Grant County, North Dakota

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Grant County
County
Carson Roller Mill
Carson Roller Mill
Map of North Dakota highlighting Grant 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°21′28″N 101°38′21″W / 46.357827°N 101.639049°W / 46.357827; -101.639049
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedNovember 7, 1916 (created)
November 28, 1916 (organized)
Named afterUlysses S. Grant
SeatCarson
Largest cityElgin
Area
 • Total
1,666.014 sq mi (4,314.96 km2)
 • Land1,659.233 sq mi (4,297.39 km2)
 • Water6.781 sq mi (17.56 km2)  0.41%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,301
 • Estimate 
(2024)
2,247 Decrease
 • Density1.354/sq mi (0.523/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code701
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitegrantcountynd.com

Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,301.[1] The county seat is Carson and the largest city is Elgin.[2]

History

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The territory of Grant County was part of Morton County until 1916. On November 7 the county voters determined that the SW portion of the county would be partitioned off to form a new county, to be named after Ulysses S. Grant, the US President from 1869 to 1877. Accordingly, the county government was organized on November 28, with Carson as the seat. The county's boundaries have remained unchanged since its creation.[3][4][5]

Outline map of Grant County, North Dakota, 1918

Geography

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Heart Butte is a prominent geographic feature in Grant County, and the namesake for the nearby Heart Butte Dam.

The Heart River flows eastward through the upper part of Grant County, and Cedar Creek flows east-northeastward along the county's southern boundary line. The county terrain consists of isolated hills among rolling hills, carved by drainages. The semi-arid ground is partially devoted to agriculture.[6] The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest point is a rise near its southwestern corner, at 2,680 ft (820 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 1,666 square miles (4,310 km2), of which 1,659 square miles (4,300 km2) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km2) (0.4%) is water.[8] Lake Tschida, a Bureau of Reclamation reservoir and recreation area on the Heart River, is the county's largest body of water.[9]

The southwestern corner of North Dakota observes Mountain Time (Adams, Billings, Bowman, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Slope, and Stark counties). The counties of McKenzie, Dunn, and Sioux counties are split, with the western portions of each observing Mountain Time.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Source:[6]

Lakes

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Source:[6]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19209,553—
193010,1346.1%
19408,264−18.5%
19507,114−13.9%
19606,248−12.2%
19705,009−19.8%
19804,274−14.7%
19903,549−17.0%
20002,841−19.9%
20102,394−15.7%
20202,301−3.9%
2024 (est.)2,247[10]−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[1]

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Grant County was $90,910.[15]

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020, there were 2,301 people. 1,649 houses.

2010 census

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As of the census of 2010, there were 2,394 people, 1,128 households, and 694 families in the county. The population density was 1.4 inhabitants per square mile (0.54/km2). There were 1,690 housing units at an average density of 1.02 units per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.2% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 66.6% were German, 14.0% were Norwegian, 12.5% were Russian, 5.9% were Irish, 5.5% were English, and 2.2% were American.

Of the 1,128 households, 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.5% were non-families, and 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 51.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,500 and the median income for a family was $53,542. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $27,303 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,840. About 7.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Defunct township

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  • Otter Creek Township[16]

Politics

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Grant County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Grant County, North Dakota[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,076 82.39% 205 15.70% 25 1.91%
2020 1,145 82.91% 207 14.99% 29 2.10%
2016 1,108 80.23% 185 13.40% 88 6.37%
2012 1,025 72.54% 334 23.64% 54 3.82%
2008 873 64.91% 405 30.11% 67 4.98%
2004 952 76.65% 264 21.26% 26 2.09%
2000 1,077 75.47% 235 16.47% 115 8.06%
1996 760 55.51% 300 21.91% 309 22.57%
1992 900 45.94% 415 21.18% 644 32.87%
1988 1,351 66.13% 654 32.01% 38 1.86%
1984 1,607 74.92% 507 23.64% 31 1.45%
1980 1,891 80.85% 317 13.55% 131 5.60%
1976 1,205 53.37% 952 42.16% 101 4.47%
1972 1,569 70.17% 596 26.65% 71 3.18%
1968 1,648 71.78% 488 21.25% 160 6.97%
1964 1,421 57.11% 1,063 42.73% 4 0.16%
1960 1,794 65.21% 955 34.71% 2 0.07%
1956 1,872 72.03% 718 27.63% 9 0.35%
1952 2,465 85.32% 403 13.95% 21 0.73%
1948 1,555 66.94% 689 29.66% 79 3.40%
1944 1,745 80.64% 410 18.95% 9 0.42%
1940 2,815 81.52% 627 18.16% 11 0.32%
1936 1,022 29.57% 1,858 53.76% 576 16.67%
1932 657 17.98% 2,912 79.69% 85 2.33%
1928 1,759 54.59% 1,434 44.51% 29 0.90%
1924 1,120 39.07% 125 4.36% 1,622 56.57%
1920 2,184 83.17% 296 11.27% 146 5.56%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  3. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  4. ^ "County History". www.nd.gov. State of North Dakota. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  5. ^ Certification of the division of Morton County, ND 28 November 1916Archived July 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b c d e Grant County ND Google Maps (accessed February 19, 2019)
  7. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Grant County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 19, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Heart Butte Reservoir". Recreation.gov. Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  10. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  13. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  15. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  16. ^ "Geographic Change Notes for North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (TXT) on October 10, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

Further reading

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Kane, Joseph Nathan; Charles Curry Aiken (2004). The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950-2000. Scarecrow Press. p. 116. ISBN 0-8108-5036-2.

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