Billings County, North Dakota

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Billings County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 945,<ref name="2020 Census (City)">Template:Cite web</ref> and was estimated to be 1,063 in 2024,<ref name="QF"/> making it the second-least populous county in North Dakota. The county seat and only incorporated place is Medora.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Territorial legislature authorized Billings County on February 10, 1879, naming it for Northern Pacific Railway president Frederick H. Billings. It was organized on May 4, 1886. The original county boundary was significantly altered since its creation, by actions in 1883, 1885, 1887, 1896, 1901 and 1904. Its most significant alterations came in 1907 (Bowman County partitioned off), 1912 (Golden Valley County partitioned off), and 1914 (Slope County partitioned off).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

The Little Missouri River flows northward through the western portion of the county. Bullion Creek flows eastward into the southwestern corner of the county to discharge into the Little Missouri River.

Billings County terrain consists of rugged semi-arid hills in its western portion, giving way to more level ground in the east.<ref>Billings County ND Google Maps (accessed February 14, 2019)</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest terrain along its west boundary line, at Template:Convert ASL.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.40%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the 28th largest county in North Dakota by total area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park lies in the central part of the county, just north of Medora.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

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McKenzie County – north
Dunn County – northeast
Stark County – east
Slope County – south
Golden Valley County – west

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Protected areas

Little Missouri National Grassland (part)
Rough Rider State Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)<ref>Natl Park Srvc/TRNP/South Unit Map (accessed February 14, 2019)</ref>

Demographics

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As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Billings County was $341,706.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 372 estimated households in Billings County with an average of 2.49 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $81,250. Approximately 10.5% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Billings County has an estimated 62.1% employment rate, with 32.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 94.6% holding a high school diploma.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (97.9%), Spanish (0.3%), Indo-European (1.8%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.0%), and Other (0.0%).

The median age in the county was 44.7 years.

Billings County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition
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Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)	Pop. 1980<ref name=1980CensusScope>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 1990<ref name="Census 1990">Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>
White alone (NH)	1,132 (99.47%)	1,105 (99.73%)	874 (98.42%)	771 (98.47%)	902 (95.45%)
Black or African American alone (NH)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	4 (0.42%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	4 (0.35%)	3 (0.27%)	1 (0.11%)	3 (0.38%)	3 (0.32%)
Asian alone (NH)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	4 (0.51%)	6 (0.63%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	—	—	1 (0.11%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)
Other race alone (NH)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	1 (0.11%)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	—	—	8 (0.90%)	1 (0.13%)	8 (0.85%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2 (0.18%)	0 (0.00%)	3 (0.34%)	4 (0.51%)	22 (2.33%)
Total	1,138 (100.00%)	1,108 (100.00%)	888 (100.00%)	783 (100.00%)	945 (100.00%)

2023 estimate

As of the 2023 estimate, there were 1,034 people and 372 households residing in the county. There were 609 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White (91.9% NH White), 1.4% African American, 0.9% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.8% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 945 people, 406 households, and 271 families residing in the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 567 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 96.40% White, 0.42% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from some other races and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.33% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 783 people, 358 households, and 223 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 484 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 98.60% White, 0.26% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from some other races and 0.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.51% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 40.6% were German, 19.1% were Ukrainian, 17.7% were Norwegian, 9.3% were Irish, 7.4% were Russian, 5.0% were English, and 0.9% were American.

There were 358 households, 19.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 1.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 48.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,923 and the median income for a family was $61,250. Males had a median income of $46,806 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,666. About 6.8% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Politics

Recreation

The Bully Pulpit Golf Course is located three miles south of Medora and the Maah Daah Hey Trail single track non-motorized trail starts 30 miles south of Medora.

Communities

City

Medora (county seat)

Unorganized Territories

There are no townships in Billings County, but the United States Census Bureau divides the county into two unorganized territories:

North Billings, which consists of all of the county north of I-94, had a population of 566 at the 2020 census.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
South Billings, which consists of all of the county south of I-94 outside Medora, had a population of 258 at the 2020 Census.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>