Mountrail County, North Dakota

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Mountrail County

| state = North Dakota

| seal =

| founded = January 4, 1873
1892 (eliminated)
January 29, 1909 (reestablished)

| seat wl = Stanley

| largest city wl = New Town

| area_total_sq_mi = 1942

| area_land_sq_mi = 1825

| area_water_sq_mi = 116

| area percentage = 6.0

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 9809

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 9383 {{decrease}}

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| web = http://www.co.mountrail.nd.us/

| district = At-large

| ex image = Mountrail County Courthouse - Stanley, North Dakota 10-18-2008.jpg

| ex image cap = Mountrail County Courthouse in Stanley

}}

Mountrail County is a county in the northwestern part of North Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,809.{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mountrailcountynorthdakota/PST045223 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 9, 2024}} Its county seat is Stanley.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}} The county was originally created in 1873, then removed in 1892, annexed by Ward County. It was re-created and organized in 1909.{{cite web|url=http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=83&id=County%20History|title=County History|work=North Dakota.gov|publisher=The State of North Dakota|access-date=February 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202151843/http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=83&id=County%20History|archive-date=February 2, 2015|url-status=dead}} The county is home to the headquarters of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara people, and a large part of the county belongs to the tribe's Fort Berthold reservation.{{Cite web |title=Our Tribe |url=https://www.mhanation.com/our-tribe |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=MHA Nation |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Mountrail County ND |url=https://www.nd-direct.com/counties/mountrail.php |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=www.nd-direct.com}}

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county (as Mountraille County) on January 4, 1873, with area annexed from Buffalo County. The origin of its name came from Joseph Mountraille, a locally famed Metis voyageur and mail carrier from Pembina under Norman Kittson's employment.{{cite web |title=County History - North Dakota State Government - ND Portal |url=https://www.nd.gov/government/state-government/county-history |website=nd.gov |publisher=State of North Dakota |access-date=May 11, 2023}}{{cite book |last1=Lounsberry |first1=Clement A. (Clement Augustus) |title=Early history of North Dakota: essential outlines of American history |date=1919 |publisher=Liberty Press |location=Washington, D. C. |page=237 |url=https://archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofnor00loun/page/234/mode/2up?q=%22Joseph+mountraille%22 |access-date=May 11, 2023 |ref=urn:oclc:record:1043013029}} The county was not organized at that time, nor was it attached to another county for administrative or judicial purposes. The new county lost territory in 1885 when a portion was annexed off to create Garfield County (now extinct). This situation continued until February 21, 1891, when Mountrail County was attached to Ward County, for "judicial and other purposes". The following year (November 8, 1892), the North Dakota legislature voted to dissolve the county and have its territory absorbed by Ward County.

An election held in Ward County on November 3, 1908, authorized the re-creation of Mountrail County, although with different boundaries than the previous county proposal. The countywide vote totals were 4207 to 4024, but the result was contested in court. On January 16, 1909, the state Supreme Court upheld the vote,{{cite court|litigants= State ex rel. McCue v. Blaisdell|vol=119|reporter=N.W.|opinion=360|court=N.D.|date=1909|url=https://cite.case.law/nd/18/31/}}

so the county government was organized on January 29 of that year.{{cite web|url=http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies|access-date=February 25, 2019|last=Long|first=John H.|year=2006|work=Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111113432/http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|archive-date=November 11, 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/Dakota_Territory/viewer.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811214832/http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/Dakota_Territory/viewer.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2006|title=Dakota Territory Historical Counties: Interactive Map|access-date=July 6, 2010|work=Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library}}{{cite web|url=http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/viewer.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060811215218/http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/viewer.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2006|title=North Dakota Historical Counties: Interactive Map|access-date=July 6, 2010|work=Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library }}

Oil production from the Bakken formation in the early 21st century attracted workers and reversed decades of population decline in the county. From 2010 to 2015, especially, population markedly increased, creating its own strains.

