The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with area partitioned from Pembina County. It was named for Morgan T. Rich, who settled on the site of the future Wahpeton in 1869. The county organization was completed on November 25 of that same year. Its boundaries were altered in 1883 and 1885. It has maintained its present configuration since 1885.[4][5]
In 2022, strong winds known as a derecho, more than 70 mph, produced 34 tornadoes, including one that passed through Richland County near LeMars.[6]
Outline map of Richland County, North Dakota, 1897
Geography
Richland County lies at the southeastern corner of North Dakota. Its eastern boundary line abuts the western boundary line of the state of Minnesota (across the Red River), and its southern boundary line abuts the northern boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The Red River flows northerly along its eastern boundary line on its way to the Hudson Bay. The Wild Rice River flows easterly and then northerly through the county, discharging into the Red River north of Richland County, in Cass County. The Sheyenne River flows northeasterly through the NW corner of the county, also discharging into the Red in Cass County.
The Richland County terrain is primarily flat, with rolling hills in the southwest and northwest. It is largely devoted to agriculture.[7] The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point near its SW corner, at 1,220ft (370m) ASL.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,445.340 square miles (3,743.41km2), of which 1,435.674 square miles (3,718.38km2) is land and 9.666 square miles (25.03km2) (0.67%) is water.[9] It is the 18th largest county in North Dakota by total area.[10]
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14] 1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[2]
As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Richland County was $188,177.[16]
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 6,764 estimated households in Richland County with an average of 2.24 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $72,524. Approximately 10.9% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Richland County has an estimated 65.3% employment rate, with 25.0% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 94.9% holding a high school diploma.[2]
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 (97.7%), Spanish (1.0%), Indo-European (0.9%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.2%), and Other (0.2%).
The median age in the county was 38.0 years.
Richland 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 16,658 people and 6,764 households residing in the county. There were 7,620 housing units at an average density of 5.31 per square mile (2.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% White (90.0% NH White), 1.3% African American, 3.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.7% of the population.[22]
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 16,529 people, 6,710 households, and 4,174 families residing in the county.[23] The population density was 11.5 inhabitants per square mile (4.4/km2). There were 7,501 housing units at an average density of 5.22 per square mile (2.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.99% White, 0.94% African American, 2.83% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from some other races and 3.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.47% of the population.[24]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 16,321 people, 6,651 households, and 4,171 families residing in the county. The population density was 11.4 inhabitants per square mile (4.4/km2). There were 7,503 housing units at an average density of 5.23 per square mile (2.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.01% White, 0.67% African American, 2.02% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from some other races and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 6,651 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.3% were non-families, and 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 39.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $47,131 and the median income for a family was $64,636. Males had a median income of $42,597 versus $28,284 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,342. About 5.2% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
Richland County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
United States presidential election results for Richland County, North Dakota[25]
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