Editing Churchs Ferry, North Dakota

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Churchs Ferry, North Dakota
|settlement_type          = [[Unincorporated community]] and [[Census Designated Place]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Churchs Ferry, North Dakota 5-23-2008.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Street in Churchs Ferry
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = ND Ramsey County Churchs Ferry.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Churchs Ferry, North Dakota
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[North Dakota]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in North Dakota|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Ramsey County, North Dakota|Ramsey]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1883
|established_title1       = Unincorporated (dissolved)
|established_date1        = September 30, 2022
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 1.12
|area_land_km2            = 1.12
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.43
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.43
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 11
|pop_est_as_of            = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 9
|population_density_km2   = 8.04
|population_density_sq_mi = 20.83
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 442
|elevation_ft             = 1450
|coordinates              = {{coord|48|16|8|N|99|11|47|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 58325
|area_code                = [[Area code 701|701]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 38-14140
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2831213<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2831213}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Churchs Ferry''' is an [[unincorporated community]] in [[Ramsey County, North Dakota|Ramsey County]], [[North Dakota]], United States that has been impacted by the expansion of nearby [[Devils Lake (North Dakota)|Devils Lake]]. The population was 9 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Churchs_Ferry_city,_North_Dakota?g=160XX00US3814140 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>

Churchs Ferry was a [[city]] from its founding in 1883 until September 2022 when the town unincorporated and was turned over to [[Ramsey County, North Dakota|Ramsey County]].<ref name="grandforksherald.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/north-dakota/after-139-years-churchs-ferry-north-dakota-to-be-dissolved|title=After 139 years, Churchs Ferry, North Dakota, to be dissolved | date=August 6, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
Devils Lake began rising in the early 1990s, and more than 400 homes around the lake have been relocated or destroyed. This includes much of the community of Churchs Ferry, one of two municipalities that have been bought out by government agencies. The other is Penn, although some people remain in both communities.

Devils Lake keeps getting larger as its outlet (Tolna Coulee) is significantly higher than the rest of the lake. In the 1880s, the lake was large enough that a man by the name of Irvine Church once operated a ferry in the area (hence the town's name), but by 1940, the lake had all but dried out. The lake is now growing back towards its maximum size again.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

On January 10, 2012, Churchs Ferry residents voted 5 to 2 to remain an incorporated town.<ref>"Tiny Churchs Ferry, ND, Saved at Election by 5-2 Vote", WDAZ-TV, {{cite web|url=http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/11807/publisher_ID/30/ |title=Tiny Churchs Ferry, ND, Saved at Election by 5-2 Vote &#124; WDAY &#124; Fargo, ND |accessdate=January 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130217004049/http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/11807/publisher_ID/30/ |archivedate=February 17, 2013}} retrieved January 10, 2012</ref>

On June 14, 2022, the town's 6 remaining residents voted to dissolve the city with a 5–1 vote. The city dissolved on September 1, 2022 with Paul Christenson being the last mayor of Churchs Ferry.<ref name="grandforksherald.com"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.43|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=June 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 264
|1910= 457
|1920= 353
|1930= 295
|1940= 244
|1950= 223
|1960= 161
|1970= 139
|1980= 139
|1990= 118
|2000= 77
|2010= 12
|2020= 9
|estyear=2022
|estimate=11
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|date=October 24, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 24, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 15, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 12 people, 5 households, and 5 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|27.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5 housing units at an average density of {{convert|11.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]].

There were 5 households, of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 100.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together. 0.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.40.

The median age in the city was 48.5 years. 8.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 58.4% were from 45 to 64; and 0.0% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 77 people, 33 households, and 26 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|178.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 46 housing units at an average density of {{convert|106.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]].

There were 33 households, out of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.50.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 36.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,438, and the median income for a family was $60,313. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $33,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,327. None of the population and none of the families were below the [[poverty line]].

==Transportation== 
[[Amtrak]]’s [[Empire Builder]], which operates between [[Seattle]]/[[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] and [[Chicago]], passes through the town on [[BNSF Railway|BNSF]] tracks, but makes no stop. The [[Devils Lake station|nearest station]] is located in [[Devils Lake, North Dakota|Devils Lake]], {{convert|20|mi}} to the southeast.

==Education==
It is in the [[Leeds School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st38_nd/schooldistrict_maps/c38071_ramsey/DC20SD_C38071.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ramsey County, ND|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=August 28, 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ramsey County, North Dakota}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Cities in Ramsey County, North Dakota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1886]]
[[Category:1886 establishments in Dakota Territory]]