Bowman County, North Dakota

Bowman County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,993.[1] Its county seat is Bowman.[2]

Bowman County
Dakota Western Bank in Bowman, North Dakota
Dakota Western Bank in Bowman, North Dakota
Map of North Dakota highlighting Bowman 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°07′N 103°31′W / 46.11°N 103.52°W / 46.11; -103.52
Country United States
State North Dakota
Founded1883 (created)
1907 (organized)
Named forEdward M. Bowman
SeatBowman
Largest cityBowman
Area
 • Total1,167 sq mi (3,020 km2)
 • Land1,162 sq mi (3,010 km2)
 • Water5.2 sq mi (13 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,993
 • Estimate 
(2022)
2,894 Decrease
 • Density2.6/sq mi (0.99/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitebowmannd.com

History

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The legislature of the Dakota Territory designated Bowman (named for Edward M. Bowman, a member of the territorial House of Representatives during the 1883 session) as a separate county on March 8, 1883, although it was not organized at that time. In 1885, its boundaries were altered to cede territory to Billings and Villard Counties (Villard itself was eliminated in 1887). In 1891, and again in 1896, the South Dakota legislature eliminated the not-yet-organized Bowman County, due to scant settlement in the area, but these actions either were not put into effect (the 1891 vote) or were overturned in judicial appeal (the 1896 vote).

A decision by the North Dakota supreme court on May 24, 1901, resurrected Bowman County. That decision also caused the county's area to slightly increase; its former boundary descriptions were replaced by descriptions based on the boundary lines of adjacent jurisdictions, which added a strip along its south border and another strip along its east border.

Since the scantily-populated county was still unorganized, in March 1903 the legislature attached the area to Stark County for judicial purposes. This state of affairs continued until November 1904, when the legislature again dissolved the county and assigned its territory to Billings County. However, on June 10, 1907, ND Governor John Burke issued a proclamation which re-created Bowman County. This proclamation did not attach the area to any other area for judicial purposes, so on July 5, 1907, the new county's organization was set up, and Bowman was confirmed as the county seat.[3][4]

The US Navy ship USS Bowman County (LST-391), a tank landing ship in World War II, was named for this county.

Geography

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Bowman County lies at the southwestern corner of North Dakota; its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of South Dakota, and its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Montana. The Little Missouri River flows northward through the west part of the county; the North Fork of the Grand River flows easterly through the lower part of the county, filling Bowman-Haley Lake in the process. Spring Creek flows south-southeasterly through the central part of the county, discharging into Bowman-Haley Lake.

Bowman County's terrain consists of semi-arid high hills running north–south through the west-central part of the county, with lower hills in the remaining territory. The area is partially used for agriculture.[5] The western part slopes to the north and west; the eastern part slopes to the east and south. Its highest point is on the south boundary line, toward its southwestern corner, at 3,228 ft (984 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 1,167 square miles (3,020 km2), of which 1,162 square miles (3,010 km2) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Lakes

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  • Bowman-Haley Lake
  • Gascoyne Lake

[5]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19104,668
19204,7682.1%
19305,1197.4%
19403,860−24.6%
19504,0013.7%
19604,1543.8%
19703,901−6.1%
19804,2298.4%
19903,596−15.0%
20003,242−9.8%
20103,151−2.8%
20202,993−5.0%
2022 (est.)2,894[8]−3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020, there were 2,993 people.

2010 census

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As of the census of 2010, there were 3,151 people, 1,385 households, and 873 families in the county. The population density was 2.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.0/km2). There were 1,683 housing units at an average density of 1.4 per square mile (0.54/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.9% white, 0.6% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 47.4% were German, 28.1% were Norwegian, 9.9% were Irish, 6.4% were Swedish, 6.4% were English, 5.4% were American, and 5.2% were Polish.

Of the 1,385 households, 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.0% were non-families, and 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 46.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,063 and the median income for a family was $63,897. Males had a median income of $41,542 versus $27,269 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,354. About 3.9% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Communities

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Detailed map of Bowman County

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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  • Griffin
  • Haley

[5]

Townships

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Unorganized Territories

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Politics

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Bowman County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Bowman County, North Dakota[13][14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,395 84.19% 228 13.76% 34 2.05%
2016 1,446 80.92% 227 12.70% 114 6.38%
2012 1,280 73.69% 414 23.83% 43 2.48%
2008 1,107 67.50% 478 29.15% 55 3.35%
2004 1,280 74.59% 397 23.14% 39 2.27%
2000 1,080 73.42% 330 22.43% 61 4.15%
1996 710 48.20% 489 33.20% 274 18.60%
1992 712 37.34% 506 26.53% 689 36.13%
1988 1,111 59.51% 737 39.48% 19 1.02%
1984 1,559 72.55% 562 26.15% 28 1.30%
1980 1,507 70.49% 454 21.23% 177 8.28%
1976 1,033 51.70% 911 45.60% 54 2.70%
1972 1,111 61.69% 643 35.70% 47 2.61%
1968 927 56.46% 559 34.04% 156 9.50%
1964 756 41.38% 1,070 58.57% 1 0.05%
1960 1,038 54.98% 847 44.86% 3 0.16%
1956 1,007 58.34% 715 41.43% 4 0.23%
1952 1,375 71.21% 540 27.96% 16 0.83%
1948 723 49.83% 597 41.14% 131 9.03%
1944 785 55.67% 609 43.19% 16 1.13%
1940 927 50.63% 882 48.17% 22 1.20%
1936 534 26.57% 1,118 55.62% 358 17.81%
1932 616 28.31% 1,292 59.38% 268 12.32%
1928 1,031 54.99% 821 43.79% 23 1.23%
1924 776 45.17% 67 3.90% 875 50.93%
1920 1,192 69.79% 321 18.79% 195 11.42%
1916 374 32.49% 685 59.51% 92 7.99%
1912 302 29.18% 361 34.88% 372 35.94%
1908 451 66.13% 209 30.65% 22 3.23%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "County History". Official Portal for North Dakota State Government. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Bowman County ND Google Maps (accessed February 15, 2019)
  6. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Bowman County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 15, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Census.gov. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "United States Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  14. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 258 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 99 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 15 votes.
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46°07′N 103°31′W / 46.11°N 103.52°W / 46.11; -103.52