File:Map of Mountrail County, N.D., 1917.jpg

Geography

The Missouri River flows southeastward along the SW boundary line of Mountrail County, and Shell Creek drains the lower central part of the county into the Missouri, discharging at Shell Creek Bay. The terrain consists of rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture. Its NE portion is dotted with ponds and lakes.{{Cite web |title=Mountrail County · North Dakota |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mountrail+County,+ND/@47.9412318,-102.3031881,7463m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x5326f09295d85f31:0xea7cea4b6ebf5ad6!8m2!3d48.2169859!4d-102.326433 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=Google Maps |language=en}} The Laurentian Divide runs east–west through the central part of the county, with the northern areas sloping to the north and the southern areas sloping to the south. Its highest point is on the upper west boundary line, at {{convert|2,480|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Mountrail County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 25, 2019) |access-date=February 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead }} The county has a total area of {{convert|1942|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1825|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|116|sqmi}} (6.0%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_38.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 1, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129045530/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_38.txt|archive-date=January 29, 2015}}

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

=Major highways=

=Transit=

Amtrak Empire Builder (Stanley station)

=Adjacent counties=

Burke County - north
Ward County - east
McLean County - southeast
Dunn County - south
McKenzie County - southwest
Williams County - west

=Protected areas=

Source:

Crow Flies High Butte
Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Palermo State Game Management Area
Reunion Point Public Use Area
Shell Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Van Hook State Game Management Area
Van Hook State Wildlife Management Area

=Lakes=

Source:

Cottonwood Lake
Lake Sakakawea
Powers Lake (part)
Rat Lake
Robinson Lake
Shell Lake
Van Hook Arm
White Lake

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1910= 8491

|1920= 12140

|1930= 13544

|1940= 10482

|1950= 9418

|1960= 10077

|1970= 8437

|1980= 7679

|1990= 7021

|2000= 6631

|2010= 7673

|2020= 9809

|estyear=2023

|estimate=9383

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2023}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 1, 2015}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=February 1, 2015}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nd190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=April 20, 1995|access-date=February 1, 2015}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=February 1, 2015}} 2010-2020

}}

=2020 census=

As of the 2020 census, there were 9,809 people, 3,715 households, and 2,407 families in the county.{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Mountrail%20County,%20North%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=May 9, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|5.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}} There were 5,108 housing units.

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 census, there were 7,673 people, 2,793 households, and 1,852 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|4.20|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 4,119 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.26|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 65.6% White, 30.6% Native American, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 36.6% were Norwegian, 24.4% were German, 6.6% were Irish, and 0.8% were American.

Of the 2,793 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.7% were non-families, and 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 37.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,912 and the median income for a family was $63,238. Males had a median income of $43,386 versus $29,432 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,762. About 13.5% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

=Population by decade=

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bar:1990 text:1990

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Communities

=Cities=

=Unincorporated communities=

Source:

Belden
Blaisdell
Coulee
Lostwood
Lunds Valley
Prairie Junction
Sanish
Tagus
Van Hook
Wabek Wabek Consolidated School

Government

Aspects of county government are subdivided into townships.

=Townships=

Politics

Mountrail County was historically a swing county, but now leans strongly Republican. Bill Clinton won both of his terms, and Barack Obama carried this county in the 2008 election. However, he wasn't able to carry this county in 2012, falling to Republican Mitt Romney by over 16%. Kamala Harris received the smallest vote by a Democratic candidate (27.6%) since Progressive Party candidate Robert La Follette received an overwhelming vote in 1924.

{{PresHead|place=Mountrail County, North Dakota|whig=no|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=December 23, 2020}}|source2=The leading "other" candidate, Socialist Eugene Debs received 372 votes, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 347 votes, while Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 18 votes.}}

Education

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st38_nd/schooldistrict_maps/c38061_mountrail/DC20SD_C38061.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Mountrail County, ND|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-11-30}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st38_nd/schooldistrict_maps/c38061_mountrail/DC20SD_C38061_SD2MS.txt Text list]

References

External links

Mountrail County maps, [https://www.dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/mountrail_sheet1.pdf Sheet 1] (northern) and [https://www.dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/mountrail_sheet2.pdf Sheet 2] (southern), North Dakota DOT

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Mountrail County, North Dakota

|North = Burke County

|East = Ward County

|Southeast = McLean County

|South = Dunn County

|Southwest = McKenzie County

|West = Williams County

}}

{{Coord|48.20|-102.37|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-ND_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:North Dakota counties on the Missouri River

Category:1909 establishments in North Dakota