Editing Divide County, North Dakota

{{Short description|County in North Dakota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Divide County
 | state                = North Dakota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1910
 | seat wl              = Crosby
 | largest city wl      = Crosby
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1294
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1261
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 33
 | area percentage      = 2.6
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 2195
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 2187 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = http://www.dividecountynd.org/
 | ex image             = Divide County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Divide County Courthouse in Crosby
 | district             = At-large
}}

'''Divide County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Dakota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 2,195.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dividecountynorthdakota/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Crosby, North Dakota|Crosby]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>

==History==
During the election on November 8, 1910, the voters of [[Williams County, North Dakota|Williams County]] determined that the county should be divided into a northern and a southern county. The vote was affirmative; the southern portion retained the Williams name; the newly created county was named "Divide", with Crosby as the seat. The county government was effected on December 9 of that year, and the county's boundaries have remained unchanged since that time. Most histories attribute the county name to its "division" from Williams County,<ref>{{cite web|title=County History|url=http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=83&id=County%20History|publisher=Official Portal for North Dakota State Government|access-date=May 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202151843/http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=83&id=County%20History|archive-date=February 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> though the county's location on the [[Laurentian Divide]], separating runoff waters between [[Hudson Bay]] and [[Gulf of Mexico]], may have been involved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies|work=Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2006|access-date=February 1, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402202102/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1911, Divide County was the site of one of the deadliest tornadoes in North Dakota's recorded history, causing four known deaths.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=William |title=North Dakota Tornadoes Twisters & Cyclones |date=2024 |publisher=Valley Star Publications |isbn=979-8-89480-378-4 |location=Dickinson, ND |publication-date=2024 |pages=9}}</ref> 

==Geography==
Divide County lies at the northwest corner of North Dakota. Its northern boundary line abuts the [[Canada–United States border|south boundary line of Canada]], opposite [[Saskatchewan]], and its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of [[Montana]]. The terrain of Divide County consists of semi-arid rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds, partially devoted to agriculture.<ref name="DCND">{{Cite web |title=Divide County · North Dakota |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Divide+County,+ND/@48.811629,-103.7549858,73314m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x5321a4ef2e7f1989:0xad9150f12ce530e3!8m2!3d48.8056154!4d-103.582951 |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=Divide County · North Dakota |language=en}}</ref> The terrain generally slopes to the east; the northern part also slopes to the north while the southern part slopes to the south.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Divide County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 17, 2019) |access-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The county has a total area of {{convert|1294|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1261|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|33|sqmi}} (2.6%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_38.txt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129045530/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_38.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2015|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 28, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

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

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Image:US 85.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 85 in North Dakota|U.S. Highway 85]]
* [[Image:ND-5 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 5]]
* [[Image:ND-40 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 40]]
* [[Image:ND-42 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 42]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties and rural municipalities===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Rural Municipality of Lake Alma No. 8|Rural Municipality (RM) of Lake Alma No. 8]], Saskatchewan (SK) - northwest
* [[Rural Municipality of Souris Valley No. 7|RM of Souris Valley No. 7]], SK - north
* [[Rural Municipality of Cambria No. 6|RM of Cambria No. 6]], SK - north
* [[Rural Municipality of Estevan No. 5|RM of Estevan No. 5]], SK - northeast
* [[Burke County, North Dakota|Burke County]] - east
* [[Williams County, North Dakota|Williams County]] - south
* [[Sheridan County, Montana]] - west
{{div col end}}

===Lakes===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* Bright Water Lake
* McCone Lake
* Miller Lake
* Musta Lake
* North Lake
* Rattler Lake
* Round Lake (part)
* Willow Lake
{{div col end}}
<ref name=DCND/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 6015
|1920= 9637
|1930= 9636
|1940= 7086
|1950= 5967
|1960= 5566
|1970= 4564
|1980= 3494
|1990= 2899
|2000= 2283
|2010= 2071
|2020= 2195
|estyear=2022
|estimate=2187
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022|access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=United States Decennial Census|newspaper=Census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 28, 2015}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 28, 2015}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nd190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 28, 2015}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 28, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2020, there were 2,195 people.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 2,071 people, 977 households, and 584 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|1.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 1,324 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.1|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.0% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 57.7% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 30.3% were [[Germans|German]], 8.5% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 5.2% were [[Swedes|Swedish]], and 2.9% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 977 households, 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.2% were non-families, and 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.66. The median age was 51.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,152 and the median income for a family was $65,000. Males had a median income of $42,341 versus $27,596 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,462. About 9.4% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 40.7% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Among the population claiming adherence to a particular religious organization, 80.6% claimed adherence to the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA) in 2010. This rate is the highest such rate for the ELCA among all counties in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 US Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study - Links and Rankings (All Years)|publisher=Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies|url=http://www.rcms2010.org/compare.php|year=2010|access-date=January 19, 2014}}</ref>

