Golden Valley County, North Dakota
| Golden Valley County, North Dakota | |
 Location in the state of North Dakota |
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 North Dakota's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | September 19, 1912[1] |
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| Seat | Beach |
| Largest city | Beach |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,002 sq mi (2,595 km²) 1,002 sq mi (2,595 km²) 0 sq mi (0 km²), 0.04% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
1,680 192/sq mi (074/km²) |
Golden Valley County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of 2010, the population was 1,680.[2] Its county seat is Beach.[3]
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[edit] History
Golden Valley was originally part of Billings County. Voters elected to separate from Billings County in 1910, but litigation prevented formal organization of the county until 1912. The territory in the surrounding area was colloquially referred to as, Rattlesnake Flats, due to the large number of the snakes found in the area. The region was dubbed Golden Valley in 1902 after a group of land surveyors noticed that the sunlight gave the surrounding grasses a distinct golden color.[4]
[edit] Election Controversy
The vote in 1910 to create Golden Valley County was 837 for and 756 against. Shortly after the vote was certified, suit was filed against the Billings County Commission to overturn the result. The plaintiffs alleged that the certification of election was improper, and that certain pre-marked "unofficial" ballots printed by supporters of the new county were cast in place of official ballots, and should be voided. The trial court originally ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The county appealed to the North Dakota Supreme Court, which uphled the county's certification of the election. The court also ruled the pre-marked ballots were invalid, but that the number of invalid votes was not sufficient to overturn the election results.[5] The court's decision upholding the new county was made on September 19, 1912, and Golden Valley was formally organized on November 13, 1912.[1]
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,002 square miles (2,595.2 km2). All but 240 acres (0.97 km2) of it is dry land. The total area is 0.04% water.
[edit] Townships
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[edit] Major highways
Interstate 94
North Dakota Highway 16
[edit] Adjacent counties
- McKenzie County (north)
- Billings County (east)
- Slope County (south)
- Fallon County, Montana (southwest)
- Wibaux County, Montana (west)
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McKenzie County | |
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| Wibaux County, Montana |  |
Billings County | ||
 Golden Valley County, North Dakota  |
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| Fallon County, Montana | Slope County |
[edit] National protected area
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 4,832 |
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| 1930 | 4,122 | −14.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,498 | −15.1% | |
| 1950 | 3,499 | 0% | |
| 1960 | 3,100 | −11.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,611 | −15.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,391 | −8.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,108 | −11.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,924 | −8.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,680 | −12.7% | |
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As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,924 people, 761 households, and 506 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.92 people per square mile (0.74/km²). There were 973 housing units at an average density of 0.97 per square mile (0.37/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.77% White, 0.73% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. 49.4% were of German, 13.7% Norwegian and 5.6% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 761 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 4.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 31.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.30% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 22.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 21.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,967, and the median income for a family was $37,105. Males had a median income of $25,478 versus $18,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,173. About 10.80% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.40% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Places
[edit] Cities
Note: all incorporated communities in North Dakota are called "cities" regardless of their size.
[edit] Notable people
- A. C. Townley, founder of the North Dakota Nonpartisan League.[4]
- Ernest Viggo Almquist, commercial artist [7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Long, John H. (2006). "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ a b North Dakota Historical Records Survey (1941). Inventory of the County Archives of North Dakota. No. 17, Golden Valley County. Bismarck, North Dakota: North Dakota Historical Records Survey. Retrieved via Ancestry.com.
- ^ Pederson v. Board of Commissioners of Billings County, 23 N.D. 547. , {{{litigants}}}137 N.W. 484 (N.D. 1912). Retrieved via Westlaw.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Frontier Cavalcade, The Dickinson Press, March 14, 1957
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