Foster County, North Dakota

Foster County, North Dakota
Foster County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,397. Its county seat is Carrington.
History
The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with lands partitioned from Pembina County. It was named for George I. Foster, a pioneer and member of the Territorial legislature. Its governing structure was not completed at that time, and it was not attached to another county for administrative purposes. Its boundaries were altered in 1881, two times in 1883, and finally in 1885 its boundary was set at the present configuration. Its county organization was effected on October 11, 1883.
Geography
The James River flows south-southeastward through the central part of Foster County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture, its eastern portion dotted with lakes and ponds. The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is at its southwestern corner, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.8%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in North Dakota by area.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 52
U.S. Highway 281
North Dakota Highway 9
North Dakota Highway 20
North Dakota Highway 200
Adjacent counties
Eddy County - north
Griggs County - east
Stutsman County - south
Wells County - west
National protected area
Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Lakes
Blue Cloud Lake
Jack Lake
Juanita Lake
Lake Bonita
Lake George
Russell Lake
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 3,397 people.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,343 people, 1,495 households, and 930 families in the county. The population density was . There were 1,801 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.4% white, 0.6% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.2% were German, 35.9% were Norwegian, 9.8% were Irish, 5.8% were American, and 5.1% were Swedish.
Of the 1,495 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.8% were non-families, and 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 46.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,066 and the median income for a family was $55,278. Males had a median income of $40,076 versus $29,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,945. About 3.4% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Population by decade
Communities
Cities
Carrington (county seat)
Glenfield
Grace City
McHenry
Unincorporated communities
Barlow
Bordulac
Guptill
Juanita
Melville
Government
The county is divided into 18 townships for certain aspects of governance.
Townships
Birtsell
Bordulac township
Bucephalia
Carrington
Eastman
Estabrook
Florance
Glenfield
Haven
Larrabee
Longview
McHenry
McKinnon
Melville
Nordmore
Rolling Prairie
Rose Hill
Wyard
Politics
Foster County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only two national elections since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Foster County, North Dakota
References
External links
ND DOT county map of Foster County (PDF)
Foster County official website
1883 establishments in Dakota Territory
Populated places established in 1883