Barnes County, North Dakota

Barnes County
Barnes County Courthouse
Map of North Dakota highlighting Barnes County
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°56′N 98°04′W / 46.93°N 98.07°W / 46.93; -98.07
Country United States
State North Dakota
Founded1872 (created as Burbank)
1874 (renamed as Barnes)
January 6, 1879 (organized)
Named forjudge Alanson H. Barnes
SeatValley City
Largest cityValley City
Area
 • Total1,513 sq mi (3,920 km2)
 • Land1,492 sq mi (3,860 km2)
 • Water22 sq mi (60 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,853
 • Estimate 
(2022)
10,758 Decrease
 • Density7.2/sq mi (2.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.barnescounty.us

Barnes County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,853.[1] Its county seat is Valley City.[2]

In 1872, the Dakota Territory legislature authorized Burbank County (named for governor John A. Burbank); in 1874 they renamed it Barnes County, for Alanson H. Barnes (1818–1890), an associate justice of the Territorial Court. It was organized at Valley City on January 6, 1879.[3]

Geography[edit]

Native vegetation based on NRCS soils information

The Sheyenne River flows southerly through the central part of Barnes County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, carved with drainages, and dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[4] The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on its upper west boundary line, at 1,535 ft (468 m) ASL.[5] The county has a total area of 1,513 square miles (3,920 km2), of which 1,492 square miles (3,860 km2) is land and 22 square miles (57 km2) (1.4%) is water.[6]

Major highways[edit]

Transit[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Protected areas[edit]

[4]

Lakes[edit]

  • Lake Ashtabula
  • Eckelson Lake
  • Fox Lake
  • Goose Lake
  • Hobart Lake
  • Island Lake
  • Kee Lake
  • Lake Benson
  • Meadow Lake
  • Moon Lake
  • Mud Lake
  • Round Lake
  • Saint Marys Lake
  • Sanborn Lake
  • Tomahawk Lake

[4]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18801,585
18907,045344.5%
190013,15986.8%
191018,06637.3%
192018,6783.4%
193018,8040.7%
194017,814−5.3%
195016,884−5.2%
196016,719−1.0%
197014,669−12.3%
198013,960−4.8%
199012,545−10.1%
200011,775−6.1%
201011,066−6.0%
202010,853−1.9%
2022 (est.)10,758[7]−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census[edit]

As of the census of 2020, there were 10,853 people.

2010 census[edit]

As of the census of 2010, there were 11,066 people, 4,826 households, and 2,927 families residing in the county. The population density was 7.4 inhabitants per square mile (2.9/km2). There were 5,704 housing units at an average density of 3.8 units per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.7% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 48.4% were German, 37.2% were Norwegian, 8.3% were Irish, 5.2% were English, and 2.7% were American.

Of the 4,826 households, 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.3% were non-families, and 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.79. The median age was 44.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,773 and the median income for a family was $59,558. Males had a median income of $42,575 versus $30,361 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,152. About 6.4% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade[edit]

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

Notable people[edit]

Politics[edit]

Barnes County is a reliable bellwether for the state of North Dakota, having voted for the statewide winner in every presidential election since 1896. Like North Dakota as a whole, Barnes County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic County candidate.

United States presidential election results for Barnes County, North Dakota[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,568 64.12% 1,820 32.70% 177 3.18%
2016 3,160 59.13% 1,597 29.88% 587 10.98%
2012 2,964 53.68% 2,394 43.35% 164 2.97%
2008 2,826 49.63% 2,741 48.14% 127 2.23%
2004 3,541 60.92% 2,186 37.61% 86 1.48%
2000 3,452 60.06% 1,933 33.63% 363 6.32%
1996 2,449 44.79% 2,317 42.37% 702 12.84%
1992 2,728 42.30% 2,124 32.94% 1,597 24.76%
1988 3,631 55.47% 2,858 43.66% 57 0.87%
1984 4,348 62.79% 2,507 36.20% 70 1.01%
1980 4,392 59.79% 2,128 28.97% 826 11.24%
1976 4,011 53.75% 3,321 44.51% 130 1.74%
1972 4,518 61.14% 2,804 37.95% 67 0.91%
1968 3,831 56.30% 2,623 38.55% 351 5.16%
1964 2,987 42.62% 4,007 57.18% 14 0.20%
1960 4,403 57.71% 3,223 42.25% 3 0.04%
1956 4,475 61.99% 2,730 37.82% 14 0.19%
1952 5,534 71.84% 2,120 27.52% 49 0.64%
1948 3,385 51.33% 2,892 43.86% 317 4.81%
1944 3,696 55.55% 2,922 43.92% 35 0.53%
1940 4,649 57.67% 3,384 41.97% 29 0.36%
1936 2,324 30.00% 4,484 57.89% 938 12.11%
1932 2,527 32.96% 4,833 63.04% 307 4.00%
1928 3,755 53.01% 3,293 46.49% 35 0.49%
1924 3,205 51.46% 346 5.56% 2,677 42.98%
1920 5,150 80.27% 1,101 17.16% 165 2.57%
1916 1,467 45.08% 1,678 51.57% 109 3.35%
1912 570 24.72% 940 40.76% 796 34.52%
1908 1,786 62.06% 996 34.61% 96 3.34%
1904 2,041 76.13% 451 16.82% 189 7.05%
1900 1,324 53.78% 1,077 43.74% 61 2.48%

Education[edit]

School districts:[13]

Former districts:

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "County History". North Dakota.gov. The State of North Dakota. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Barnes County ND Google Maps (accessed February 13, 2019)
  5. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Barnes County ND - Google Maps (accessed February 13, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  8. ^ "United States Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Barnes County, ND" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2022. - Text list - 2010 map and 2010 text list
  14. ^ a b "Enrollment History Public School Districts 2009-2021". North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. Retrieved August 19, 2021. - Check the 2020-2021 spreadsheet, which lists a single "Hope Page" school district, and compare with all previous sheets which show them as two separate school districts.
  15. ^ "School districts agree to consolidate". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. November 7, 2002. p. 8A. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.

External links[edit]

46°56′N 98°04′W / 46.93°N 98.07°W / 46.93; -98.07