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Ward County, North Dakota

Coordinates: 48°13′00″N 101°32′26″W / 48.216686°N 101.540537°W / 48.216686; -101.540537
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Ward County
County
Ward County Administration Building
Ward County Administration Building
Official seal of Ward County
Seal
Official logo of Ward County
Logo
Map of North Dakota highlighting Ward 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°13′00″N 101°32′26″W / 48.216686°N 101.540537°W / 48.216686; -101.540537
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedApril 14, 1885 (created)
November 23, 1885 (organized)
Named afterMark Ward
SeatMinot
Largest cityMinot
Area
 • Total
2,055.980 sq mi (5,324.96 km2)
 • Land2,013.029 sq mi (5,213.72 km2)
 • Water42.951 sq mi (111.24 km2)  2.09%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
69,919
 • Estimate 
(2024)
68,427 Decrease
 • Density33.981/sq mi (13.120/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code701
Congressional districtAt-large
Websiteco.ward.nd.us

Ward County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 69,919,[1] and was estimated to be 68,427 in 2024.[2] making it the fourth-most populous county in North Dakota. The county seat and the largest city is Minot.[3]

Ward County is part of the Minot, North Dakota metropolitan area as comprising all of McHenry, Renville, and Ward Counties.

History

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The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on April 14, 1885, with areas partitioned from Renville, Stevens, and Wynn counties (Stevens and Wynn counties are now defunct). The county government was not organized at that date; the organization was effected on November 23 of that year. The county was named for Mark Ward, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Counties during the session. Burlington was the county seat; this was changed to Minot in 1888.[4]

The boundaries of Ward County were altered two times in 1887, and in 1892, 1909 and 1910. The present county boundaries have been in place since 1910.[5]

Until 1908, Ward County included what is now Burke, Mountrail, and Renville counties; this landmass often being referred to as 'Imperial Ward' County and which was the largest county in the state at the time. In 1908, voters took up measures to partition the county. The results for that portion forming Mountrail County were accepted but the results for the portions that would become Burke and Renville counties were disputed in court, which resulted in favorable rulings in 1910.[6] When the proposed county lines for Burke and Renville counties were drawn, neither group wanted to include Kenmare and risk that city's becoming the county seat, so Kenmare was left in Ward County at the end of a narrow strip of land, commonly referred to as the 'gooseneck'.[7] One of the options reportedly considered around this time was to create a fifth county, Lake, with Kenmare as its seat.

Geography

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The Des Lacs River flows southeasterly through the northeast part of the county before doubling to the northeast on its journey to Lake Winnipeg. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, dotted with ponds and lakes in its southern part, and carved by drainage gullies. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[8] The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point near the southwest corner, at 2,175 ft (663 m) ASL.[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,055.980 square miles (5,324.96 km2), of which 2,013.029 square miles (5,213.72 km2) is land and 42.951 square miles (111.24 km2) (2.09%) is water.[10] It is the fifth-largest county in North Dakota by total area.[11]

Major highways

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Transit

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Lakes[8]

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  • Carpenter Lake
  • Douglas Lake (part)
  • Hiddenwood Lake (part)
  • Makoti Lake
  • Rice Lake
  • Rush Lake

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18901,681—
19007,961373.6%
191025,221216.8%
192028,81114.2%
193033,59716.6%
194031,981−4.8%
195034,7828.8%
196047,07235.3%
197058,56024.4%
198058,392−0.3%
199057,921−0.8%
200058,9751.8%
201061,6754.6%
202069,91913.4%
2024 (est.)68,427[12]−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15]
1990–2000[16] 2010–2020[2]

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Ward County was $266,796.[17]

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 28,290 estimated households in Ward County with an average of 2.38 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $79,273. Approximately 7.4% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Ward County has an estimated 64.5% employment rate, with 29.7% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 95.1% holding a high school diploma.[2]

The median age in the county was 34.4 years.

Ward County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 1980[18] Pop. 1990[19] Pop. 2000[20] Pop. 2010[21] Pop. 2020[22]
White alone (NH) 55,380
(94.84%)		 54,131
(93.46%)		 53,786
(91.48%)		 54,717
(88.72%)		 55,673
(79.62%)
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,074
(1.84%)		 1,385
(2.39%)		 1,262
(2.15%)		 1,469
(2.38%)		 2,853
(4.08%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 667
(1.14%)		 946
(1.63%)		 1,180
(2.01%)		 1,533
(2.49%)		 1,570
(2.25%)
Asian alone (NH) 330
(0.57%)		 566
(0.98%)		 474
(0.81%)		 550
(0.89%)		 1,087
(1.55%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 29
(0.05%)		 76
(0.12%)		 129
(0.18%)
Other race alone (NH) 185
(0.32%)		 36
(0.06%)		 41
(0.07%)		 34
(0.06%)		 250
(0.36%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 898
(1.53%)		 1,427
(2.31%)		 3,767
(5.39%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 756
(1.29%)		 857
(1.48%)		 1,125
(1.91%)		 1,869
(3.03%)		 4,590
(6.56%)
Total 58,392
(100.00%)		 57,921
(100.00%)		 58,975
(100.00%)		 61,675
(100.00%)		 69,919
(100.00%)

