Hettinger County, North Dakota

Hettinger County (/ˈhɛtɪŋɡər/ HET-ing-gər) is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 2,477.[1] Its county seat is Mott.[2]

Hettinger County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°26′N 102°26′W
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedMarch 9, 1883 (created)
April 19, 1907 (organized)
Named forMathias Hettinger
SeatMott
Largest cityMott
Area
 • Total1,134 sq mi (2,940 km2)
 • Land1,132 sq mi (2,930 km2)
 • Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,477
 • Estimate 
(2019)
2,499
 • Density2.2/sq mi (0.84/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.hettingercounty.net

The city of Hettinger, North Dakota, is in nearby Adams County.

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on March 9, 1883, with territory partitioned from Stark County. Its government was not organized at that time. The county name was chosen by territorial legislator Erastus A. Williams, to honor his father-in-law, Mathias K. Hettinger (1810-1890), who had been a banker and public figure in Freeport, Illinois. A settlement on the Cannonball River was selected as the county seat (Mott).

The county boundaries were reduced in 1885 and 1887. The county was dissolved on November 3, 1896, but was re-created on May 24, 1901 by an action of the state supreme court. This re-creation slightly altered the county's boundaries, due to the redefinition of its boundary lines: a sliver of non-county area between 46°N latitude and the south boundary line of North Dakota was added; a sliver on the west boundary was lost when the definition of the line shifted from 103°W longitude to the survey line dividing Ranges 98 and 99 (to allow the county lines to be defined by federally-surveyed lines).

Since the county's government was still unorganized, it was attached to Stark County for administrative and judicial purposes on March 10, 1903.

On April 17, 1907 the southern half of the county was partitioned off to form Adams County. On April 19 the Hettinger County governmental organization was effected and the county was administratively detached from Stark County.

Efforts to dissolve Hettinger County

In 1891, the North Dakota Legislature approved legislation to dissolve Hettinger County and add its territory to Stark County,[3] but the law was vetoed by Governor Eli C. D. Shortridge.[4][5]

Annexation was attempted a second time in 1895, when the legislature passed legislation expanding the boundaries of Stark, Billings and Mercer Counties, subject to approval by the counties' voters.[6] The vote was approved, annexation went into effect November 3, 1896, and Hettinger County was eliminated.[4] However, Wilson L. Richards, a cattle rancher in one of the annexed counties, sued to overturn the annexation because he and other landowners were now subject to taxation by Stark County. The case went to the North Dakota Supreme Court, which ruled the law unconstitutional on May 18, 1899.[5][7][8] The annexation remained in effect, however, due to a replacement law approved by the legislature March 9, 1899 in anticipation of the court's decision.[4][9] The second annexation law was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1901 because the annexation was not referred to the voters of the affected counties as required by the North Dakota Constitution.[10][11]

The Legislature passed a third annexation law in 1903, this time submitting it to the voters in Stark County and the unorganized counties of Dunn and Hettinger for approval.[12] The annexation was approved by 502 votes in Stark County and 65 votes in Hettinger County, but it failed by 1 vote in Dunn County.[13] Stark County claimed the annexation vote valid, since the legislation required a majority of the aggregate votes cast. However, the North Dakota Constitution required a majority vote in each affected county subject to annexation, so the state of North Dakota sued Stark County on the grounds that the enabling legislation was unconstitutional and that the "no" vote in Dunn County meant the annexation failed. The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled the 1903 law unconstitutional in 1905, which ended further attempts at annexation.[13]

Geography

The Cannonball River flows east-southeasterly through the central part of the county. The county terrain consists of semi-arid rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture.[14] The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest point is a hill at the northwestern corner, at 2,897' (883m) ASL.[15] The county has a total area of 1,134 square miles (2,940 km2), of which 1,132 square miles (2,930 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.1%) is water.[16]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Lakes[14]
  • Dry Lake
  • Jung Lake
  • Larson Lake

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19106,557—
19207,68517.2%
19308,79614.5%
19407,457−15.2%
19507,100−4.8%
19606,317−11.0%
19705,075−19.7%
19804,275−15.8%
19903,445−19.4%
20002,715−21.2%
20102,477−8.8%
2019 (est.)2,499[17]0.9%
US Decennial Census[18]
1790-1960[19] 1900-1990[20]
1990-2000[21] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 2,715 people, 1,152 households, and 778 families in the county. The population density was 2.4 people per square mile (0.9/km2). There were 1,419 housing units at an average density of 1.3 per square mile (0.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.93% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprised 0.22% of the population. People of German ancestry were 68.7% of the population and people of Norwegian ancestry were 11.1%.

There were 1,152 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.

