Richland County, North Dakota

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.
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 ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (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 census of 2020, there were 16,529 people.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,321 people, 6,651 households, and 4,171 families in the county. The population density was . There were 7,503 housing units at an average density of . 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 2020).
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).
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Richland County, North Dakota
References
External links
Richland County, North Dakota
A history of Richland County and the city of Wahpeton ND (1938?) from the Digital Horizons website
Richland County maps, Sheet 1 (northern) and Sheet 2 (southern), North Dakota DOT
Wahpeton micropolitan area
1873 establishments in Dakota Territory
Populated places established in 1873