Ramsey County
County
Ramsey County Courthouse in Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Ramsey County Courthouse in Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Map of North Dakota highlighting Ramsey 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: 48°15′N 98°43′W / 48.25°N 98.72°W / 48.25; -98.72
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedJanuary 4, 1873 (created)
January 25, 1883 (organized)
Named forAlexander Ramsey
SeatDevils Lake
Largest cityDevils Lake
Area
 • Total1,301 sq mi (3,370 km2)
 • Land1,187 sq mi (3,070 km2)
 • Water114 sq mi (300 km2)  8.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,605
 • Estimate 
(2022)
11,515 Decrease
 • Density8.9/sq mi (3.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.co.ramsey.nd.us

Ramsey County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,605.[1] Its county seat is Devils Lake.[2]

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with areas partitioned from Pembina County. The county was named for Alexander Ramsey, a U.S. Senator from Minnesota.[3] The county government was not completed at that time, and the county was not attached to another county for administrative or judicial purposes. This situation continued until January 25, 1883, when the county government was effected.

The county's boundaries were altered twice in March 1883, twice more in 1885, and in 1890. Its present boundaries have remained unchanged since 1890.[4]

Outline map of Ramsey County, North Dakota, 1909

Geography

The southwest boundary of Ramsey County is defined by Devils Lake. 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 lake, with its highest point at the NE county corner, at 1,631 ft (497 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 1,301 square miles (3,370 km2), of which 1,187 square miles (3,070 km2) is land and 114 square miles (300 km2) (8.8%) is water.[7]

Ramsey County is beautiful “pothole country” In the center of a migratory bird flyway.

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Lakes

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880281—
18904,4181,472.2%
19009,198108.2%
191015,19965.2%
192015,4271.5%
193016,2525.3%
194015,626−3.9%
195014,373−8.0%
196013,443−6.5%
197012,915−3.9%
198013,0481.0%
199012,681−2.8%
200012,066−4.8%
201011,451−5.1%
202011,6051.3%
2022 (est.)11,515[8]−0.8%
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 11,605 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 11,451 people, 4,955 households, and 3,008 families in the county. The population density was 9.65 people per square mile (3.73 people/km2). There were 5,615 housing units at an average density of 4.73 units per square mile (1.83/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.7% white, 8.7% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 41.9% were German, 37.7% were Norwegian, 7.0% were Irish, 5.7% were Swedish, 5.2% were English, and 2.9% were American.

Of the 4,955 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.3% were non-families, and 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 43.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,792 and the median income for a family was $56,632. Males had a median income of $41,274 versus $25,171 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,130. About 8.7% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Politics

Ramsey County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only two national elections since 1944 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Ramsey County, North Dakota[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,577 66.59% 1,639 30.51% 156 2.90%
2016 3,217 60.64% 1,505 28.37% 583 10.99%
2012 2,665 53.31% 2,164 43.29% 170 3.40%
2008 2,361 49.58% 2,314 48.59% 87 1.83%
2004 2,943 60.06% 1,885 38.47% 72 1.47%
2000 3,005 60.38% 1,658 33.31% 314 6.31%
1996 2,077 43.51% 2,123 44.47% 574 12.02%
1992 2,516 41.56% 2,008 33.17% 1,530 25.27%
1988 3,103 53.12% 2,665 45.63% 73 1.25%
1984 4,150 63.33% 2,304 35.16% 99 1.51%
1980 4,078 64.88% 1,607 25.57% 600 9.55%
1976 3,293 50.65% 3,096 47.62% 113 1.74%
1972 3,954 61.78% 2,384 37.25% 62 0.97%
1968 3,189 54.56% 2,384 40.79% 272 4.65%
1964 2,409 40.24% 3,572 59.66% 6 0.10%
1960 3,599 56.12% 2,813 43.86% 1 0.02%
1956 3,821 64.44% 2,103 35.46% 6 0.10%
1952 4,670 71.97% 1,794 27.65% 25 0.39%
1948 2,891 52.04% 2,458 44.25% 206 3.71%
1944 2,505 49.28% 2,539 49.95% 39 0.77%
1940 3,629 50.44% 3,530 49.07% 35 0.49%
1936 1,784 25.51% 4,559 65.19% 650 9.30%
1932 1,917 30.29% 4,337 68.53% 75 1.19%
1928 3,246 54.62% 2,672 44.96% 25 0.42%
1924 3,110 62.35% 359 7.20% 1,519 30.45%
1920 3,996 79.33% 937 18.60% 104 2.06%
1916 1,169 44.91% 1,331 51.13% 103 3.96%
1912 739 32.19% 917 39.94% 640 27.87%
1908 1,480 55.79% 1,072 40.41% 101 3.81%
1904 1,523 76.46% 386 19.38% 83 4.17%
1900 1,147 67.79% 496 29.31% 49 2.90%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "County History". Official Portal for North Dakota State Government. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "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 4, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Ramsey County ND Google Maps (accessed February 26, 2019)
  6. ^ "Find an Altitude/Ramsey County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 26, 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 March 31, 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. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.

External links

48°15′N 98°43′W / 48.25°N 98.72°W / 48.25; -98.72

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