Mountrail County, North Dakota

Mountrail County is a county in the northwestern part of North Dakota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,673.[1] Its county seat is Stanley.[2] The county was originally created in 1873, then removed in 1892, annexed by Ward County. It was re-created and organized in 1909.[3][4]

"Mountrail" redirects here. For the US Navy ship, see USS Mountrail (APA-213).

Mountrail County
U.S. county
Mountrail County Courthouse in Stanley
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°12′N 102°22′W
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedJanuary 4, 1873
1892 (eliminated)
January 29, 1909 (reestablished)
SeatStanley
Largest cityStanley
Area
 • Total1,942 sq mi (5,030 km2)
 • Land1,825 sq mi (4,730 km2)
 • Water116 sq mi (300 km2)  6.0%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total7,673
 • Estimate 
(2019)
10,545
 • Density4.0/sq mi (1.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.co.mountrail.nd.us

Oil production from the Bakken formation in the early 21st century has attracted workers and reversed decades of population decline in the county. From 2010 to 2015, especially, population markedly increased, creating its own strains.

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county (as Mountraille County) on January 4, 1873, with area annexed from Buffalo County. It was not organized at that time, nor was it attached to another county for administrative or judicial purposes. The new county lost territory in 1885 when a portion was annexed off to create Garfield County (now extinct). This situation continued until February 21, 1891, when Mountrail County was attached to Ward County, for "judicial and other purposes". The following year (November 8, 1892), the North Dakota legislature voted to dissolve the county and have its territory absorbed by Ward County.

The election held in Ward County on November 3, 1908 authorized the re-creation of Mountrail County, although with different boundaries than the previous county proposal. The countywide vote totals were 4207 to 4024, but it was contested in court. On January 16, 1909 the state Supreme Court upheld the vote, so the county government was organized on January 29 of that year.[4][5][6]

Geography

The Missouri River flows southeastward along the SW boundary line of Mountrail County, and Shell Creek drains the lower central part of the county into the Missouri, discharging at Shell Creek Bay. The terrain consists of rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture. Its NE portion is dotted with ponds and lakes.[7] The Laurentian Divide runs east–west through the central part of the county, with the northern areas sloping to the north and the southern areas sloping to the south. Its highest point is on the upper west boundary line, at 2,480' (756m) ASL.[8] The county has a total area of 1,942 square miles (5,030 km2), of which 1,825 square miles (4,730 km2) is land and 116 square miles (300 km2) (6.0%) is water.[9]

Mountrail County is one of several western North Dakota counties with significant exposure to the Bakken Formation in the Williston Basin.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[7]

Lakes[7]
  • Cottonwood Lake
  • Lake Sakakawea
  • Powers Lake (part)
  • Rat Lake
  • Robinson Lake
  • Shell Lake
  • Van Hook Arm
  • White Lake

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19108,491—
192012,14043.0%
193013,54411.6%
194010,482−22.6%
19509,418−10.2%
196010,0777.0%
19708,437−16.3%
19807,679−9.0%
19907,021−8.6%
20006,631−5.6%
20107,67315.7%
2019 (est.)10,545[10]37.4%
US Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 6,631 people, 2,560 households, and 1,753 families in the county. The population density was 3.63/sqmi (1.40/km2). There were 3,438 housing units at an average density of 1.88/sqmi (0.73/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.99% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 29.98% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 3.42% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.1% were of Norwegian and 15.4% German ancestry.

There were 2,560 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09.

The county population contained 28.10% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,098, and the median income for a family was $31,864. Males had a median income of $24,750 versus $20,844 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,422. About 14.00% of families and 19.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.40% of those under age 18 and 18.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 7,673 people, 2,793 households, and 1,852 families in the county.[15] The population density was 4.20/sqmi (1.62/km2). There were 4,119 housing units at an average density of 2.26/sqmi (0.87/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 65.6% white, 30.6% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 36.6% were Norwegian, 24.4% were German, 6.6% were Irish, and 0.8% were American.[17]

