is a small incorporated community located approximately  three miles south of the Canadian border on North Dakota Highway 43. Ambrose was founded in 1906 and was named after a local railway worker. In November 1912, Ambrose lost to the City of Crosby 910-749 in a tightly contested election to become the permanent county seat of the new Divide County created in 1910.  Ambrose's population peaked in 1920 when the census showed a 389 residents. The 2010 Census reported that there were 26 people living in Ambrose. 

The Ambrose School District began with a sod school house three miles west of town in 1906. With growth typical of the early 20th century, Ambrose built a town school in 1908, quickly outgrew it, and built a new two-story brick schoolhouse in 1912 at a cost of $16,000 which housed both the elementary and high schools. It had three classrooms, a study hall, and a basement playroom. A library was established at the end of one hallway. As enrollment grew, the school turned part of the basement into a classroom. In 1922, donating labor, equipment, and supplies, the people of Ambrose built an underground gymnasium to support their basketball team.  After a county-wide election to consolidate school districts in 1962, the Ambrose high school closed and students enrolled in Crosby High School.

Ambrose City Government
Mayor - Tabitha Jozwiak  cell (701) 339-0059
Auditor - Tabitha Jozwiak
Alderman - Travis Ness (701) 570-4397
Alderman - Richard "Lukey" Sortland (701) 982-7535
Alderman - Robert Paul McPhail (701) 982-3312

City of Ambrose
PO Box 174
Ambrose, ND  58833


The Ambrose Council Meetings are held at Ambrose City Hall during the following times during the 2025 calendar year (unless rescheduled):

January 13th (5:00p.m.)

February 3rd (5:00p.m.)

March 3rd (5:00p.m.)

April 7th (5:00p.m.)

May 5th (5:00p.m.)

June 2nd  (5:00p.m.)

July 7th (5:00p.m.)

August 4th (5:00p.m.)

September 8th (5:00p.m.)

October 6th (5:00p.m.)

November 3rd (5:00p.m.)

December 1st  (5:00p.m.)

To be included on the agenda please contact Tabitha or email [email protected]