Wikipedia

Mercer County, North Dakota

Not to be confused with Mercer, North Dakota.

Mercer County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,350.[1] Its county seat is Stanton.[2]

Mercer County
County
Cities of Mercer, left-to-right, up-to-down; Beulah, Golden Valley, Hazen, Pick City, Stanton, and Zap
Cities of Mercer, left-to-right, up-to-down; Beulah, Golden Valley, Hazen, Pick City, Stanton, and Zap
Map of North Dakota highlighting Mercer 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: 47°18′N 101°49′W / 47.3°N 101.82°W / 47.3; -101.82
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedJanuary 14, 1875 (created)
November 6, 1883 (organized)
Named forW. H. H. Mercer
SeatStanton
Largest cityBeulah
Area
 • Total
1,112 sq mi (2,880 km2)
 • Land1,043 sq mi (2,700 km2)
 • Water70 sq mi (200 km2)  6.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,350
 • Estimate 
(2022)
8,333 Decrease
 • Density7.5/sq mi (2.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.mercercountynd.com

History

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The Dakota Territory legislature enacted a January 8, 1873 law to create a county named Mercer, whose boundaries would be identical to Pratt (a now-extinct county). This county did not come into existence, as the 1873 act was nullified on January 14, 1875, by the legislature. On that date the legislature created another Mercer County, from previously unorganized territory. The county was named for William Henry Harrison Mercer,[3] (1844–1901), a rancher who settled north of Bismarck in 1869. The unorganized county was not attached to another county for judicial or administrative purposes; this condition continued until November 6, 1883, when the county government was organized.

The county boundaries were altered in 1879, 1881, 1885, 1892, and 1901. Its boundaries have remained unchanged since 1901.[4][5]

 
Outline map of Mercer County, North Dakota, 1918

Geography

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The northern boundary of Mercer County is delineated by Lake Sakakawea, created in 1956 on the Missouri River. The county's eastern boundary is delineated by the river as it flows southeastward from the dam that created the lake. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture.[6] The terrain slopes to the north and east; its highest point is near the midpoint of its southern boundary, at 2,451 ft (747 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 1,112 square miles (2,880 km2), of which 1,043 square miles (2,700 km2) is land and 70 square miles (180 km2) (6.3%) is water.[8]

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

Prior to [9] November 7, 2010, the western portion of Mercer County was in Mountain Time. But it was all moved into the Central Time on that date.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas[6]

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Lake

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890428—
19001,778315.4%
19104,747167.0%
19208,22473.2%
19309,51615.7%
19409,6111.0%
19508,686−9.6%
19606,805−21.7%
19706,175−9.3%
19809,40452.3%
19909,8084.3%
20008,644−11.9%
20108,424−2.5%
20208,350−0.9%
2022 (est.)8,333[10]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020, there were 8,350 people.

2010 census

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As of the census of 2010, there were 8,424 people, 3,625 households, and 2,500 families in the county. The population density was 8.08 people per square mile (3.12 people/km2). There were 4,450 housing units at an average density of 4.27 units per square mile (1.65/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.6% white, 2.3% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 64.7% were German, 21.5% were Norwegian, 6.6% were Russian, 6.2% were Irish, and 2.2% were American.

Of the 3,625 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.0% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 46.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $60,191 and the median income for a family was $71,075. Males had a median income of $63,321 versus $32,294 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,616. About 4.1% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Communities

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Cities

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Politics

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Mercer County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for Mercer County, North Dakota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,798 83.38% 672 14.75% 85 1.87%
2020 3,856 82.48% 704 15.06% 115 2.46%
2016 3,759 80.29% 621 13.26% 302 6.45%
2012 3,152 70.75% 1,166 26.17% 137 3.08%
2008 2,789 63.43% 1,476 33.57% 132 3.00%
2004 3,285 71.15% 1,245 26.97% 87 1.88%
2000 2,984 68.55% 1,011 23.23% 358 8.22%
1996 1,953 48.32% 1,300 32.16% 789 19.52%
1992 2,274 45.33% 1,323 26.37% 1,420 28.30%
1988 3,013 61.46% 1,843 37.60% 46 0.94%
1984 3,705 67.24% 1,729 31.38% 76 1.38%
1980 3,224 68.00% 1,209 25.50% 308 6.50%
1976 1,982 59.77% 1,298 39.14% 36 1.09%
1972 2,567 74.28% 784 22.69% 105 3.04%
1968 2,039 69.38% 730 24.84% 170 5.78%
1964 1,540 54.04% 1,310 45.96% 0 0.00%
1960 2,395 73.94% 844 26.06% 0 0.00%
1956 2,555 79.18% 666 20.64% 6 0.19%
1952 2,994 84.96% 512 14.53% 18 0.51%
1948 2,219 75.27% 643 21.81% 86 2.92%
1944 2,504 84.71% 445 15.05% 7 0.24%
1940 3,341 85.36% 567 14.49% 6 0.15%
1936 1,142 31.56% 1,924 53.16% 553 15.28%
1932 480 16.04% 2,491 83.23% 22 0.74%
1928 971 37.45% 1,619 62.44% 3 0.12%
1924 522 25.02% 70 3.36% 1,494 71.62%
1920 1,786 87.25% 172 8.40% 89 4.35%
1916 730 64.15% 353 31.02% 55 4.83%
1912 147 19.95% 142 19.27% 448 60.79%
1908 430 81.13% 96 18.11% 4 0.75%
1904 252 93.33% 17 6.30% 1 0.37%
1900 269 86.77% 41 13.23% 0 0.00%

Education

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School districts include:[16]

Elementary:

Stanton previously had a separate school district, but it merged with Center's in 2004.[17]

Riverdale School District 89 had portions in Mercer County and in McLean County. The Associated Press described the district as "divided equally" between the counties. In 1993 members of the Riverdale School District school board voted to abolish their school district, with the Underwood and Hazen districts to obtain pieces of it.[18]

Zap formerly had its own school district. In 1994 the district voted to dissolve.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 205.
  4. ^ "County History". Official Portal for North Dakota State Government. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  5. ^ Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies/Mercer County ND (accessed February 26, 2019)
  6. ^ a b "Mercer County · North Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  7. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Mercer County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 26, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  9. ^ "Mercer County, North Dakota Current Local Time and Time Zone". www.timetemperature.com. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  13. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  14. ^ "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 February 1, 2015.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  16. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Mercer County, ND" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2022. - Text list - 2010 map and 2010 text list
  17. ^ Donovan, Lauren (November 12, 2003). "Stanton, Center to join together". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  18. ^ "School officials want new line dividing districts". The Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. Associated Press. January 13, 1994. p. A9 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Jones, Rene'e Beasley (March 20, 1994). "Neighbors seek Zap school district shares". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
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  • Mercer County maps, Sheet 1 (northern) and Sheet 2 (southern), North Dakota DOT

47°18′N 101°49′W / 47.30°N 101.82°W / 47.30; -101.82

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