Minot Air Force Base

Minot Air Force Base (Minot AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in Ward County, North Dakota, 15 km (8 mi) north of Minot. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 7,599.

History

Minot Air Force Base official opened in 1957. The base started out as a Air Defense Command Base. A huge, windowless blast-resistant concrete building was built on the base that same year to house two large, 275-ton computers. Activated in June 1961, and known as the SAGE facility, it processed air surveillance information and sent the data to Air Defense Command units.

Strategic Air Command had unit assigned to Minot AFB in 1958 with air refueling support. In late January 1960, fighters moved onto the base The scope of operations grew as the Air Force assigned bombers to Minot in 1961. Also in 1961, the Air Force selected the land around Minot for a new Minuteman I complex.

Ownership of Minot passed from Air Defense Command to Strategic Air Command as Minot's mission changed. The SAGE center was deactivated in May 1963. During the 1970s Minot AFB converted to the Minuteman III.

In June 1992, the newly formed Air Combat Command became the host command at Minot.

Units

Minot Air Force Base is home to two major units:

The 5th Bomb Wing

The 5th Bomb Wing is the host unit at Minot AFB; its commander is the base commander, and the unit is responsible for all base services, such as the Library, the Officer's Club, etc. The primary mission of the 5th Bomb Wing is to maintain and operate B-52H Stratofortress bombers. Minot AFB is one of two bases with B-52s, the other is Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

The 91st Space Wing

The 91st Space Wing is responsible for maintaining the Minuteman III nuclear missiles located in three main fields across North Dakota. The Security Police of Minot AFB and the surrounding missile fields are attached to the 91st SW.

Geography

Minot AFB is located at 48°24′59″N 101°19′39″W¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.7 km² (7.6 mi²). 18.7 km² (7.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.01% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 7,599 people, 2,112 households, and 1,943 families residing in the town. The population density is 406.9/km² (1,053.9/mi²). There are 2,441 housing units at an average density of 130.7/km² (338.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 79.14% White, 10.23% African American, 0.70% Native American, 2.84% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 2.80% from other races, and 4.15% from two or more races. 6.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,112 households out of which 68.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 86.5% are married couples living together, 3.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 8.0% are non-families. 6.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.25 and the average family size is 3.40.

In the town the population is spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 24.0% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 1.5% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 120.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 126.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $32,255, and the median income for a family is $32,306. Males have a median income of $22,458 versus $16,659 for females. The per capita income for the town is $11,629. 5.2% of the population and 5.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.2% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Minot AFB website