Editing Hettinger County, North Dakota

{{Short description|County in North Dakota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Hettinger County
 | state                = North Dakota
 | ex image             = Hettinger County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Hettinger County Courthouse]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = March 9, 1883 (created)<br />April 19, 1907 (organized)
 | seat wl              = Mott
 | largest city wl      = New England
 | named for            = Mathias Hettinger
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1134
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1132
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.6
 | area percentage      = 0.1
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 2489
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 2406 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | web                  = http://www.hettingercountynd.com
 | district             = At-large
}}

'''Hettinger County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɛ|t|ɪ|ŋ|ɡ|ər}} {{respell|HET|ing-gər}}) 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 2,489.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hettingercountynorthdakota/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 5, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Mott, North Dakota|Mott]].<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>

The city of [[Hettinger, North Dakota]], is in nearby [[Adams County, North Dakota|Adams County]].

==History==
The [[Dakota Territory]] legislature created the county on March 9, 1883, with territory partitioned from [[Stark County, North Dakota|Stark County]]. Its government was not organized at that time. The county name was chosen by territorial legislator Erastus A. Williams, to honor his father-in-law, Mathias K. Hettinger (1810-1890), who had been a banker and public figure in [[Freeport, Illinois]]. A settlement on the [[Cannonball River]] was selected as the county seat ([[Mott, North Dakota|Mott]]).

The county boundaries were reduced in 1885 and 1887. The county was dissolved on November 3, 1896, but was re-created on May 24, 1901, by an action of the state supreme court. This re-creation slightly altered the county's boundaries, due to the redefinition of its boundary lines: a sliver of non-county area between 46°N latitude and the south boundary line of North Dakota was added; a sliver on the west boundary was lost when the definition of the line shifted from 103°W longitude to the survey line dividing Ranges 98 and 99 (to allow the county lines to be defined by federally-surveyed lines).

Since the county's government was still unorganized, it was attached to Stark County for administrative and judicial purposes on March 10, 1903.

On April 17, 1907, the southern half of the county was partitioned off to form [[Adams County, North Dakota|Adams County]]. On April 19 the Hettinger County governmental organization was effected and the county was administratively detached from Stark County.

===Efforts to dissolve Hettinger County===
In 1891, the [[North Dakota Legislature]] approved legislation to dissolve Hettinger County and add its territory to Stark County,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111113432/http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2007|title=Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies|access-date=February 20, 2019|last=Long|first=John H.|year=2006|work=Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=[[The Newberry Library]]}}</ref> but the law was vetoed by Governor [[Eli C. D. Shortridge]].<ref name=chronology>{{cite web|url=http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/documents/ND_Consolidated_Chronology.htm|title=North Dakota: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries|access-date=January 31, 2008|last=Long|first=John H.|year=2006|work=North Dakota Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127222529/http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/documents/ND_Consolidated_Chronology.htm|archive-date=November 27, 2007}}</ref><ref name=1899-05-19>{{cite news|title=State of Stark|publisher=Bismarck Daily Tribune|page=3|date=May 19, 1899}}</ref>

