Steele County, North Dakota

Steele County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 1,975.[1] Its county seat since 1919 is Finley.[2]

For the city in Kidder County, North Dakota, see Steele, North Dakota.

Steele County
U.S. county
Steele County Courthouse in Finley
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°28′N 97°43′W
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedJune 2, 1883 (created)
July 13, 1883 (organized)
Named forEdward H. Steele
SeatFinley
Largest cityFinley
Area
 • Total715 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Land712 sq mi (1,840 km2)
 • Water3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,975
 • Estimate 
(2019)
1,890
 • Density2.8/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.co.steele.nd.us

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on June 2, 1883, with territories partitioned from Griggs and Traill counties. It was not organized at that time, but was attached to Traill for administrative and judicial purposes. It was named for businessman Edward H. Steele, who had pushed for its creation.

On July 13, 1883, the county organization was effected and Steele County was detached from Traill County; Sherbrooke, North Dakota was chosen as the county seat. In 1897 the town of Finley was founded, and by 1919 its growth had eclipsed Sherbrooke to the point that the county seat was transferred to Finley.[3] The county's boundaries have been unchanged since its creation.

Geography

The Sheyenne River flows south near and into the county's west boundary line. The Goose River flows southeast through the northeastern part of the county. The terrain consists of rolling hills dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is devoted to agriculture.[4] The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is near its northwestern corner, at 1,562' (464m) ASL.[5] The county has an area of 715 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 712 square miles (1,840 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.5%) is water.[6]

Major highways
  • North Dakota Route 32
  • North Dakota Route 38
  • North Dakota Route 200

Adjacent counties

Lakes[4]
  • Golden Lake
  • Golden Rush Lake
  • Lake Tobiason
  • Lone Tree Lake
  • North Golden Lake
  • Stony Lake
  • Willow Lake

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18903,777—
19005,88855.9%
19107,61629.3%
19207,401−2.8%
19306,972−5.8%
19406,193−11.2%
19505,145−16.9%
19604,719−8.3%
19703,749−20.6%
19803,106−17.2%
19902,420−22.1%
20002,258−6.7%
20101,975−12.5%
2019 (est.)1,890[7]−4.3%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 2,258 people, 923 households, and 635 families in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 1,231 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.32% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 60.7% were of Norwegian and 15.6% German ancestry.

There were 923 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.30% were married couples living together, 4.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.

The county population contained 27.60% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 19.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 107.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,757, and the median income for a family was $43,914. Males had a median income of $30,104 versus $20,694 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,601. About 5.00% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.00% of those under age 18 and 3.60% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,975 people, 864 households, and 589 families in the county.[12] The population density was 2.8 inhabitants per square mile (1.1/km2). There were 1,171 housing units at an average density of 1.6 per square mile (0.62/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 60.0% were Norwegian, 35.2% were German, 5.4% were Irish, and 1.0% were American.[14]

Of the 864 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.8% were non-families, and 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.78. The median age was 47.7 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $44,191 and the median income for a family was $54,625. Males had a median income of $36,588 versus $25,648 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,728. About 4.3% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities[4]

Townships
  • Beaver Creek
  • Broadlawn
  • Carpenter
  • Colgate
  • Easton
  • Edendale
  • Enger
  • Finley
  • Franklin
  • Golden Lake
  • Greenview
  • Hugo
  • Melrose
  • Newburgh
  • Primrose
  • Riverside
  • Sharon
  • Sherbrooke
  • Westfield
  • Willow Lake
Township Numbers and Range Numbers[17]
Range 57 Range 56 Range 55 Range 54
Township 148 Sharon Westfield Beaver Creek Newburgh
Township 147 Franklin Finley Golden Lake Enger
Township 146 Greenview Easton Sherbrooke Primrose
Township 145 Riverside Melrose Hugo Edendale
Township 144 Willow Lake Carpenter Colgate Broadlawn

Politics

Steele County was a Democratic-leaning swing county in presidential elections until 2016, when Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump by nearly 20 points, an almost total flip from Barack Obama's 20 point win in 2008. In 2020, Joe Biden fared even worse despite a national increase for the Democratic party from 2016. He was the first Democrat to win without the county since John F. Kennedy in 1960, and had the lowest proportion of the county's vote of any winning Democrat since Woodrow Wilson in 1912. Since 1964 Steele County has favored the Democratic presidential candidate in 64% of elections.

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 59.9% 652 36.0% 392 4.5% 44
2016 53.9% 538 36.1% 361 10.0% 100
2012 47.8% 498 49.7% 518 2.5% 26
2008 39.2% 404 59.5% 614 1.4% 14
2004 48.3% 586 50.8% 616 0.9% 11
2000 54.1% 655 39.3% 475 6.6% 80
1996 39.7% 486 50.6% 620 9.7% 119
1992 36.7% 503 43.7% 598 19.6% 269
1988 43.3% 690 56.1% 895 0.6% 10
1984 54.1% 941 44.9% 781 1.0% 18
1980 53.3% 997 33.0% 617 13.7% 256
1976 43.4% 835 55.4% 1,066 1.3% 25
1972 54.0% 1,063 45.3% 892 0.8% 15
1968 46.9% 952 48.8% 991 4.3% 88
1964 36.1% 796 63.7% 1,404 0.1% 3
1960 50.8% 1,209 49.2% 1,173
1956 50.8% 1,188 49.1% 1,148 0.0% 1
1952 62.2% 1,513 37.4% 911 0.4% 10
1948 45.0% 1,052 49.7% 1,163 5.3% 123
1944 43.9% 1,042 55.6% 1,320 0.5% 12
1940 47.7% 1,328 51.5% 1,434 0.8% 22
1936 25.2% 724 50.3% 1,444 24.5% 705
1932 25.9% 695 71.7% 1,925 2.4% 65
1928 57.3% 1,574 42.0% 1,152 0.7% 19
1924 52.8% 1,247 3.6% 85 43.6% 1,031
1920 85.2% 2,222 12.9% 337 1.9% 50
1916 53.3% 676 40.6% 515 6.1% 77
1912 23.6% 237 25.2% 253 51.2% 515
1908 68.7% 881 28.6% 366 2.7% 35
1904 86.8% 817 7.3% 69 5.8% 55
1900 74.4% 724 22.0% 214 3.6% 35

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Individual ND & SC County Chronologies (Long, 2007) The Newberry Library (accessed February 20, 2019)
  4. Steele County ND Google Maps (accessed 20 February 2019)
  5. ""Find an Altitude/Steele County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 20, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  8. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  12. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  14. "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 April 3, 2016.
  15. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  16. Ghosts of North Dakota: Sherbrooke
  17. "Earth Point".
  18. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.

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