Editing Nelson County, North Dakota

{{Short description|County in North Dakota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Nelson County
 | state                = North Dakota
 | ex image             = Lakota North Dakota Water Tower.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Water Tower behind Lakota City Hall.
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = March 2, 1883 (created)<br />June 9, 1883 (organized)
 | seat wl              = Lakota
 | largest city wl      = Lakota
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1009
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 982
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 27
 | area percentage      = 2.7
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 3015
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 2995 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = https://www.nelsonco.org/
 | district             = At-large
}}

'''Nelson 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 3,015.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/nelsoncountynorthdakota/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Lakota, North Dakota|Lakota]].<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}}</ref>

==History==
The [[Dakota Territory]] legislature created Nelson County on March 2, 1883, with areas annexed from [[Foster County, North Dakota|Foster]], [[Grand Forks County, North Dakota|Grand Forks]] and [[Ramsey County, North Dakota|Ramsey]] counties, and with some previously unorganized area. It was not organized at that time, but was attached to Grand Forks County for administrative and judicial purposes. Its proposed boundary was enlarged on March 9, 1883, and on June 9, 1883, the county organization was effected and the administrative attachment to Grand Forks County was terminated.<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 3, 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><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=83&id=County%20History|title=County History|work=North Dakota.gov|publisher=The State of North Dakota|access-date=February 3, 2015|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>

==Geography==
The county terrain consists of rolling hills dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.<ref name="NCND">{{Cite web |title=Nelson County · North Dakota |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nelson+County,+ND/@47.9338297,-98.4848402,99956m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x52c4e14c3c9084a3:0x1e507b0f48ece45b!8m2!3d47.9519514!4d-98.1259898 |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref> The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the midpoint of its north boundary line, at {{convert|1,545|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Nelson County ND"  Google Maps (accessed February 25, 2019) |access-date=February 26, 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|1009|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|982|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|27|sqmi}} (2.7%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_38.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 1, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129045530/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_38.txt|archive-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=26em}}
* [[File:US 2.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 2 in North Dakota|U.S. Highway 2]]
* [[File:ND-1 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 1]]
* [[File:ND-15 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 15]]
* [[File:ND-32 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 32]]
* [[File:ND-35 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 35]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Walsh County, North Dakota|Walsh County]] - northeast
* [[Grand Forks County, North Dakota|Grand Forks County]] - east
* [[Steele County, North Dakota|Steele County]] - southeast
* [[Griggs County, North Dakota|Griggs County]] - south
* [[Eddy County, North Dakota|Eddy County]] - southwest
* [[Benson County, North Dakota|Benson County]] - west
* [[Ramsey County, North Dakota|Ramsey County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Johnson Lake National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Lambs Lake National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Rose Lake National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Stump Lake National Wildlife Refuge]]
{{div col end}}

===Lakes===
Source:<ref name=NCND/>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Bitter Lake
* Church Lake
* Hillesland Lake
* Johnson Lake
* Lake Laretta
* Mannie Lake
* Omild Slough
* Ottofy Lake
* Rose Lake
* Rugh Lake
* Stump Lake
* Swan Lake
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 4293
|1900= 7316
|1910= 10140
|1920= 10362
|1930= 10203
|1940= 9129
|1950= 8090
|1960= 7034
|1970= 5776
|1980= 5233
|1990= 4410
|2000= 3715
|2010= 3126
|2020= 3015
|estyear=2022
|estimate=2995
|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 4, 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=February 1, 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=February 1, 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=February 1, 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=February 1, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2020, there were 3,015 people.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 3,126 people, 1,474 households, and 905 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|3.18|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,927 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.96|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.2% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 52.3% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 34.1% were [[Germans|German]], 8.2% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 3.9% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 1,474 households, 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.6% were non-families, and 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.66. The median age was 51.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,071 and the median income for a family was $51,731. Males had a median income of $33,629 versus $28,672 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,838. About 4.0% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

