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{{Infobox U.S. county | county = Wells County | state = North Dakota | ex image = Wells County Courthouse North Dakota.jpg | ex image cap = [[Wells County Courthouse (Fessenden, North Dakota)]] | seal = | founded = January 4, 1873 (created)<br />August 28, 1884 (organized) | seat wl = Fessenden | largest city wl = Harvey | area_total_sq_mi = 1290 | area_land_sq_mi = 1271 | area_water_sq_mi = 19 | area percentage = 1.5 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 3982 | pop_est_as_of = 2022 | population_est = 3930 {{decrease}} | population_density_sq_mi = auto | time zone = Central | web = www.wellscountynd.com | district = At-large | named for = Edward Payson Wells }}'''Wells 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 3,982.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/wellscountynorthdakota/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Fessenden, North Dakota|Fessenden]].<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> {{Short description|County in North Dakota, United States}} {{coord|47.58|-99.67|type:adm2nd_region:US-ND_source:UScensus1990|display=title}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} ==History== The [[Dakota Territory]] legislature created the county on January 4, 1873. Its government was not organized at that time, nor was it attached for administrative or judicial purposes to another county. It was named Gingras County; this name continued until February 26, 1881, when the name was changed to Wells County, named for Edward Payson Wells, a [[Jamestown, North Dakota|Jamestown]] banker, early promoter of the [[James River (Dakotas)|James River Valley]], and member of the legislature in 1881. The county government was organized on August 28, 1884, with Sykeston as the county seat. In 1894 the county seat was transferred to Fessendon.<ref name="ND Counties">{{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> The county boundary was altered in 1883 when a parcel was transferred to [[Foster County, North Dakota|Foster County]], and again in 1885 when it received land from Foster County. Its boundary has remained unchanged since 1885.<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 4, 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> The [[center of population]] of North Dakota is located in the extreme southeastern corner of Wells County, about {{convert|9|mi|km}} southeast of [[Sykeston, North Dakota|Sykeston]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 Census Centers of Population by State|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/2010census/centerpop2010/statecenters.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau, Geography Division|access-date=May 5, 2011}}</ref> [[File:Map of Wells County, N.D., 1911.jpg|thumb|Outline map of Wells County, North Dakota, 1911]] ==Geography== The [[James River (Dakotas)|James River]] flows east-northeasterly through Wells County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills with occasional protuberances, dotted with lakes and ponds in its SW portion.<ref name=WCND>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wells+County,+ND/@47.6942627,-99.8042093,10z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x52da4c89f74ffa7f:0x9b6832b1444387ec!8m2!3d47.5217126!4d-99.5751845 "Wells County ND"]. [[Google Maps]]. Accessed February 21, 2019.</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and north; its highest point is a protuberance near the southwestern corner, at {{convert|2,182|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Wells County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 21, 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> Ihe county has a total area of {{convert|1290|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1271|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|19|sqmi}} (1.5%) 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}} * [[Image:US 52.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 52 in North Dakota|U.S. Highway 52]] * [[Image:ND-3 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 3]] * [[Image:ND-15 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 15]] * [[Image:ND-30 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 30]] * [[Image:ND-91 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 91 (Wells County)|North Dakota Highway 91]] * [[Image:ND-200 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 200]] * County 1<ref name=WCND/> * County 5 * [[Image:Wells County Route 52 ND.svg|25px]] Wells County Route 52 {{div col end}} ===Adjacent counties=== {{div col}} * [[Benson County, North Dakota|Benson County]] - north * [[Eddy County, North