# Dickey County, North Dakota

Dickey County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,999. Its county seat is Ellendale.

## History

The Dakota Territory legislature created Dickey County on March 5, 1881, with territories annexed from McPherson County, South Dakota and Ransom County, North Dakota, with some previously unorganized territories added. Its governing structure was effected on August 18, 1882. It was named for a member of the Territorial Legislature, George H. Dickey.

## Geography

Dickey County lies on the south side of North Dakota. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The James River flows south-southeasterly through the east part of the county, and the Maple River flows south-southeasterly through the center part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds in its western portion, with the area devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point being a hill near the southwestern corner at 2,139 ft (652 m) ASL. The county has a total area of 1,142 square miles (2,960 km$^2$), of which 1,131 square miles (2,930 km$^2$) is land and 11 square miles (28 km$^2$) (0.9%) is water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 281
* North Dakota Highway 1
* North Dakota Highway 11
* North Dakota Highway 56

### Adjacent counties

* LaMoure County - north
* Ransom County - northeast
* Sargent County - east
* Brown County, South Dakota - south
* McPherson County, South Dakota - southwest
* McIntosh County - west

### National protected areas

* Dakota Lake National Wildlife Refuge
* Maple River National Wildlife Refuge

### Lakes

* Hilles Lake
* Pheasant Lake

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 4,999 people.

### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,289 people, 2,180 households, and 1,379 families in the county. The population density was 4.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.8/km$^2$). There were 2,636 housing units at an average density of 2.3 units per square mile (0.89/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.6% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 56.3% were German, 16.9% were Norwegian, 11.4% were Irish, 7.4% were Swedish, 5.1% were Russian, and 1.1% were American.
Of the 2,180 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.7% were non-families, and 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 43.0 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,179 and the median income for a family was $53,333. Males had a median income of $36,029 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,824. About 6.8% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

### Population by decade
## Communities
### Cities

* Ellendale (county seat)
* Forbes
* Fullerton
* Monango
* Ludden
* Oakes

### Unincorporated communities

* Glover
* Guelph
* Keystone
* Silverleaf
* Wirch

## Former communities

* Merricourt

## Government
### Townships

Administration of certain aspects of county government in North Dakota are assigned to subsidiary townships.
* Ada
* Albertha
* Albion
* Bear Creek
* Clement
* Divide
* Elden
* Ellendale
* Elm
* German
* Grand Valley
* Hamburg
* Hudson
* James River Valley
* Kent
* Kentner
* Keystone
* Lorraine
* Lovell
* Maple
* Northwest
* Port Emma
* Porter
* Potsdam
* Riverdale
* Spring Valley
* Valley
* Van Meter
* Whitestone
* Wright
* Yorktown
* Young

## Politics

Dickey County voters are traditionally Republican-leaning. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
United States presidential election results for Dickey County, North Dakota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 1,829 | 74.56% | 557 | 22.71% | 67 | 2.73% |
| 2020 | 1,742 | 71.86% | 608 | 25.08% | 74 | 3.05% |
| 2016 | 1,667 | 69.26% | 554 | 23.02% | 186 | 7.73% |
| 2012 | 1,610 | 63.51% | 853 | 33.65% | 72 | 2.84% |
| 2008 | 1,525 | 58.21% | 1,044 | 39.85% | 51 | 1.95% |
| 2004 | 1,890 | 67.00% | 883 | 31.30% | 48 | 1.70% |
| 2000 | 1,853 | 66.51% | 806 | 28.93% | 127 | 4.56% |
| 1996 | 1,418 | 53.21% | 953 | 35.76% | 294 | 11.03% |
| 1992 | 1,514 | 49.48% | 918 | 30.00% | 628 | 20.52% |
| 1988 | 2,064 | 61.87% | 1,249 | 37.44% | 23 | 0.69% |
| 1984 | 2,460 | 69.37% | 1,051 | 29.64% | 35 | 0.99% |
| 1980 | 2,455 | 68.69% | 917 | 25.66% | 202 | 5.65% |
| 1976 | 2,027 | 54.65% | 1,612 | 43.46% | 70 | 1.89% |
| 1972 | 2,277 | 63.59% | 1,266 | 35.35% | 38 | 1.06% |
| 1968 | 2,087 | 62.34% | 1,098 | 32.80% | 163 | 4.87% |
| 1964 | 1,808 | 49.81% | 1,818 | 50.08% | 4 | 0.11% |
| 1960 | 2,420 | 62.76% | 1,433 | 37.16% | 3 | 0.08% |
| 1956 | 2,327 | 61.72% | 1,435 | 38.06% | 8 | 0.21% |
| 1952 | 2,917 | 71.23% | 1,150 | 28.08% | 28 | 0.68% |
| 1948 | 1,774 | 54.89% | 1,264 | 39.11% | 194 | 6.00% |
| 1944 | 2,134 | 61.11% | 1,339 | 38.34% | 19 | 0.54% |
| 1940 | 2,777 | 57.44% | 1,721 | 35.59% | 337 | 6.97% |
| 1936 | 1,533 | 34.39% | 2,287 | 51.30% | 638 | 14.31% |
| 1932 | 1,424 | 30.67% | 3,068 | 66.08% | 151 | 3.25% |
| 1928 | 2,250 | 52.90% | 1,977 | 46.48% | 26 | 0.61% |
| 1924 | 1,716 | 43.66% | 352 | 8.96% | 1,862 | 47.38% |
| 1920 | 2,887 | 75.79% | 766 | 20.11% | 156 | 4.10% |
| 1916 | 1,037 | 50.12% | 920 | 44.47% | 112 | 5.41% |
| 1912 | 494 | 29.90% | 723 | 43.77% | 435 | 26.33% |
| 1908 | 1,062 | 60.96% | 633 | 36.34% | 47 | 2.70% |
| 1904 | 998 | 69.64% | 336 | 23.45% | 99 | 6.91% |
| 1900 | 763 | 56.19% | 567 | 41.75% | 28 | 2.06% |