2024 estimate

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As of the 2024 estimate, there were 68,427 people and 28,290 households residing in the county. There were 32,731 housing units at an average density of 16.26 per square mile (6.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.9% White (80.9% NH White), 4.8% African American, 2.8% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.4% of the population.[23]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 69,919 people, 28,847 households, and 17,323 families residing in the county.[24] The population density was 34.7 inhabitants per square mile (13.4/km2). There were 32,176 housing units at an average density of 15.98 per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.58% White, 4.33% African American, 2.44% Native American, 1.60% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 1.97% from some other races and 7.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.56% of the population.[25]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 61,675 people, 25,029 households, and 15,597 families residing in the county. The population density was 30.6 inhabitants per square mile (11.8/km2). There were 26,744 housing units at an average density of 13.28 per square mile (5.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.35% White, 2.50% African American, 2.64% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from some other races and 2.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.03% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 44.4% were German, 30.8% were Norwegian, 11.6% were Irish, 5.7% were English, and 2.3% were American.

There were 25,029 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 32.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,793 and the median income for a family was $60,361. Males had a median income of $37,569 versus $28,415 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,326. About 6.7% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities[8]

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  • Aurelia – (ghost town)
  • Drady
  • Gassman – founded when the Gassman Creek Coulee trestle was being built, now referred to as "Trestle Valley"
  • Hartland – (ghost town)
  • Hesnault
  • Lonetree
  • Rice Lake – community at Rice Lake near Minot
  • South Prairie
  • Wolseth

Historical areas[8]

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  • Harrison – early community, now part of Minot
  • Ralston – railroad siding
  • Waldorf – early community, now part of Minot

Townships

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Politics

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Ward County voters are traditionally and increasingly Republican. The Democratic Party presidential candidate has only won the county once since 1944, during Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide victory in 1964. In 2024, Donald Trump received 72.3% of the vote in this county, the highest for any candidate since Theodore Roosevelt.

United States presidential election results for Ward County, North Dakota[26][27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 20,635 72.27% 7,215 25.27% 702 2.46%
2020 19,974 70.71% 7,293 25.82% 979 3.47%
2016 18,636 67.98% 5,806 21.18% 2,970 10.83%
2012 16,230 63.74% 8,441 33.15% 792 3.11%
2008 15,061 58.45% 10,144 39.37% 563 2.18%
2004 17,008 66.41% 8,236 32.16% 368 1.44%
2000 13,997 62.26% 7,533 33.51% 952 4.23%
1996 10,546 48.01% 8,660 39.43% 2,758 12.56%
1992 12,056 46.63% 7,856 30.39% 5,940 22.98%
1988 13,179 56.74% 9,906 42.65% 143 0.62%
1984 16,077 68.06% 7,336 31.05% 210 0.89%
1980 14,997 67.59% 5,554 25.03% 1,638 7.38%
1976 12,751 56.12% 9,484 41.74% 486 2.14%
1972 13,900 66.61% 6,706 32.14% 262 1.26%
1968 9,079 53.11% 7,105 41.56% 911 5.33%
1964 6,798 38.33% 10,871 61.30% 66 0.37%
1960 9,680 54.83% 7,954 45.06% 19 0.11%
1956 9,042 60.96% 5,762 38.85% 28 0.19%
1952 10,130 66.60% 4,966 32.65% 115 0.76%
1948 5,514 48.64% 5,189 45.77% 634 5.59%
1944 5,514 48.30% 5,822 50.99% 81 0.71%
1940 6,519 45.61% 7,669 53.66% 105 0.73%
1936 3,142 22.36% 8,872 63.12% 2,041 14.52%
1932 4,195 33.23% 8,129 64.38% 302 2.39%
1928 6,561 59.72% 4,362 39.71% 63 0.57%
1924 4,166 47.99% 721 8.31% 3,794 43.70%
1920 6,166 67.41% 2,291 25.05% 690 7.54%
1916 1,743 35.43% 2,791 56.74% 385 7.83%
1912 686 19.59% 1,071 30.58% 1,745 49.83%
1908 5,286 57.39% 3,163 34.34% 761 8.26%
1904 4,349 78.15% 914 16.42% 302 5.43%
1900 880 68.06% 364 28.15% 49 3.79%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Ward County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  4. ^ "County History". www.nd.gov. State of North Dakota. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  5. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  6. ^ Fitzmaurice v. Willis, 127 N.W. 95 (N.D. 1910).
  7. ^ Wick, Douglas A. "Kenmare (Ward County)". North Dakota Place Names. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Ward County, North Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  9. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Ward County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 22, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  10. ^ "2024 County Gazetteer Files – North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Ward County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  12. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  15. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  17. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  18. ^ "Ward County, North Dakota — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  19. ^ "1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics North Dakota" (PDF). www.census.gov. October 6, 2022. p. 20. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  20. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ward County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  21. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ward County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  22. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ward County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  23. ^ "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  24. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  25. ^ "How many people live in Ward County, North Dakota". USA Today. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  26. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  27. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,065 votes, while Socialist Eugene Debs received 613 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 67 votes.
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