Golden Valley County, North Dakota

Golden Valley County
County
Golden Valley County Courthouse in Beach
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°56′N103°50′W / 46.94°N 103.84°W / 46.94; -103.84
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
Founded	1912
Seat	Beach
Largest city	Beach
Area
• Total	1,002 sq mi (2,600 km2)
• Land	1,001 sq mi (2,590 km2)
• Water	1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,736
• Estimate  (2022)	1,744
• Density	1.7/sq mi (0.67/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.goldenvalleycounty.org

Golden Valley County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,736, ^[1] making it the fourth-least populous county in North Dakota. The county seat is Beach. ^[2]

The county should not be confused with the city of Golden Valley, which is located in Mercer County.

History

In the general election held November 8, 1910, the voters of Billings County chose to separate the western portion of Billings and form a new county. This result was immediately challenged in court; on September 19, 1912, the ND Supreme Court upheld the election result; therefore the legislature completed the county's organization on November 13, 1912. ^[3]

Golden Valley was called 'Rattlesnake Flats' by early settlers, due to the large number of the snakes found in the area. The region was dubbed Golden Valley in 1902 after a group of land surveyors noticed that the sunlight gave the surrounding grasses a distinct golden color. ^[4]

Election controversy

The vote in 1910 to create Golden Valley County was 837 for and 756 against. Shortly after the vote was certified, suit was filed against the Billings County Commission to overturn the result. The plaintiffs alleged that the certification of election was improper, and that certain pre-marked "unofficial" ballots printed by supporters of the new county were cast in place of official ballots, and should be voided. The trial court originally ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The county appealed to the North Dakota Supreme Court, which upheld the county's certification of the election. The court also ruled the pre-marked ballots were invalid, but that the number of invalid votes was not sufficient to overturn the election results. ^[5] The court's decision upholding the new county was made on September 19, 1912, and Golden Valley was formally organized on November 13, 1912.

Outline map of Golden Valley County, North Dakota, 1919

Geography

Golden Valley County lies on the west line of North Dakota. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Montana. Beaver Creek flows east-northeastward through the upper portion of the county, and Little Missouri River flows northeastward through the southeastern corner of the county, with gullies flowing southeastward draining the lower county into the Little Mo River. The county terrain consists of semi-arid hills, dedicated to agriculture in the level areas. ^[6] The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point on hills at the southwestern corner at 3,251 ft (991 m) ASL. ^[7] The county has a total area of 1,002 square miles (2,600 km²), of which 1,001 square miles (2,590 km²) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) (0.2%) is water. ^[8]

Major highways

• Interstate 94
• North Dakota Highway 16

Adjacent counties

• McKenzie County (north)
• Billings County (east)
• Slope County (south)
• Fallon County, Montana (southwest)
• Wibaux County, Montana (west)

National protected area

• Little Missouri National Grassland (part)

Lakes

Source: ^[6]

• Bosserman Lake
• Camels Hump Lake
• Odland Dam

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	4,832		—
1930	4,122		−14.7%
1940	3,498		−15.1%
1950	3,499		0.0%
1960	3,100		−11.4%
1970	2,611		−15.8%
1980	2,391		−8.4%
1990	2,108		−11.8%
2000	1,924		−8.7%
2010	1,680		−12.7%
2020	1,736		3.3%
2022 (est.)	1,744	[9]	0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1790-1960 [11] 1900-1990 [12] 1990-2000 [13] 2010-2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 1,736 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,680 people, 774 households, and 429 families in the county. The population density was 1.7 inhabitants per square mile (0.66/km²). There were 967 housing units at an average density of 1.0 units per square mile (0.39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.4% white, 0.6% American Indian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.1% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 69.0% were German, 14.7% were Norwegian, 10.7% were Polish, 7.9% were Irish, 7.5% were English, and 2.5% were American.

Of the 774 households, 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 44.6% were non-families, and 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 45.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,333 and the median income for a family was $47,500. Males had a median income of $32,875 versus $26,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,899. About 8.9% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

Communities

Cities

• Beach (county seat)
• Golva
• Sentinel Butte

Unincorporated communities

Source: ^[6]

• Chama
• De Mores
• Ekre
• Rider
• Thelan
• Trotters

Townships

• Beach
• Bullion
• Delhi
• Elk Creek
• Garner
• Henry
• Lone Tree
• Pearl
• Saddle Butte
• Sentinel

Former townships

• Elmwood

Unorganized territories

• East Golden Valley
• Elmwood (formerly a township)
• North Golden Valley
• South Golden Valley

Politics

Golden Valley County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for Golden Valley County, North Dakota ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	847	85.47%	122	12.31%	22	2.22%
2020	871	84.89%	137	13.35%	18	1.75%
2016	796	83.18%	99	10.34%	62	6.48%
2012	742	79.96%	162	17.46%	24	2.59%
2008	642	73.37%	210	24.00%	23	2.63%
2004	719	77.56%	195	21.04%	13	1.40%
2000	611	75.25%	156	19.21%	45	5.54%
1996	520	56.28%	235	25.43%	169	18.29%
1992	503	45.15%	255	22.89%	356	31.96%
1988	781	66.02%	388	32.80%	14	1.18%
1984	964	73.09%	325	24.64%	30	2.27%
1980	1,006	74.57%	259	19.20%	84	6.23%
1976	633	52.40%	479	39.65%	96	7.95%
1972	774	62.98%	362	29.45%	93	7.57%
1968	735	61.30%	348	29.02%	116	9.67%
1964	722	54.53%	602	45.47%	0	0.00%
1960	825	55.04%	672	44.83%	2	0.13%
1956	824	58.98%	567	40.59%	6	0.43%
1952	1,186	75.93%	376	24.07%	0	0.00%
1948	788	56.25%	585	41.76%	28	2.00%
1944	709	61.23%	443	38.26%	6	0.52%
1940	873	55.57%	689	43.86%	9	0.57%
1936	581	35.02%	991	59.73%	87	5.24%
1932	653	38.53%	1,023	60.35%	19	1.12%
1928	937	62.51%	552	36.82%	10	0.67%
1924	718	48.29%	140	9.41%	629	42.30%
1920	1,177	77.08%	286	18.73%	64	4.19%
1916	499	39.32%	697	54.93%	73	5.75%

Notable people

• Ernest Viggo Almquist, commercial artist ^[15]
• Arthur C. Townley, founder of the North Dakota Nonpartisan League. ^[4]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Golden Valley County, North Dakota

Gallery

• 
  Rangeland, wooded drainageways, and badland
• 
  Stream valley, rangeland and badland
• 
  Church building in Trotters

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Long, John H. (2006). "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. North Dakota Historical Records Survey (1941). Inventory of the County Archives of North Dakota. Vol. 17, Golden Valley County. Bismarck ND: North Dakota Historical Records Survey. Retrieved via Ancestry.com.
5. Pederson v. Board of Commissioners of Billings County,23N.D.547., 137N.W.484( N.D. 1912). Retrieved via Westlaw.
6. "Golden Valley County · North Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
7. ""Find an Altitude/Golden Valley County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 18, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 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. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022" . Retrieved April 6, 2023.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
12. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
13. "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 28, 2015.
14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
15. Frontier Cavalcade, The Dickinson Press, March 14, 1957

External links

• Golden Valley County map, North Dakota DOT

46°56′N103°50′W / 46.94°N 103.84°W / 46.94; -103.84