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Mercer County, North Dakota
County in North Dakota, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mercer County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,350.[1] and was estimated to be 8,348 in 2024.[2] The county seat is Stanton and the largest city is Beulah.[3]
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History
The Dakota Territory legislature enacted a 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,[4] (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.[5][6]
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Geography
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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.[7] The terrain slopes to the north and east; its highest point is near the midpoint of its southern boundary, at 2,451 ft (747 m) ASL.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,112.597 square miles (2,881.61 km2), of which 1,042.781 square miles (2,700.79 km2) is land and 69.816 square miles (180.82 km2) (6.28%) is water.[9] It is the 35th largest county in North Dakota by total area.[10]
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 [11] 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
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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
Source:[7]
- Beaver Creek State Game Management Area
- Hazen Bay Recreation Area
- Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
- Lake Sakakawea State Park
Lake
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Demographics
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As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Mercer County was $207,885.[17]
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 3,594 estimated households in Mercer County with an average of 2.27 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $79,405. Approximately 8.1% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Mercer County has an estimated 55.5% employment rate, with 22.6% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 90.4% holding a high school diploma.[2]
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (93.7%), Spanish (1.1%), Indo-European (3.9%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.5%), and Other (0.9%).
The median age in the county was 42.8 years.
Mercer County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
2024 estimate
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 8,348 people and 3,594 households residing in the county. There were 4,685 housing units at an average density of 4.49 per square mile (1.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% White (91.5% NH White), 0.6% African American, 3.0% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.8% of the population.[23]
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 8,350 people, 3,475 households, and 2,339 families residing in the county.[24] The population density was 8.01 inhabitants per square mile (3.1/km2). There were 4,657 housing units at an average density of 4.47 per square mile (1.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.28% White, 0.50% African American, 2.40% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from some other races and 4.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.61% of the population.[25]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 8,424 people, 3,625 households, and 2,500 families residing in the county. The population density was 8.08 inhabitants per square mile (3.1/km2). There were 4,450 housing units at an average density of 4.27 per square mile (1.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.58% White, 0.20% African American, 2.33% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from some other races and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.44% 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.
There were 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
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Communities
Cities
Politics
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Mercer County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
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Education
School districts include:[27]
- 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.[28]
Riverdale School District 89 had portions in Mercer County and in McLean County. The Associated Press described the district as "divided equally" between the counties. In 1993 members of the Riverdale School District school board voted to abolish their school district, with the Underwood and Hazen districts to obtain pieces of it.[29]
Zap formerly had its own school district. In 1994 the district voted to dissolve.[30]
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See also
References
External links
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