# Richland County, North Dakota

Richland County is a county in the far southeast corner of the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,529. Its county seat is Wahpeton.
Richland County is part of the Wahpeton, ND–MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN Combined Statistical Area.

## History

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with area partitioned from Pembina County. It was named for Morgan T. Rich, who settled on the site of the future Wahpeton in 1869. The county organization was completed on November 25 of that same year. Its boundaries were altered in 1883 and 1885. It has maintained its present configuration since 1885.
In 2022, strong winds known as a derecho, more than 70 mph, produced 34 tornadoes, including one that passed through Richland County near LeMars.

## Geography

Richland County lies at the southeastern corner of North Dakota. Its eastern boundary line abuts the western boundary line of the state of Minnesota (across the Red River), and its southern boundary line abuts the northern boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The Red River flows northerly along its eastern boundary line on its way to the Hudson Bay. The Wild Rice River flows easterly and then northerly through the county, discharging into the Red River north of Richland County, in Cass County. The Sheyenne River flows northeasterly through the NW corner of the county, also discharging into the Red in Cass County.
The Richland County terrain is primarily flat, with rolling hills in the southwest and northwest. It is largely devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point near its SW corner, at 1,220 ft (370 m) ASL. The county has a total area of 1,445 square miles (3,740 km$^2$), of which 1,436 square miles (3,720 km$^2$) is land and 9.7 square miles (25 km$^2$) (0.7%) is water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 29
* US 81
* North Dakota Highway 11
* North Dakota Highway 13
* North Dakota Highway 18
* North Dakota Highway 27
* North Dakota Highway 46
* North Dakota Highway 127

### Adjacent counties

* Cass County - north
* Clay County, Minnesota - northeast
* Wilkin County, Minnesota - east
* Traverse County, Minnesota - southeast
* Roberts County, South Dakota - south
* Marshall County, South Dakota - southwest
* Sargent County - west
* Ransom County - northwest

### National protected area

* Sheyenne National Grassland (part)

### Lakes

* Bisek Lake
* Grass Lake
* Gullys Slough
* Kreiser Lake
* Lueck Lake
* Moran Lake
* Park Lake
* Silver Lake
* Stacks Slough
* Swan Lake
* Willows Pond

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 16,529 people, 6,710 households, and 4,174 families in the county. The population density was 11.5 inhabitants per square mile (4.4/km$^2$) There were 7,501 housing units.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 16,321 people, 6,651 households, and 4,171 families in the county. The population density was 11.4 inhabitants per square mile (4.4/km$^2$). There were 7,503 housing units at an average density of 5.2 per square mile (2.0/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% white, 2.0% American Indian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 53.0% were German, 31.2% were Norwegian, 7.0% were Irish, and 2.3% were American.
Of the 6,651 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.3% were non-families, and 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 39.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $47,131 and the median income for a family was $64,636. Males had a median income of $42,597 versus $28,284 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,342. About 5.2% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

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

* Abercrombie
* Barney
* Christine
* Colfax
* Dwight
* Fairmount
* Great Bend
* Hankinson
* Lidgerwood
* Mantador
* Mooreton
* Wahpeton (county seat)
* Walcott
* Wyndmere

### Unincorporated communities

* Blackmer
* Enloe
* Galchutt
* La Mars
* Lithia
* Tyler

### Townships

* Abercrombie
* Antelope
* Barney
* Barrie
* Belford
* Brandenburg
* Brightwood
* Center
* Colfax
* Danton
* Devillo
* Dexter
* Duerr
* Dwight
* Eagle
* Elma
* Fairmount
* Freeman
* Garborg
* Grant
* Greendale
* Helendale
* Homestead
* Ibsen
* LaMars
* Liberty Grove
* Lidgerwood
* Mooreton
* Moran
* Nansen
* Sheyenne
* Summit
* Viking
* Walcott
* Waldo
* West End
* Wyndmere

## Politics

Richland County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
United States presidential election results for Richland County, North Dakota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 5,576 | 67.50% | 2,473 | 29.94% | 212 | 2.57% |
| 2020 | 5,072 | 64.93% | 2,510 | 32.13% | 230 | 2.94% |
| 2016 | 4,767 | 62.79% | 2,064 | 27.19% | 761 | 10.02% |
| 2012 | 4,229 | 55.55% | 3,198 | 42.01% | 186 | 2.44% |
| 2008 | 3,900 | 51.57% | 3,513 | 46.45% | 150 | 1.98% |
| 2004 | 5,264 | 64.08% | 2,821 | 34.34% | 130 | 1.58% |
| 2000 | 4,999 | 62.37% | 2,490 | 31.07% | 526 | 6.56% |
| 1996 | 3,345 | 47.32% | 2,890 | 40.88% | 834 | 11.80% |
| 1992 | 3,873 | 46.66% | 2,688 | 32.38% | 1,740 | 20.96% |
| 1988 | 4,670 | 56.44% | 3,523 | 42.58% | 81 | 0.98% |
| 1984 | 5,980 | 65.48% | 3,047 | 33.36% | 106 | 1.16% |
| 1980 | 5,711 | 61.17% | 2,698 | 28.90% | 928 | 9.94% |
| 1976 | 4,991 | 51.01% | 4,592 | 46.93% | 202 | 2.06% |
| 1972 | 5,194 | 60.23% | 3,367 | 39.04% | 63 | 0.73% |
| 1968 | 4,224 | 54.38% | 3,098 | 39.89% | 445 | 5.73% |
| 1964 | 3,425 | 43.05% | 4,525 | 56.88% | 5 | 0.06% |
| 1960 | 4,711 | 54.04% | 4,003 | 45.92% | 4 | 0.05% |
| 1956 | 4,971 | 60.96% | 3,171 | 38.89% | 12 | 0.15% |
| 1952 | 6,022 | 69.78% | 2,541 | 29.44% | 67 | 0.78% |
| 1948 | 3,448 | 48.73% | 3,413 | 48.24% | 214 | 3.02% |
| 1944 | 4,402 | 57.74% | 3,192 | 41.87% | 30 | 0.39% |
| 1940 | 5,102 | 58.42% | 3,584 | 41.04% | 48 | 0.55% |
| 1936 | 2,386 | 31.41% | 3,792 | 49.92% | 1,418 | 18.67% |
| 1932 | 2,304 | 28.16% | 5,663 | 69.20% | 216 | 2.64% |
| 1928 | 4,251 | 53.89% | 3,604 | 45.68% | 34 | 0.43% |
| 1924 | 3,235 | 48.84% | 769 | 11.61% | 2,620 | 39.55% |
| 1920 | 5,483 | 79.46% | 1,339 | 19.41% | 78 | 1.13% |
| 1916 | 2,097 | 53.25% | 1,772 | 45.00% | 69 | 1.75% |
| 1912 | 1,034 | 31.95% | 1,380 | 42.65% | 822 | 25.40% |
| 1908 | 1,864 | 54.17% | 1,502 | 43.65% | 75 | 2.18% |
| 1904 | 2,420 | 66.50% | 1,116 | 30.67% | 103 | 2.83% |
| 1900 | 2,067 | 58.46% | 1,399 | 39.56% | 70 | 1.98% |

## Education

School districts include:
* Fairmount Public School District 18
* Hankinson Public School District 8
* Kindred Public School District 2
* Lidgerwood Public School District 28
* Richland Public School District 44
* Wahpeton Public School District 37
* Wyndmere Public School District 42
Circle of Nations Wahpeton Indian School is a tribally-controlled school affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).