Nelson County
County
Water Tower behind Lakota City Hall.
Water Tower behind Lakota City Hall.
Map of North Dakota highlighting Nelson County
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°55′N 98°11′W / 47.92°N 98.19°W / 47.92; -98.19
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedMarch 2, 1883 (created)
June 9, 1883 (organized)
SeatLakota
Largest cityLakota
Area
 • Total1,009 sq mi (2,610 km2)
 • Land982 sq mi (2,540 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,015
 • Estimate 
(2022)
2,995 Decrease
 • Density3.0/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.nelsonco.org

Nelson County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,015.[1] Its county seat is Lakota.[2]

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created Nelson County on March 2, 1883, with areas annexed from Foster, Grand Forks and Ramsey counties, and with some previously unorganized area. It was not organized at that time, but was attached to Grand Forks County for administrative and judicial purposes. Its proposed boundary was enlarged on March 9, 1883, and on June 9, 1883, the county organization was effected and the administrative attachment to Grand Forks County was terminated.[3][4]

Geography

The county terrain consists of rolling hills dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the midpoint of its north boundary line, at 1,545 ft (471 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 1,009 square miles (2,610 km2), of which 982 square miles (2,540 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (2.7%) is water.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Lakes

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18904,293—
19007,31670.4%
191010,14038.6%
192010,3622.2%
193010,203−1.5%
19409,129−10.5%
19508,090−11.4%
19607,034−13.1%
19705,776−17.9%
19805,233−9.4%
19904,410−15.7%
20003,715−15.8%
20103,126−15.9%
20203,015−3.6%
2022 (est.)2,995[8]−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 3,015 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,126 people, 1,474 households, and 905 families in the county. The population density was 3.18 people per square mile (1.23 people/km2). There were 1,927 housing units at an average density of 1.96 units per square mile (0.76/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.2% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 52.3% were Norwegian, 34.1% were German, 8.2% were Irish, and 3.9% were American.

Of the 1,474 households, 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.6% were non-families, and 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.66. The median age was 51.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,071 and the median income for a family was $51,731. Males had a median income of $33,629 versus $28,672 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,838. About 4.0% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Township Numbers and Range Numbers[13]
Range 61 Range 60 Range 59 Range 58 Range 57
Township 154   Clara Enterprise Sarnia Dahlen
Township 153   Lakota Rubin Michigan Nash
Township 152 Illinois Dodds Williams Michigan Petersburg
Township 151 Leval Wamduska Central Melvin Adler
Township 150 Dayton Osago Hamlin Field Rugh
Township 149 Forde Bergen Nesheim Lee Ora

Politics

Nelson County voters have slightly favored Republicans for the past several decades. Since 1964 the county selected the Republican Party candidate in 64% of national elections.

United States presidential election results for Nelson County, North Dakota[14][15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,141 64.21% 586 32.98% 50 2.81%
2016 1,025 59.70% 536 31.22% 156 9.09%
2012 865 51.55% 767 45.71% 46 2.74%
2008 800 45.66% 907 51.77% 45 2.57%
2004 1,107 57.60% 778 40.48% 37 1.93%
2000 1,031 56.03% 687 37.34% 122 6.63%
1996 745 41.41% 827 45.97% 227 12.62%
1992 864 39.17% 841 38.12% 501 22.71%
1988 1,078 48.06% 1,151 51.32% 14 0.62%
1984 1,445 57.50% 1,026 40.83% 42 1.67%
1980 1,611 62.08% 726 27.98% 258 9.94%
1976 1,336 44.31% 1,610 53.40% 69 2.29%
1972 1,625 53.67% 1,358 44.85% 45 1.49%
1968 1,526 48.26% 1,477 46.71% 159 5.03%
1964 1,101 33.50% 2,186 66.50% 0 0.00%
1960 1,934 52.00% 1,783 47.94% 2 0.05%
1956 1,821 50.35% 1,794 49.60% 2 0.06%
1952 2,443 62.96% 1,418 36.55% 19 0.49%
1948 1,672 47.26% 1,629 46.04% 237 6.70%
1944 1,506 43.77% 1,925 55.94% 10 0.29%
1940 1,859 43.07% 2,435 56.42% 22 0.51%
1936 1,002 22.31% 2,954 65.78% 535 11.91%
1932 956 23.14% 3,176 76.86% 0 0.00%
1928 2,364 60.18% 1,542 39.26% 22 0.56%
1924 1,697 49.20% 175 5.07% 1,577 45.72%
1920 3,127 84.49% 501 13.54% 73 1.97%
1916 1,013 50.98% 861 43.33% 113 5.69%
1912 448 26.34% 526 30.92% 727 42.74%
1908 1,225 63.80% 616 32.08% 79 4.11%
1904 1,284 74.61% 340 19.76% 97 5.64%
1900 994 61.24% 576 35.49% 53 3.27%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  4. ^ "County History". North Dakota.gov. The State of North Dakota. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Nelson County ND Google Maps (accessed February 25, 2019)
  6. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Nelson County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 25, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  13. ^ "Earth Point".
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  15. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 511 votes, while Socialist Eugene Debs received 178 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 38 votes.

External links

47°55′N 98°11′W / 47.92°N 98.19°W / 47.92; -98.19

Places adjacent to Nelson County, North Dakota
Municipalities and communities of Nelson County, North Dakota, United States
State of North Dakota
Authority control databases
Categories