===Population by decade===
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  bar:1920 text:1920
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  bar:1960 text:1960
  bar:1970 text:1970
  bar:1980 text:1980
  bar:1990 text:1990
  bar:2000 text:2000
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  bar:2020 text:2020
  bar:2022 text:present

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  bar:1920 from: 0 till:9637
  bar:1930 from: 0 till:9636
  bar:1940 from: 0 till:7086
  bar:1950 from: 0 till:5967
  bar:1960 from: 0 till:5566
  bar:1970 from: 0 till:4564
  bar:1980 from: 0 till:3494
  bar:1990 from: 0 till:2653
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  bar:2020 from: 0 till:2195
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  bar:1920 at:9637 fontsize:S text: 9637 shift:(-8,5)
  bar:1930 at:9636 fontsize:S text: 9636 shift:(-8,5)
  bar:1940 at:7086 fontsize:S text: 7086 shift:(-8,5)
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  bar:1960 at:5566 fontsize:S text: 5566 shift:(-8,5)
  bar:1970 at:4564 fontsize:S text: 4564 shift:(-8,5)
  bar:1980 at:3494 fontsize:S text: 3494 shift:(-8,5)
  bar:1990 at:2653 fontsize:S text: 2653 shift:(-8,5)
  bar:2000 at:2283 fontsize:S text: 2283 shift:(-8,5)
  bar:2010 at:2071 fontsize:S text: 2071 shift:(-8,5)
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==Places of interest==
Two [[petroglyph]]s are displayed at [[Writing Rock State Historical Site]] in Writing Rock Township.

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Ambrose, North Dakota|Ambrose]]
* [[Crosby, North Dakota|Crosby]] (county seat)
* [[Fortuna, North Dakota|Fortuna]]
* [[Noonan, North Dakota|Noonan]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Alkabo, North Dakota|Alkabo]]
* [[Colgan, North Dakota|Colgan]]
* Juno
* Kermit
* Paulson
* Stady
{{div col end}}
<ref name=DCND/>

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=16em}}
* [[Alexandria Township, Divide County, North Dakota|Alexandria]]
* Ambrose
* Blooming Prairie
* Blooming Valley
* Border
* [[Burg Township, Divide County, North Dakota|Burg]]
* [[Clinton Township, Divide County, North Dakota|Clinton]]
* Coalfield
* Daneville
* De Witt
* Elkhorn
* [[Fertile Valley Township, Divide County, North Dakota|Fertile Valley]]
* Fillmore
* Frazier
* Frederick
* Garnet
* Gooseneck
* Hawkeye
* Hayland
* [[Lincoln Valley Township, Divide County, North Dakota|Lincoln Valley]]
* Long Creek
* Mentor
* Palmer
* Plumer
* [[Sioux Trail Township, Divide County, North Dakota|Sioux Trail]]
* [[Smoky Butte Township, Divide County, North Dakota|Smoky Butte]]
* Stoneview
* Troy
* Twin Butte
* Upland
* Westby
* [[Writing Rock Township, Divide County, North Dakota|Writing Rock]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Divide County, though formerly a swing county, now leans heavily Republican. It has selected the Republican party candidate in every presidential election since 2000.
{{PresHead|place=Divide County, North Dakota|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|914|253|34|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|904|265|33|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|867|245|107|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|733|385|44|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|630|464|37|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|751|487|30|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|443|306|45|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|488|637|215|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|515|634|471|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|869|875|24|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,165|626|49|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,267|509|142|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|881|1,057|40|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,230|774|36|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,032|914|102|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|779|1,498|4|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,348|1,243|4|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,296|1,194|3|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,999|807|18|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|981|887|170|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,225|1,513|34|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,437|1,771|34|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|585|2,212|739|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|817|2,374|211|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,963|1,250|39|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|743|91|1,608|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,438|462|117|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|707|950|137|North Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Progressive|404|375|634|North Dakota}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in North Dakota#Divide County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Divide County, North Dakota]]
* [[Westby, Montana]] was founded in North Dakota in Divide County and then was moved to Montana.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ndsl-books/id/40565/rec/1 Stories and histories of Divide County (1964)] from the [http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/ Digital Horizons website]
* [https://www.dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/divide.pdf Divide County map], ''North Dakota DOT''

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Divide County, North Dakota
|North     = [[Rural Municipality of Souris Valley No. 7]] / [[Rural Municipality of Cambria No. 6]], [[Saskatchewan]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|Northeast = [[Rural Municipality of Estevan No. 5]], [[Saskatchewan]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|East      = [[Burke County, North Dakota|Burke County]]
|South     = [[Williams County, North Dakota|Williams County]]
|West      = [[Sheridan County, Montana]]
|Northwest = [[Rural Municipality of Lake Alma No. 8]], [[Saskatchewan]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
}}

{{Divide County, North Dakota}}
{{North Dakota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|48.81|-103.49|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-ND_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Divide County, North Dakota| ]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1910]]