Mercer County, North Dakota

Mercer County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,350.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Stanton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The Dakota Territory legislature enacted a January 8, 1873 law to create a county named Mercer, whose boundaries would be identical to Pratt (a now-extinct county). This county did not come into existence, as the 1873 act was nullified on January 14, 1875, by the legislature. On that date the legislature created another Mercer County, from previously unorganized territory. The county was named for William Henry Harrison Mercer,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> (1844–1901), a rancher who settled north of Bismarck in 1869. The unorganized county was not attached to another county for judicial or administrative purposes; this condition continued until November 6, 1883, when the county government was organized.

The county boundaries were altered in 1879, 1881, 1885, 1892, and 1901. Its boundaries have remained unchanged since 1901.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies/Mercer County ND (accessed February 26, 2019)</ref>

File:Map of Mercer County, N.D., 1918.jpg

Outline map of Mercer County, North Dakota, 1918

Geography

The northern boundary of Mercer County is delineated by Lake Sakakawea, created in 1956 on the Missouri River. The county's eastern boundary is delineated by the river as it flows southeastward from the dam that created the lake. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture.<ref name="MCND">Template:Cite web</ref> The terrain slopes to the north and east; its highest point is near the midpoint of its southern boundary, at Template:Convert ASL.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (6.3%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The southwestern corner counties of North Dakota (Adams, Billings, Bowman, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Slope, Stark) observe Mountain Time. The counties of McKenzie, Dunn, and Sioux counties are split, with their northern portions observing Central Time and the southern portions observing Mountain Time.

Prior to <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> November 7, 2010, the western portion of Mercer County was in Mountain Time. But it was all moved into the Central Time on that date.

Major highways

• File:ND-31 (2015).svg North Dakota Highway 31
• File:ND-48 (2015).svg North Dakota Highway 48
• File:ND-49 (2015).svg North Dakota Highway 49
• File:ND-200 (2015).svg North Dakota Highway 200
• File:ND-200A (2015).svg North Dakota Highway 200A
• File:ND-1806 (2015).svg North Dakota Highway 1806

Adjacent counties

• McLean County - north
• Oliver County - east
• Morton County - south
• Stark County - southwest (observes Mountain Time)
• Dunn County - west (observes Mountain Time in southern portion)

Protected areas

Source:<ref name=MCND/> Template:Div col

• Beaver Creek State Game Management Area
• Hazen Bay Recreation Area
• Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
• Lake Sakakawea State Park

Lake

• Lake Sakakawea

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 8,350 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,424 people, 3,625 households, and 2,500 families in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,450 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 95.6% white, 2.3% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 64.7% were German, 21.5% were Norwegian, 6.6% were Russian, 6.2% were Irish, and 2.2% were American.

Of the 3,625 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.0% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 46.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $60,191 and the median income for a family was $71,075. Males had a median income of $63,321 versus $32,294 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,616. About 4.1% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Communities

Cities

• Beulah
• Golden Valley
• Hazen
• Pick City
• Stanton (county seat)
• Zap

Politics

Mercer County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024). Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Education

School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list - 2010 map and 2010 text list</ref>

• Beulah Public School District 27
• Center-Stanton Public School District 1
• Glen Ullin Public School District 48
• Halliday Public School District 19
• Hazen Public School District 3
• Hebron Public School District 13
• Underwood Public School District 8

Elementary:

• Twin Buttes Public School District 37

Stanton previously had a separate school district, but it merged with Center's in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Riverdale School District 89 had portions in Mercer County and in McLean County. The Associated Press described the district as "divided equally" between the counties. In 1993 members of the Riverdale School District school board voted to abolish their school district, with the Underwood and Hazen districts to obtain pieces of it.<ref name=NewlineAPdist>Template:Cite news</ref>

Zap formerly had its own school district. In 1994 the district voted to dissolve.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Mercer County, North Dakota

External links

• Mercer County maps, Sheet 1 (northern) and Sheet 2 (southern), North Dakota DOT