Dakota|Eddy County]] - east * [[Foster County, North Dakota|Foster County]] - east * [[Stutsman County, North Dakota|Stutsman County]] - southeast * [[Kidder County, North Dakota|Kidder County]] - south * [[Sheridan County, North Dakota|Sheridan County]] - west * [[Pierce County, North Dakota|Pierce County]] - northwest {{div col end}} ===Protected areas=== '''Source:'''<ref name=WCND/> * Karl T. Frederick State Game Management Area * Upland State Game Refuge ===Lakes=== '''Source:'''<ref name=WCND/> {{div col}} * Big Slough * Crystal Lake * Egg Lake * Lake Ontario * Silver Lake * Sorenson Lake {{div col end}} ==Demographics== {{US Census population |1890= 1212 |1900= 8310 |1910= 11814 |1920= 12957 |1930= 13285 |1940= 11198 |1950= 10417 |1960= 9237 |1970= 7847 |1980= 6979 |1990= 5864 |2000= 5102 |2010= 4207 |2020= 3982 |estyear=2022 |estimate=3930 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=[[Census.gov]]}}</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 3,982 people. ===2010 census=== As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 4,207 people, 1,943 households, and 1,223 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|3.31|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 2,481 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.95|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.9% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 65.9% were [[Germans|German]], 25.9% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 6.7% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 1.8% were [[Americans|American]]. Of the 1,943 households, 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.1% were non-families, and 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.67. The median age was 51.5 years. The median income for a household in the county was $40,136 and the median income for a family was $52,400. Males had a median income of $38,442 versus $25,597 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,531. About 6.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over. ===Population by decade=== <timeline> Colors= id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9) id:darkgrey value:gray(0.8) id:sfondo value:rgb(1,1,1) id:barra value:rgb(0.55,0.0,0.0) ImageSize = width:600 height:300 PlotArea = left:50 bottom:50 top:30 right:30 DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:13300 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = late ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:3325 start:0 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:1663 start:0 BackgroundColors = canvas:sfondo BarData= bar:1890 text:1890 bar:1900 text:1900 bar:1910 text:1910 bar:1920 text:1920 bar:1930 text:1930 bar:1940 text:1940 bar:1950 text:1950 bar:1960 text:1960 bar:1970 text:1970 bar:1980 text:1980 bar:1990 text:1990 bar:2000 text:2000 bar:2010 text:2010 bar:2020 text:2020 bar:2022 text:present PlotData= color:barra width:25 align:left bar:1890 from: 0 till:1212 bar:1900 from: 0 till:8310 bar:1910 from: 0 till:11814 bar:1920 from: 0 till:12957 bar:1930 from: 0 till:13285 bar:1940 from: 0 till:11198 bar:1950 from: 0 till:10417 bar:1960 from: 0 till:9237 bar:1970 from: 0 till:7847 bar:1980 from: 0 till:6979 bar:1990 from: 0 till:5864 bar:2000 from: 0 till:5102 bar:2010 from: 0 till:4207 bar:2020 from: 0 till:3982 bar:2022 from: 0 till:3930 color:darkblue PlotData= bar:1890 at:1212 fontsize:S text:1212 shift:(-14,5) bar:1900 at:8310 fontsize:S text:8310 shift:(-14,5) bar:1910 at:11814 fontsize:S text:11814 shift:(-14,5) bar:1920 at:12957 fontsize:S text:12957 shift:(-14,5) bar:1930 at:13285 fontsize:S text:13285 shift:(-14,5) bar:1940 at:11198 fontsize:S text:11198 shift:(-14,5) bar:1950 at:10417 fontsize:S text:10417 shift:(-14,5) bar:1960 at:9237 fontsize:S text:9237 shift:(-14,5) bar:1970 at:7847 fontsize:S text:7847 shift:(-14,5) bar:1980 at:6979 fontsize:S text:6979 shift:(-14,5) bar:1990 at:5864 fontsize:S text:5864 shift:(-14,5) bar:2000 at:5102 fontsize:S text:5102 shift:(-14,5) bar:2010 at:4207 fontsize:S text:4207 shift:(-14,5) bar:2020 at:3982 fontsize:S text:3982 shift:(-14,5) bar:2022 at:3930 fontsize:S text:3930 shift:(-14,5) TextData= fontsize:S pos:(20,20) text:Data from U.S. Census Bureau </timeline> ==Communities== ===Cities=== {{div col}} * [[Bowdon, North Dakota|Bowdon]] * [[Cathay, North Dakota|Cathay]] * [[Fessenden, North Dakota|Fessenden]] (county seat) * [[Hamberg, North Dakota|Hamberg]] * [[Harvey, North Dakota|Harvey]] * [[Hurdsfield, North Dakota|Hurdsfield]] * [[Sykeston, North Dakota|Sykeston]] {{div col end}} ===Census-designated place=== * [[Heimdal, North Dakota|Heimdal]] ===Unincorporated communities=== {{div col}} * [[Bremen, North