Mercer County, North Dakota

Mercer County, North Dakota
Mercer County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,350. Its county seat is Stanton.
History
The Dakota Territory legislature enacted an January 8, 1873 law to create a county named Mercer, whose boundaries would be identical to Pratt (a now-extinct county). This county did not come into existence, as the 1873 act was nullified on January 14, 1875, by the legislature. On that date the legislature created another Mercer County, from previously unorganized territory. The county was named for William Henry Harrison Mercer, (1844–1901), a rancher who settled north of Bismarck in 1869. The unorganized county was not attached to another county for judicial or administrative purposes; this condition continued until November 6, 1883, when the county government was organized.
The county boundaries were altered in 1879, 1881, 1885, 1892, and 1901. Its boundaries have remained unchanged since 1901.
Geography
The northern boundary of Mercer County is delineated by Lake Sakakawea, created in 1956 on the Missouri River. The county's eastern boundary is delineated by the river as it flows southeastward from the dam that created the lake. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the north and east; its highest point is near the midpoint of its southern boundary, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (6.3%) is water.
The southwestern corner counties of North Dakota (Adams, Billings, Bowman, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Slope, Stark) observe Mountain Time. The counties of McKenzie, Dunn, and Sioux counties are split, with their northern portions observing Central Time and the southern portions observing Mountain Time.
Prior to November 7, 2010, the western portion of Mercer County was in Mountain Time. But it was all moved into the Central Time on that date.
Major highways
North Dakota Highway 31
North Dakota Highway 48
North Dakota Highway 49
North Dakota Highway 200
North Dakota Highway 200A
North Dakota Highway 1806
Adjacent counties
McLean County - north
Oliver County - east
Morton County - south
Stark County - southwest (observes Mountain Time)
Dunn County - west (observes Mountain Time in southern portion)
Protected areas
Beaver Creek State Game Management Area
Hazen Bay Recreation Area
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Lake Sakakawea State Park
Lake
Lake Sakakawea
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 8,350 people.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,424 people, 3,625 households, and 2,500 families in the county. The population density was . There were 4,450 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.6% white, 2.3% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 64.7% were German, 21.5% were Norwegian, 6.6% were Russian, 6.2% were Irish, and 2.2% were American.
Of the 3,625 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.0% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 46.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $60,191 and the median income for a family was $71,075. Males had a median income of $63,321 versus $32,294 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,616. About 4.1% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
Population by decade
Communities
Cities
Beulah
Golden Valley
Hazen
Pick City
Stanton (county seat)
Zap
Politics
Mercer County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).
Education
School districts include:
Beulah Public School District 27
Center-Stanton Public School District 1
Glen Ullin Public School District 48
Halliday Public School District 19
Hazen Public School District 3
Hebron Public School District 13
Underwood Public School District 8
Elementary:
Twin Buttes Public School District 37
Stanton previously had a separate school district, but it merged with Center's in 2004.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Mercer County, North Dakota
References
External links
Mercer County maps, Sheet 1 (northern) and Sheet 2 (southern), North Dakota DOT
North Dakota counties on the Missouri River
1884 establishments in Dakota Territory
Populated places established in 1884