Pierce County, North Dakota

Pierce County, North Dakota
Location in the state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 11, 1887
Seat	Rugby
Largest city	Rugby
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,082 sq mi (2,802 km²) 1,018 sq mi (2,637 km²) 64 sq mi (166 km²), 5.95%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	4,357 5/sq mi (2/km²)

Pierce County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of 2010, the population was 4,357. Its county seat is Rugby.

The county was created by the 1887 territorial legislature and named for Gilbert Ashville Pierce, governor of Dakota Territory from 1884 to 1886 and a representative of North Dakota in the United States Senate from 1889 to 1891. The county government was first organized on April 6, 1889; Rugby has always been the county seat.

The geographical center of North America is in Pierce County, about 6 miles (10 km) west of Balta. Rugby has a monument for the center at the intersection of US 2 and ND 3.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,082 square miles (2,803 km²), of which, 1,018 square miles (2,636 km²) of it is land and 64 square miles (167 km²) of it (5.95%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 2
• U.S. Highway 52
• North Dakota Route 3
• North Dakota Route 60
• North Dakota Route 17
• North Dakota Route 19

Townships

Alexanter Antelope Lake Balta Elling Elverum

Hagel Jefferson Meyer Ness Reno Valley

Rush Lake Torgerson Truman Tuscarora White

Adjacent counties

• Rolette County (north)
• Towner County (northeast)
• Benson County (east)
• Wells County (southeast)
• Sheridan County (southwest)
• McHenry County (west)
• Bottineau County (northwest)

National protected area

• Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	905		—
1900	4,765		426.5%
1910	9,740		104.4%
1920	9,283		−4.7%
1930	9,074		−2.3%
1940	9,208		1.5%
1950	8,326		−9.6%
1960	7,394		−11.2%
1970	6,323		−14.5%
1980	6,166		−2.5%
1990	5,052		−18.1%
2000	4,675		−7.5%
2010	4,357		−6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,675 people, 1,964 households, and 1,276 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,269 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.50% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 47.7% were of German and 32.7% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 1,964 households out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.00% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 24.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,524, and the median income for a family was $34,412. Males had a median income of $25,037 versus $16,946 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,055. About 9.30% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 17.00% of those age 65 or over.

Places

Cities

• Balta
• Rugby
• Wolford

Note: all incorporated communities in North Dakota are called "cities" regardless of their size.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pierce County, North Dakota