Dakota|Bremen]] * [[Chaseley, North Dakota|Chaseley]] * Dover<ref name=WCND/> * Emrick<ref name=WCND/> * [[Heaton, North Dakota|Heaton]] (ghost town)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonictremormedia.com/gnd/heaton.html|title=Ghosts of North Dakota|access-date=February 21, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828115157/http://www.sonictremormedia.com/gnd/heaton.html|archive-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref> * [[Manfred, North Dakota|Manfred]] * [[Wellsburg, North Dakota|Wellsburg]] {{div col end}} ===Townships=== {{div col|colwidth=12em}} * Berlin * Bilodeau * Bremen * Bull Moose * Cathay * Chaseley * Crystal Lake * Delger * Fairville * Forward * Fram * Germantown * Haaland * Hamburg * Hawksnest * Heimdal * Hillsdale * Johnson * Lynn * Manfred * Norway Lake * Oshkosh * Pony Gulch * Progress * Rusland * Saint Anna * Silver Lake * South Cottonwood * Speedwell * Sykeston * Valhalla * Wells * West Norway * West Ontario * Western * Woodward {{div col end}} ==Politics== Wells County voters have been Republican-leaning for several decades. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. {{PresHead|place=Wells 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>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,815|405|33|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,893|442|39|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,796|419|168|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,654|673|52|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,468|841|68|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,654|858|49|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,610|661|139|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,192|962|388|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,171|888|857|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,901|1,317|23|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,426|1,036|44|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,660|746|193|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,941|1,742|84|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,519|1,297|94|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,266|1,265|251|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,875|2,314|0|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,641|1,885|9|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,912|1,434|9|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,709|1,016|37|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,385|1,492|109|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,529|1,557|20|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,335|1,878|19|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,263|3,114|921|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,062|3,823|54|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,364|2,123|25|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1924|Progressive|1,644|138|1,921|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,202|456|78|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,226|810|57|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1912|Progressive|356|494|660|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,243|535|48|North Dakota}} {{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,330|209|105|North Dakota}} {{PresFoot|1900|Republican|966|388|28|North Dakota}} ==See also== * [[National Register of Historic Places listings in North Dakota#Wells County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Wells County, North Dakota]] ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== * [http://www.wellscountynd.com Wells County official website] * [https://www.dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/wells_sheet1.pdf Northern portion of Wells County], North Dakota DOT * [https://www.dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/wells_sheet2.pdf Southern portion of Wells County], North Dakota DOT {{Geographic Location |Centre = Wells County, North Dakota |North = [[Benson County, North Dakota|Benson County]] |East = [[Eddy County, North Dakota|Eddy County]] and [[Foster County, North Dakota|Foster County]] |Southeast = [[Stutsman County, North Dakota|Stutsman County]] |South = [[Kidder County, North Dakota|Kidder County]] |West = [[Sheridan County, North Dakota|Sheridan County]] |Northwest = [[Pierce County, North Dakota|Pierce County]] }} {{Wells County, North Dakota}} {{North Dakota}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Wells County, North Dakota| ]] [[Category:1884 establishments in Dakota Territory]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1884]]
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