Nelson County, North Dakota

Nelson County, North Dakota
Nelson County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,015. Its county seat is Lakota.
History
The Dakota Territory legislature created Nelson County on March 2, 1883, with areas annexed from Foster, Grand Forks and 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.
Geography
The county terrain consists of rolling hills dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is largely devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the midpoint of its north boundary line, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.7%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 2
North Dakota Highway 1
North Dakota Highway 15
North Dakota Highway 32
Nelson County Road 35
Adjacent counties
Walsh County - northeast
Grand Forks County - east
Steele County - southeast
Griggs County - south
Eddy County - southwest
Benson County - west
Ramsey County - northwest
National protected areas
Johnson Lake National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Lambs Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Rose Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Stump Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Lakes
Bitter Lake
Church Lake
Hillesland Lake
Johnson Lake
Lake Laretta
Mannie Lake
Omild Slough
Ottofy Lake
Rose Lake
Rugh Lake
Stump Lake
Swan Lake
Demographics
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 . There were 1,927 housing units at an average density of . 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 Norwegian, 34.1% were German, 8.2% were Irish, and 3.9% were 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
Communities
Cities
Aneta
Lakota (county seat)
McVille
Michigan City
Pekin
Petersburg
Tolna
Census-designated place
Dahlen
Unincorporated communities
Kloten
Mapes
Pelto
Whitman
Townships
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
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.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Nelson County, North Dakota
References
External links
Nelson County official website
Nelson County map, North Dakota DOT
1883 establishments in Dakota Territory
Populated places established in 1883