Of the 2,793 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.7% were non-families, and 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 37.0 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $53,912 and the median income for a family was $63,238. Males had a median income of $43,386 versus $29,432 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,762. About 13.5% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities[7]

Townships
  • Alger
  • Austin
  • Banner
  • Bicker
  • Big Bend
  • Brookbank
  • Burke
  • Clearwater
  • Cottonwood
  • Crane Creek
  • Crowfoot
  • Debing
  • Egan
  • Fertile
  • Howie
  • Idaho
  • James Hill
  • Kickapoo
  • Knife River
  • Liberty
  • Lostwood
  • Lowland
  • Manitou
  • McAlmond
  • McGahan
  • Model
  • Mountrail
  • Myrtle
  • Oakland
  • Osborn
  • Osloe
  • Palermo
  • Parshall
  • Plaza
  • Powers
  • Powers Lake
  • Purcell
  • Rat Lake
  • Redmond
  • Ross
  • Shell
  • Sidonia
  • Sikes
  • Sorkness
  • Spring Coulee
  • Stave
  • Van Hook
  • Wayzetta
  • White Earth

Politics

Mountrail County is a swing county. Bill Clinton won both of his terms, and Barack Obama carried this county in the 2008 election. However, he wasn't able to carry this county in 2012, falling to Republican Mitt Romney by over 16%. Hillary Clinton received the smallest vote by a Democratic candidate (29.7%) since Progressive Party candidate Robert La Follette received an overwhelming vote in 1924.

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 67.8% 2,824 30.2% 1,256 2.0% 85
2016 62.9% 2,582 29.7% 1,220 7.4% 304
2012 56.8% 1,962 40.6% 1,403 2.7% 92
2008 47.9% 1,406 50.3% 1,477 1.9% 55
2004 50.4% 1,527 48.4% 1,465 1.3% 38
2000 50.6% 1,466 43.4% 1,256 6.0% 174
1996 36.9% 965 48.8% 1,277 14.3% 373
1992 30.9% 1,017 42.4% 1,393 26.7% 879
1988 41.7% 1,443 57.2% 1,977 1.1% 38
1984 55.1% 1,959 44.0% 1,565 0.9% 31
1980 60.4% 2,165 33.0% 1,183 6.7% 239
1976 38.6% 1,430 59.0% 2,189 2.4% 89
1972 58.3% 2,038 39.8% 1,391 1.9% 67
1968 44.3% 1,494 49.3% 1,662 6.4% 214
1964 30.7% 1,131 69.2% 2,548 0.1% 4
1960 45.5% 1,894 54.4% 2,264 0.1% 5
1956 47.2% 1,699 52.6% 1,891 0.2% 7
1952 62.9% 2,516 35.9% 1,437 1.1% 45
1948 42.2% 1,395 46.0% 1,521 11.7% 388
1944 45.1% 1,666 53.6% 1,981 1.3% 46
1940 44.7% 1,981 53.9% 2,392 1.4% 62
1936 14.7% 700 58.2% 2,775 27.1% 1,294
1932 22.2% 986 73.8% 3,284 4.0% 178
1928 52.3% 2,354 44.5% 2,003 3.2% 144
1924 36.2% 1,354 3.5% 130 60.3% 2,257
1920 72.7% 2,960 16.9% 687 10.4% 423
1916 32.6% 740 55.7% 1,262 11.7% 265
1912 28.1% 407 21.2% 307 50.8% 737[20]

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. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "County History". North Dakota.gov. The State of North Dakota. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  4. 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 25, 2019.
  5. "Dakota Territory Historical Counties: Interactive Map". Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2006. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  6. "North Dakota Historical Counties: Interactive Map". Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2006. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  7. Mountrail County ND Google Maps (accessed February 25, 2019)
  8. ""Find an Altitude/Mountrail County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 25, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  11. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  15. "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.
  16. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  17. "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.
  18. "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.
  19. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  20. The leading "other" candidate, Socialist Eugene Debs received 372 votes, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 347 votes, while Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 18 votes.
  • Mountrail County maps, Sheet 1 (northern) and Sheet 2 (southern), North Dakota DOT

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