The county population contained 23.4% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,209, and the median income for a family was $34,668. Males had a median income of $23,201 versus $16,917 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,555. About 12.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,477 people, 1,056 households, and 682 families in the county.[22] The population density was 2.2 inhabitants per square mile (0.85/km2). There were 1,414 housing units at an average density of 1.2 per square mile (0.46/km2).[23] The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% white, 2.1% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population.[22] In terms of ancestry, 71.1% were German, 15.8% were Norwegian, 6.1% were Russian, 5.9% were Czech, 5.4% were Irish, 5.3% were Hungarian, and 3.2% were American.[24]

Of the 1,056 households, 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.4% were non-families, and 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 49.4 years.[22]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,393 and the median income for a family was $49,605. Males had a median income of $33,155 versus $26,549 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,928. About 8.2% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.[25]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated community

Townships
  • Acme
  • Ashby
  • Baer
  • Beery
  • Black Butte
  • Brittian
  • Campbell
  • Cannon Ball
  • Castle Rock
  • Chilton
  • Clark
  • Farina
  • Havelock
  • Highland
  • Kennedy
  • Kern
  • Kunze
  • Madison
  • Merrill
  • Mott
  • New England
  • Odessa
  • Rifle
  • St. Croix
  • Solon
  • Steiner
  • Strehlow
  • Tepee Butte
  • Wagendorf
  • Walker

Defunct townships[26]
  • Alden
  • Indian Creek Township

Politics

Hettinger County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 83.2% 1,050 14.9% 196 1.9% 25
2016 81.0% 1,050 13.0% 168 6.0% 78
2012 73.4% 1,000 23.0% 313 3.6% 49
2008 66.3% 893 30.1% 406 3.6% 49
2004 69.9% 1,044 27.1% 405 3.0% 45
2000 69.6% 1,057 23.2% 353 7.2% 109
1996 53.7% 765 29.3% 418 17.0% 243
1992 46.5% 854 25.3% 465 28.2% 519
1988 66.1% 1,395 33.1% 698 0.9% 18
1984 74.8% 1,646 23.8% 524 1.5% 32
1980 75.3% 1,699 19.2% 434 5.5% 124
1976 49.3% 1,135 47.6% 1,095 3.1% 72
1972 64.9% 1,511 31.2% 726 3.9% 90
1968 64.0% 1,424 28.7% 638 7.4% 164
1964 48.2% 1,188 51.7% 1,275 0.1% 2
1960 55.8% 1,541 44.1% 1,219 0.1% 2
1956 70.2% 1,882 29.7% 796 0.2% 4
1952 87.8% 2,330 11.2% 297 1.0% 27
1948 64.3% 1,517 31.9% 752 3.8% 89
1944 76.4% 1,812 23.4% 554 0.2% 5
1940 78.3% 2,468 21.3% 671 0.4% 12
1936 29.8% 989 41.7% 1,383 28.5% 945
1932 27.4% 921 69.6% 2,336 3.0% 101
1928 53.9% 1,553 45.9% 1,323 0.2% 7
1924 39.7% 936 5.4% 128 54.8% 1,292
1920 83.4% 1,849 14.8% 327 1.8% 40
1916 53.7% 856 41.4% 661 4.9% 78
1912 37.7% 442 32.5% 381 29.8% 349
1908 74.0% 568 23.6% 181 2.5% 19

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Long, John H. (2006). "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  4. Long, John H. (2006). "North Dakota: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". North Dakota Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on November 27, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "State of Stark". Bismarck Daily Tribune. May 19, 1899. p. 3.
  6. N. Dak. Laws 1895, 4th sess., ch. 25/pp. 21–23;
  7. Richards v. Stark Co., 8 N.D. 392., 79 N.W. Rep. 863 (N.D. 1899).
  8. "State of Stark". Bismarck Daily Tribune. June 19, 1899. p. 3.
  9. N. Dak. Laws 1899, 6th sess., ch. 57/p. 67
  10. Schaffner v. Young, 10 N.D. 245., 86 N.W. Rep. 733 (N.D. 1901).
  11. "Act of 1895 and Curative Act of 1899 are Both Unconstitutional and Void". Bismarck Daily Tribune. May 24, 1901. p. 2.
  12. N. Dak. Laws 1903, 8th sess., chs. 68–69/pp. 77–80
  13. State of North Dakota v. Stark County, 14 N.D. 368., 103 N.W. 913 (N.D. 1905).
  14. Hettinger County ND Google Maps (accessed 20 February 2019)
  15. ""Find an Altitude/Hettinger County ND" Google Maps (accessed 20 February 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  16. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  17. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  18. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  19. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  20. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  21. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  22. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  23. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  24. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  25. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  26. "Population Estimates Boundary Changes". October 1, 2004. Archived from the original on October 1, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  27. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

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