Annexation was attempted a second time in 1895, when the legislature passed legislation expanding the boundaries of Stark, [[Billings County, North Dakota|Billings]] and [[Mercer County, North Dakota|Mercer Counties]], subject to approval by the counties' voters.<ref>N. Dak. Laws 1895, 4th sess., ch. 25/pp. 21–23;</ref> The vote was approved, annexation went into effect November 3, 1896, and Hettinger County was eliminated.<ref name=chronology/> However, Wilson L. Richards, a cattle rancher in one of the annexed counties, sued to overturn the annexation because he and other landowners were now subject to taxation by Stark County. The case went to the [[North Dakota Supreme Court]], which ruled the law unconstitutional on May 18, 1899.<ref name=1899-05-19/><ref>{{cite court|litigants=Richards v. Stark Co.|vol=8|reporter=N.D.|opinion=392}}, {{cite court|vol=79|reporter=N.W. Rep.|opinion=863|court=[[North Dakota Supreme Court|N.D.]]|date=1899}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=State of Stark|publisher=Bismarck Daily Tribune|page=3|date=June 19, 1899}}</ref> The annexation remained in effect, however, due to a replacement law approved by the legislature March 9, 1899 in anticipation of the court's decision.<ref name=chronology/><ref name=1899laws>N. Dak. Laws 1899, 6th sess., ch. 57/p. 67</ref> The second annexation law was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1901 because the annexation was not referred to the voters of the affected counties as required by the [[North Dakota Constitution]].<ref>{{cite court|litigants=Schaffner v. Young|vol=10|reporter=N.D.|opinion=245}}, {{cite court|vol=86|reporter=N.W. Rep.|opinion=733|court=N.D.|date=1901}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Act of 1895 and Curative Act of 1899 are Both Unconstitutional and Void.|publisher=Bismarck Daily Tribune|page=2|date=May 24, 1901}}</ref>

[[File:Map of Hettinger County, N.D., 1917.jpg|thumb|Map of Hettinger County, N.D., 1917]]

The Legislature passed a third annexation law in 1903, this time submitting it to the voters in Stark County and the unorganized counties of Dunn and Hettinger for approval.<ref>N. Dak. Laws 1903, 8th sess., chs. 68–69/pp. 77–80</ref> The annexation was approved by 502 votes in Stark County and 65 votes in Hettinger County, but it failed by 1 vote in Dunn County.<ref name="stark">{{cite court|litigants=State of North Dakota v. Stark County|vol=14|reporter=N.D.|opinion=368}}, {{cite court|vol=103|reporter=N.W.|opinion=913|court=N.D.|date=1905}}</ref> Stark County claimed the annexation vote valid, since the legislation required a majority of the aggregate votes cast. However, the North Dakota Constitution required a majority vote in each affected county subject to annexation, so the state of North Dakota sued Stark County on the grounds that the enabling legislation was unconstitutional and that the "no" vote in Dunn County meant the annexation failed. The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled the 1903 law unconstitutional in 1905, which ended further attempts at annexation.<ref name=stark/>

==Geography==
The [[Cannonball River]] flows east-southeasterly through the central part of the county. The county terrain consists of semi-arid rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture.<ref name="HCND">{{Cite web |title=Hettinger County · North Dakota |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hettinger+County,+ND/@46.3504055,-102.3714489,19210m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x5328c09501403e0f:0x9f2cf01b0d5c4125!8m2!3d46.3771987!4d-102.4557007 |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest point is a hill at the northwestern corner, at {{convert|2,897|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Hettinger County ND"  Google Maps (accessed February 20, 2019) |access-date=February 21, 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|1134|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1132|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.6|sqmi}} (0.1%) 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>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:ND-8 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 8]]
* [[Image:ND-21 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 21]]
* [[Image:ND-22 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 22]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Stark County, North Dakota|Stark County]] (north)
* [[Grant County, North Dakota|Grant County]] (east)
* [[Adams County, North Dakota|Adams County]] (south)
* [[Slope County, North Dakota|Slope County]] (west)
{{div col end}}

===Lakes===

Source:<ref name=HCND/>

* Dry Lake
* Jung Lake
* Larson Lake

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 6557
|1920= 7685
|1930= 8796
|1940= 7457
|1950= 7100
|1960= 6317
|1970= 5075
|1980= 4275
|1990= 3445
|2000= 2715
|2010= 2477
|2020= 2489
|estyear=2022
|estimate=2406
|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 5, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|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=April 20, 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 2,489 people.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 2,477 people, 1,056 households, and 682 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|2.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 1,414 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.2|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% white, 2.1% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 71.1% were [[Germans|German]], 15.8% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 6.1% were [[Russians|Russian]], 5.9% were [[Czechs|Czech]], 5.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 5.3% were [[Hungarians|Hungarian]], and 3.2% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 1,056 households, 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.4% were non-families, and 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 49.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,393 and the median income for a family was $49,605. Males had a median income of $33,155 versus $26,549 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,928. About 8.2% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

