Divide County, North Dakota

Divide County
County
Divide County Courthouse in Crosby
Divide County Courthouse in Crosby
Map of North Dakota highlighting Divide County
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°49′N 103°29′W / 48.81°N 103.49°W / 48.81; -103.49
Country United States
State North Dakota
Founded1910
SeatCrosby
Largest cityCrosby
Area
 • Total
1,294 sq mi (3,350 km2)
 • Land1,261 sq mi (3,270 km2)
 • Water33 sq mi (90 km2)  2.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,195
 • Estimate 
(2022)
2,187 Decrease
 • Density1.7/sq mi (0.65/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.dividecountynd.org

Divide County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,195.[1] Its county seat is Crosby.[2]

History

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During the election on November 8, 1910, the voters of Williams County determined that the county should be divided into a northern and a southern county. The vote was affirmative; the southern portion retained the Williams name; the newly created county was named "Divide", with Crosby as the seat. The county government was effected on December 9 of that year, and the county's boundaries have remained unchanged since that time. Most histories attribute the county name to its "division" from Williams County,[3] though the county's location on the Laurentian Divide, separating runoff waters between Hudson Bay and Gulf of Mexico, may have been involved.[4]

In 1911, Divide County was the site of one of the deadliest tornadoes in North Dakota's recorded history, causing four known deaths.[5]

Geography

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Divide County lies at the northwest corner of North Dakota. Its northern boundary line abuts the south boundary line of Canada, opposite Saskatchewan, and its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Montana. The terrain of Divide County consists of semi-arid rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds, partially devoted to agriculture.[6] The terrain generally slopes to the east; the northern part also slopes to the north while the southern part slopes to the south.[7] The county has a total area of 1,294 square miles (3,350 km2), of which 1,261 square miles (3,270 km2) is land and 33 square miles (85 km2) (2.6%) is water.[8]

Divide County is one of several western North Dakota counties with significant exposure to the Bakken Formation in the Williston Basin.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties and rural municipalities

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Lakes

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  • Bright Water Lake
  • McCone Lake
  • Miller Lake
  • Musta Lake
  • North Lake
  • Rattler Lake
  • Round Lake (part)
  • Willow Lake

[6]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19106,015—
19209,63760.2%
19309,6360.0%
19407,086−26.5%
19505,967−15.8%
19605,566−6.7%
19704,564−18.0%
19803,494−23.4%
19902,899−17.0%
20002,283−21.2%
20102,071−9.3%
20202,1956.0%
2022 (est.)2,187[9]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020, there were 2,195 people.

2010 census

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As of the census of 2010, there were 2,071 people, 977 households, and 584 families in the county. The population density was 1.6 inhabitants per square mile (0.62/km2). There were 1,324 housing units at an average density of 1.1 units per square mile (0.42/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.0% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 57.7% were Norwegian, 30.3% were German, 8.5% were Irish, 5.2% were Swedish, and 2.9% were American.

Of the 977 households, 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.2% were non-families, and 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.66. The median age was 51.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,152 and the median income for a family was $65,000. Males had a median income of $42,341 versus $27,596 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,462. About 9.4% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.7% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Among the population claiming adherence to a particular religious organization, 80.6% claimed adherence to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 2010. This rate is the highest such rate for the ELCA among all counties in the United States.[14]

Population by decade

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Places of interest

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Two petroglyphs are displayed at Writing Rock State Historical Site in Writing Rock Township.

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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[6]

Townships

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Politics

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Divide County, though formerly a swing county, now leans heavily Republican. It has selected the Republican party candidate in every presidential election since 2000.

United States presidential election results for Divide County, North Dakota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 904 75.21% 265 22.05% 33 2.75%
2016 867 71.12% 245 20.10% 107 8.78%
2012 733 63.08% 385 33.13% 44 3.79%
2008 630 55.70% 464 41.03% 37 3.27%
2004 751 59.23% 487 38.41% 30 2.37%
2000 443 55.79% 306 38.54% 45 5.67%
1996 488 36.42% 637 47.54% 215 16.04%
1992 515 31.79% 634 39.14% 471 29.07%
1988 869 49.15% 875 49.49% 24 1.36%
1984 1,165 63.32% 626 34.02% 49 2.66%
1980 1,267 66.06% 509 26.54% 142 7.40%
1976 881 44.54% 1,057 53.44% 40 2.02%
1972 1,230 60.29% 774 37.94% 36 1.76%
1968 1,032 50.39% 914 44.63% 102 4.98%
1964 779 34.15% 1,498 65.67% 4 0.18%
1960 1,348 51.95% 1,243 47.90% 4 0.15%
1956 1,296 51.99% 1,194 47.89% 3 0.12%
1952 1,999 70.79% 807 28.58% 18 0.64%
1948 981 48.14% 887 43.52% 170 8.34%
1944 1,225 44.19% 1,513 54.58% 34 1.23%
1940 1,437 44.32% 1,771 54.63% 34 1.05%
1936 585 16.54% 2,212 62.56% 739 20.90%
1932 817 24.02% 2,374 69.78% 211 6.20%
1928 1,963 60.36% 1,250 38.44% 39 1.20%
1924 743 30.43% 91 3.73% 1,608 65.85%
1920 2,438 80.81% 462 15.31% 117 3.88%
1916 707 39.41% 950 52.95% 137 7.64%
1912 404 28.59% 375 26.54% 634 44.87%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "County History". Official Portal for North Dakota State Government. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  5. ^ Jackson, William (2024). North Dakota Tornadoes Twisters & Cyclones. Dickinson, ND: Valley Star Publications. p. 9. ISBN 979-8-89480-378-4.
  6. ^ a b c "Divide County · North Dakota". Divide County · North Dakota. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  7. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Divide County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 17, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "United States Decennial Census". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  14. ^ "2010 US Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study - Links and Rankings (All Years)". Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
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48°49′N 103°29′W / 48.81°N 103.49°W / 48.81; -103.49

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