Grand Forks County, North Dakota

Grand Forks County
Grand Forks County
County
	Grand Forks County Courthouse
	Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
	North Dakota's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 47°55′N 97°27′W / 47.92°N 97.45°W
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
Founded	January 4, 1873 (created); March 2, 1875 (organized)
Seat	Grand Forks
Largest city	Grand Forks
Area
• Total	1,440 sq mi (3,700 km2)
• Land	1,436 sq mi (3,720 km2)
• Water	3.1 sq mi (8 km2) 0.2%
Population (2020)
• Total	73,170
• Estimate (2023)	72,708
• Density	51/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.gfcounty.nd.gov

Grand Forks County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, its population was 73,170,^[1] making it the third most populous county in North Dakota. Its county seat and largest community is Grand Forks.^[2]

History

Using territory annexed from Pembina County, the Dakota Territory legislature created Grand Forks County on January 4, 1873. Its governing structure was not established at that time, nor was the territory attached to another county for administrative and judicial purposes. The government was organized on March 2, 1875.

The county's boundaries were altered in 1875, 1881, and 1883. It has retained its present boundary since 1883.^[3]^[4]

Grand Forks County is included in the Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Grand Forks County lies on the east side of North Dakota. Its eastern boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Minnesota (across the Red River). The Red River flows northward along the county's east border, on its way to Lake Winnipeg and Hudson Bay. The Forest River flows eastward and northward across the upper western part of the county.

The terrain of Grand Forks County consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture except around urban areas.^[5] The terrain slopes to the north and east; its highest point is a hill at its southwestern corner, at 1,450 ft (440 m) ASL.^[6] The county has a total area of 1,440 square miles (3,700 km²), of which 1,436 square miles (3,720 km²) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²) (0.2%) is water.^[7]

The University of North Dakota has established a Field Biology Station on Forest River, at the county's northern border. In 2013 it partnered with ND Game & Fish Department to establish a 160-acre (0.65 km²) wildlife management area at the station, to monitor whitetail deer activity in the forest.^[8] The field station is tasked with identifying plants native and endemic to the area. A total of 498 plants have been collected at the Forest River Biology Station and Wildlife Management Area.^[9]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Walsh County - north
Marshall County, Minnesota - northeast
Polk County, Minnesota - east
Traill County - southeast
Steele County - southwest
Nelson County - west

Protected areas

Source:^[5]

Forest River Biology Station/Wildlife Management Area
Grand Forks County Larimore Dam Recreation Area
Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Little Goose National Wildlife Refuge
Prairie Chicken State Game Management Area
Turtle River State Park

Lakes

Source:^[5]

Fordville Dam
Larimore Dam
Smith Lakes

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	6,248		—
1890	18,357		193.8%
1900	24,459		33.2%
1910	27,888		14.0%
1920	28,795		3.3%
1930	31,956		11.0%
1940	34,518		8.0%
1950	39,448		14.3%
1960	48,677		23.4%
1970	61,102		25.5%
1980	66,100		8.2%
1990	70,683		6.9%
2000	66,109		−6.5%
2010	66,861		1.1%
2020	73,170		9.4%
2022 (est.)	72,708	^[10]	−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census^[11] 1790-1960^[12] 1900-1990^[13] 1990-2000^[14] 2010-2020^[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 73,170 people, 30,658 households, and 16,186 families in the county.^[15] The population density was 50.9 inhabitants per square mile (19.7/km²) There were 33,428 housing units.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 66,861 people, 27,417 households, and 15,215 families in the county. The population density was 46.5 inhabitants per square mile (18.0/km²). There were 29,344 housing units at an average density of 20.4 units per square mile (7.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.3% white, 2.5% American Indian, 2.0% black or African American, 1.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 34.1% were German, 33.8% were Norwegian, 9.5% were Irish, 5.8% were Polish, 5.3% were English, and 2.9% were American.

Of the 27,417 households, 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 44.5% were non-families, and 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 29.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,242 and the median income for a family was $65,804. Males had a median income of $40,622 versus $31,633 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,276. About 8.2% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Grand Forks AFB

Other communities

Source:^[5]

Arvilla
Emerado
Forest River Colony
Hannah Junction
Johnstown
Kelly
Kempton
Logan Center
McCanna
Mekinock

Townships

Township Numbers and Range Numbers^[16]
	Range 56	Range 55	Range 54	Range 53	Range 52	Range 51	Range 50	Range 49
Township 154	Elkmount	Inkster	Strabane	Johnstown	Levant	Turtle River	Turte River
Township 153	Plymouth	Agnes	Wheatfield	Gilby	Lakeville	Ferry	Ferry
Township 152	Niagara	Elm Grove	Hegton	Mekinock	Blooming	Rye	Falconer
Township 151	Moraine	Larimore	Arvilla	Chester	Oakville	Brenna	Grand Forks
Township 150	Logan Center	Grace	Avon	Pleasant View	Fairfield	Allendale	Walle	Walle
Township 149	Loretta	Lind	Northwood	Washington	Union	Micbigan	Americus	Bentru

Politics

Like all parts of North Dakota other than areas with reservations, Grand Forks County voters historically and currently vote Republican at the presidential level. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. However, the large student population has kept margins closer in recent elections.

United States presidential election results for Grand Forks County, North Dakota^[17]^[18]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	16,987	54.85%	12,880	41.59%	1,105	3.57%
2016	16,340	53.81%	10,851	35.74%	3,174	10.45%
2012	15,060	50.15%	14,032	46.73%	937	3.12%
2008	14,520	46.34%	16,104	51.40%	709	2.26%
2004	17,298	56.77%	12,646	41.50%	526	1.73%
2000	15,875	55.93%	10,593	37.32%	1,917	6.75%
1996	11,606	44.92%	11,376	44.03%	2,854	11.05%
1992	13,705	44.06%	10,930	35.14%	6,469	20.80%
1988	14,801	53.76%	12,494	45.38%	236	0.86%
1984	15,898	60.70%	10,050	38.37%	243	0.93%
1980	14,257	57.65%	6,997	28.29%	3,477	14.06%
1976	13,820	52.71%	11,545	44.03%	853	3.25%
1972	13,361	56.92%	9,416	40.11%	698	2.97%
1968	9,802	52.00%	7,695	40.82%	1,352	7.17%
1964	7,367	40.53%	10,740	59.09%	68	0.37%
1960	10,997	56.85%	8,341	43.12%	5	0.03%
1956	10,289	62.17%	6,231	37.65%	30	0.18%
1952	10,939	65.65%	5,639	33.84%	84	0.50%
1948	6,374	46.23%	6,996	50.74%	419	3.04%
1944	5,668	42.19%	7,707	57.37%	59	0.44%
1940	7,043	45.42%	8,396	54.15%	67	0.43%
1936	4,312	29.64%	9,222	63.39%	1,015	6.98%
1932	5,090	39.46%	7,579	58.75%	231	1.79%
1928	8,024	64.86%	4,300	34.76%	47	0.38%
1924	6,690	62.81%	943	8.85%	3,018	28.34%
1920	7,646	74.00%	2,527	24.46%	159	1.54%
1916	2,159	41.94%	2,814	54.66%	175	3.40%
1912	955	23.88%	1,492	37.31%	1,552	38.81%
1908	2,740	57.41%	1,750	36.66%	283	5.93%
1904	2,807	73.16%	828	21.58%	202	5.26%
1900	2,603	61.33%	1,532	36.10%	109	2.57%