===Population by decade===
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==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Mott, North Dakota|Mott]] (county seat)
* [[New England, North Dakota|New England]]
* [[Regent, North Dakota|Regent]]

===Unincorporated community===
* [[Bentley, North Dakota|Bentley]]
* Burt<ref name=HCND/>

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Acme Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Acme]]
* [[Ashby Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Ashby]]
* [[Baer Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Baer]]
* [[Beery Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Beery]]
* [[Black Butte Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Black Butte]]
* [[Brittian Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Brittian]]
* [[Campbell Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Campbell]]
* [[Cannon Ball Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Cannon Ball]]
* [[Castle Rock Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Castle Rock]]
* [[Chilton Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Chilton]]
* [[Clark Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Clark]]
* [[Farina Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Farina]]
* [[Havelock Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Havelock]]
* [[Highland Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Highland]]
* [[Kennedy Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Kennedy]]
* [[Kern Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Kern]]
* [[Kunze Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Kunze]]
* [[Madison Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Madison]]
* [[Merrill Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Merrill]]
* [[Mott Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Mott]]
* [[New England Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|New England]]
* [[Odessa Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Odessa]]
* [[Rifle Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Rifle]]
* [[Saint Croix Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|St. Croix]]
* [[Solon Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Solon]]
* [[Steiner Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Steiner]]
* [[Strehlow Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Strehlow]]
* [[Tepee Butte Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Tepee Butte]]
* [[Wagendorf Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Wagendorf]]
* [[Walker Township, Hettinger County, North Dakota|Walker]]
{{div col end}}

===Defunct townships===

Source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/popest/geographic/boundary_changes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041001053602/http://www.census.gov/popest/geographic/boundary_changes/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 1, 2004|title=Population Estimates Boundary Changes|date=October 1, 2004|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>

* [[Alden Township, North Dakota|Alden]]
* Indian Creek Township

==Politics==
Hettinger County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
{{PresHead|place=Hettinger 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|1,089|192|25|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,091|196|25|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,050|168|78|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,000|313|49|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|893|406|49|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,044|405|45|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,057|353|109|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|765|418|243|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|854|465|519|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,395|698|18|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,646|524|32|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,699|434|124|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,135|1,095|72|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,511|726|90|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,424|638|164|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,188|1,275|2|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,541|1,219|2|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,882|796|4|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,330|297|27|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,517|752|89|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,812|554|5|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,468|671|12|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|989|1,383|945|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|921|2,336|101|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,553|1,323|7|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|936|128|1,292|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,849|327|40|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|856|661|78|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|442|381|349|North Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Republican|568|181|19|North Dakota}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in North Dakota#Hettinger County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Hettinger County, North Dakota]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Bentley, North Dakota church.jpg|Church building in Bentley
File:Neuberg_Congregational_Church.JPG|[[Neuburg Congregational Church]]
</gallery>

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

==External links==
* [http://www.hettingercountynd.com/ Hettinger County official website]
* [http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ndsl-books/id/40086/rec/1 50th anniversary, Hettinger County, North Dakota :a tribute to our pioneers : 50 years of progress (1957)] from the [http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/ Digital Horizons website]
* [https://www.dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/hettinger.pdf Hettinger County map], ''North Dakota DOT''

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Hettinger County, North Dakota
|North  = [[Stark County, North Dakota|Stark County]]
|East   = [[Grant County, North Dakota|Grant County]]
|South  = [[Adams County, North Dakota|Adams County]]
|West   = [[Slope County, North Dakota|Slope County]]
}}

{{Hettinger County, North Dakota}}
{{North Dakota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|46|26|N|102|26|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-ND|display=title}}

[[Category:Hettinger County, North Dakota| ]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in Dakota Territory]]
[[Category:1896 disestablishments in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1883]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 1896]]