Mercer County, North Dakota

Not to be confused with Mercer, North Dakota.

Mercer County
County
Cities of Mercer, left-to-right, up-to-down; Beulah, Golden Valley, Hazen, Pick City, Stanton, and Zap
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°18′N101°49′W / 47.3°N 101.82°W / 47.3; -101.82
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
Founded	January 14, 1875 (created) November 6, 1883 (organized)
Named for	W. H. H. Mercer
Seat	Stanton
Largest city	Beulah
Area
• Total	1,112 sq mi (2,880 km2)
• Land	1,043 sq mi (2,700 km2)
• Water	70 sq mi (200 km2)  6.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,350
• Estimate  (2022)	8,333
• Density	7.5/sq mi (2.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.mercercountynd.com

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]

History

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

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

• North Dakota Highway 31
• North Dakota Highway 48
• North Dakota Highway 49
• North Dakota Highway 200
• North Dakota Highway 200A
• North Dakota Highway 1806

Adjacent counties

• McLean County - north
• Oliver County - east
• Morton County - south
• Stark County - southwest (observes Mountain Time)
• Dunn County - west (observes Mountain Time in southern portion)

Protected areas

Source: ^[6]

• Beaver Creek State Game Management Area
• Hazen Bay Recreation Area
• Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
• Lake Sakakawea State Park

Lake

• Lake Sakakawea

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	428		—
1900	1,778		315.4%
1910	4,747		167.0%
1920	8,224		73.2%
1930	9,516		15.7%
1940	9,611		1.0%
1950	8,686		−9.6%
1960	6,805		−21.7%
1970	6,175		−9.3%
1980	9,404		52.3%
1990	9,808		4.3%
2000	8,644		−11.9%
2010	8,424		−2.5%
2020	8,350		−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

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

2010 census

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

Communities

Cities

• Beulah
• Golden Valley
• Hazen
• Pick City
• Stanton (county seat)
• Zap

Politics

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

School districts include: ^[16]

• Beulah Public School District 27
• Center-Stanton Public School District 1
• Glen Ullin Public School District 48
• Halliday Public School District 19
• Hazen Public School District 3
• Hebron Public School District 13
• Underwood Public School District 8

Elementary:

• Twin Buttes Public School District 37

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

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

References

1. "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. "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.

External links

• Mercer County maps, Sheet 1 (northern) and Sheet 2 (southern), North Dakota DOT

47°18′N101°49′W / 47.30°N 101.82°W / 47.30; -101.82