===Population by decade===
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  bar:1960 text:1960
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==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Aneta, North Dakota|Aneta]]
* [[Lakota, North Dakota|Lakota]] (county seat)
* [[McVille, North Dakota|McVille]]
* [[Michigan City, North Dakota|Michigan City]]
* [[Pekin, North Dakota|Pekin]]
* [[Petersburg, North Dakota|Petersburg]]
* [[Tolna, North Dakota|Tolna]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Dahlen, North Dakota|Dahlen]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Kloten, North Dakota|Kloten]]
* [[Mapes, North Dakota|Mapes]]
* Pelto<ref name=NCND/>
* [[Whitman, North Dakota|Whitman]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Adler Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Adler]]
* Bergen
* Central
* Clara
* Dahlen
* Dayton
* Dodds
* Enterprise
* Field
* Forde
* Hamlin
* Illinois
* Lakota
* Lee
* Leval
* Melvin
* Michigan
* Nash
* Nesheim
* Ora
* Osago
* Petersburg
* Rubin
* Rugh
* Sarnia
* Wamduska
* Williams
{{div col end}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|+ Township Numbers and Range Numbers<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earthpoint.us/TownshipsSearchByDescription.aspx|title=Earth Point}}</ref>
|-
||
! scope="col" | Range 61
! scope="col" | Range 60
! scope="col" | Range 59
! scope="col" | Range 58
! scope="col" | Range 57
|-
! scope="col" | Township 154
|| &nbsp;
|| [[Clara Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Clara]]
|| [[Enterprise Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Enterprise]]
|| [[Sarnia Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Sarnia]]
|| [[Dahlen Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Dahlen]]
|-
! scope="col" | Township 153
|| &nbsp;
|| [[Lakota Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Lakota]]
|| [[Rubin Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Rubin]]
|| [[Michigan Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Michigan]]
|| [[Nash Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Nash]]
|-
! scope="col" | Township 152
|| [[Illinois Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Illinois]]
|| [[Dodds Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Dodds]]
|| [[Wiliams Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Williams]]
|| [[Michigan Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Michigan]]
|| [[Petersburg Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Petersburg]]
|-
! scope="col" | Township 151
|| [[Leval Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Leval]]
|| [[Wamduska Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Wamduska]]
|| [[Central Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Central]]
|| [[Melvin Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Melvin]]
|| [[Adler Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Adler]]
|-
! scope="col" | Township 150
|| [[Dayton Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Dayton]]
|| [[Osago Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Osago]]
|| [[Hamlin Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Hamlin]]
|| [[Field Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Field]]
|| [[Rugh Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Rugh]]
|-
! scope="col" | Township 149
|| [[Forde Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Forde]]
|| [[Bergen Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Bergen]]
|| [[Nesheim Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Nesheim]]
|| [[Lee Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Lee]]
|| [[Ora Township, Nelson County, North Dakota|Ora]]
|}

==Politics==
Nelson County voters have slightly favored Republicans for the past several decades. Since 1964 the county selected the Republican Party candidate in 64% of national elections.
{{PresHead|place=Nelson County, North Dakota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 511 votes, while Socialist [[Eugene V. Debs|Eugene Debs]] received 178 votes, [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin|Eugene Chafin]] received 38 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,141|580|40|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,141|586|50|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,025|536|156|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|865|767|46|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|800|907|45|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,107|778|37|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,031|687|122|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|745|827|227|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|864|841|501|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,078|1,151|14|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,445|1,026|42|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,611|726|258|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,336|1,610|69|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,625|1,358|45|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,526|1,477|159|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,101|2,186|0|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,934|1,783|2|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,821|1,794|2|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,443|1,418|19|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,672|1,629|237|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,506|1,925|10|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,859|2,435|22|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,002|2,954|535|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|956|3,176|0|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,364|1,542|22|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,697|175|1,577|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,127|501|73|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,013|861|113|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|448|526|727|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,225|616|79|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,284|340|97|North Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Republican|994|576|53|North Dakota}}

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

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

==External links==
* [https://www.nelsonco.org/ Nelson County official website]
* [https://www.dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/nelson.pdf Nelson County map], ''North Dakota DOT''

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Nelson County, North Dakota
|Northeast = [[Walsh County, North Dakota|Walsh County]]
|East      = [[Grand Forks County, North Dakota|Grand Forks County]]
|Southeast = [[Steele County, North Dakota|Steele County]]
|South     = [[Griggs County, North Dakota|Griggs County]]
|Southwest = [[Eddy County, North Dakota|Eddy County]]
|West      = [[Benson County, North Dakota|Benson County]]
|Northwest = [[Ramsey County, North Dakota|Ramsey County]]
}}

{{Nelson County, North Dakota}}
{{North Dakota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|47.92|-98.19|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-ND_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Nelson County, North Dakota| ]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in Dakota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1883]]