In 1872–1873, the territorial legislature as Burbank County, being named for John A. Burbank (1872–1905), governor of the Dakota Territory from 1869 to 1873. It was renamed at the 1874–1875 session for Judge Alanson H. Barnes (1818–1890), associate justice assigned to the northern half of the territory. Government organized: January 6, 1879. County Seat: Valley City, 1879–present.[5]
Geography
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.[6] The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on its upper west boundary line, at 1,535ft (468m) ASL.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,513.404 square miles (3,919.70km2), of which 1,491.559 square miles (3,863.12km2) is land and 21.845 square miles (56.58km2) (1.44%) is water.[8] It is the 15th largest county in North Dakota by total area.[9]
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[3]
As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Barnes County was $178,111.[15] As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 4,852 estimated households in Barnes County with an average of 2.09 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $70,230. Approximately 11.5% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Barnes County has an estimated 62.4% employment rate, with 30.0% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 95.3% holding a high school diploma.[3]
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (97.0%), Spanish (0.7%), Indo-European (1.2%), Asian and Pacific Islander (1.1%), and Other (0.0%). The median age in the county was 42.9 years.
Barnes County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 10,798 people and 4,852 households residing in the county. There were 5,719 housing units at an average density of 3.84 per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% White (91.1% NH White), 2.2% African American, 1.7% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.1% of the population.[21]
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 10,853 people, 4,772 households, and 2,751 families residing in the county.[22] The population density was 7.3 inhabitants per square mile (2.8/km2). There were 5,671 housing units at an average density of 3.80 per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.37% White, 1.71% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from some other races and 3.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.70% of the population.[23]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, 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 3.82 per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.40% White, 0.78% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from some other races and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.11% 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.
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[24]
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