Wells County | |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota | |
![]() North Dakota's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 47°35′N99°40′W / 47.58°N 99.67°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | January 4, 1873 (created) August 28, 1884 (organized) |
Named for | Edward Payson Wells |
Seat | Fessenden |
Largest city | Harvey |
Area | |
• Total | 1,290 sq mi (3,300 km2) |
• Land | 1,271 sq mi (3,290 km2) |
• Water | 19 sq mi (50 km2) 1.5% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,982 |
• Estimate (2022) | 3,930 ![]() |
• Density | 3.1/sq mi (1.2/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | At-large |
Website | www |
Wells County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,982. [1] Its county seat is Fessenden. [2]
The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873. Its government was not organized at that time, nor was it attached for administrative or judicial purposes to another county. It was named Gingras County; this name continued until February 26, 1881, when the name was changed to Wells County, named for Edward Payson Wells, a Jamestown banker, early promoter of the James River Valley, and member of the legislature in 1881.
The county government was organized on August 28, 1884, with Sykeston as the county seat. In 1894 the county seat was transferred to Fessendon. [3] The county boundary was altered in 1883 when a parcel was transferred to Foster County, and again in 1885 when it received land from Foster County. Its boundary has remained unchanged since 1885. [4]
The center of population of North Dakota is located in the extreme southeastern corner of Wells County, about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Sykeston. [5]
The James River flows east-northeasterly through Wells County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills with occasional protuberances, dotted with lakes and ponds in its SW portion. [6] The terrain slopes to the east and north; its highest point is a protuberance near the southwestern corner, at 2,182 ft (665 m) ASL. [7] Ihe county has a total area of 1,290 square miles (3,300 km2), of which 1,271 square miles (3,290 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (1.5%) is water. [8]
Source: [6]
Source: [6]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 1,212 | — | |
1900 | 8,310 | 585.6% | |
1910 | 11,814 | 42.2% | |
1920 | 12,957 | 9.7% | |
1930 | 13,285 | 2.5% | |
1940 | 11,198 | −15.7% | |
1950 | 10,417 | −7.0% | |
1960 | 9,237 | −11.3% | |
1970 | 7,847 | −15.0% | |
1980 | 6,979 | −11.1% | |
1990 | 5,864 | −16.0% | |
2000 | 5,102 | −13.0% | |
2010 | 4,207 | −17.5% | |
2020 | 3,982 | −5.3% | |
2022 (est.) | 3,930 | [9] | −1.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1790-1960 [11] 1900-1990 [12] 1990-2000 [13] 2010-2020 [1] |
As of the census of 2020, there were 3,982 people.
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,207 people, 1,943 households, and 1,223 families in the county. The population density was 3.31 people per square mile (1.28 people/km2). There were 2,481 housing units at an average density of 1.95 units per square mile (0.75/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.9% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 65.9% were German, 25.9% were Norwegian, 6.7% were Irish, and 1.8% were American.
Of the 1,943 households, 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.1% were non-families, and 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.67. The median age was 51.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,136 and the median income for a family was $52,400. Males had a median income of $38,442 versus $25,597 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,531. About 6.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.
Wells County voters have been Republican-leaning for several decades. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 1,893 | 79.74% | 442 | 18.62% | 39 | 1.64% |
2016 | 1,796 | 75.37% | 419 | 17.58% | 168 | 7.05% |
2012 | 1,654 | 69.53% | 673 | 28.29% | 52 | 2.19% |
2008 | 1,468 | 61.76% | 841 | 35.38% | 68 | 2.86% |
2004 | 1,654 | 64.58% | 858 | 33.50% | 49 | 1.91% |
2000 | 1,610 | 66.80% | 661 | 27.43% | 139 | 5.77% |
1996 | 1,192 | 46.89% | 962 | 37.84% | 388 | 15.26% |
1992 | 1,171 | 40.16% | 888 | 30.45% | 857 | 29.39% |
1988 | 1,901 | 58.65% | 1,317 | 40.64% | 23 | 0.71% |
1984 | 2,426 | 69.20% | 1,036 | 29.55% | 44 | 1.25% |
1980 | 2,660 | 73.91% | 746 | 20.73% | 193 | 5.36% |
1976 | 1,941 | 51.53% | 1,742 | 46.24% | 84 | 2.23% |
1972 | 2,519 | 64.42% | 1,297 | 33.17% | 94 | 2.40% |
1968 | 2,266 | 59.92% | 1,265 | 33.45% | 251 | 6.64% |
1964 | 1,875 | 44.76% | 2,314 | 55.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 2,641 | 58.24% | 1,885 | 41.57% | 9 | 0.20% |
1956 | 2,912 | 66.87% | 1,434 | 32.93% | 9 | 0.21% |
1952 | 3,709 | 77.89% | 1,016 | 21.34% | 37 | 0.78% |
1948 | 2,385 | 59.83% | 1,492 | 37.43% | 109 | 2.73% |
1944 | 2,529 | 61.59% | 1,557 | 37.92% | 20 | 0.49% |
1940 | 3,335 | 63.74% | 1,878 | 35.89% | 19 | 0.36% |
1936 | 1,263 | 23.84% | 3,114 | 58.78% | 921 | 17.38% |
1932 | 1,062 | 21.50% | 3,823 | 77.40% | 54 | 1.09% |
1928 | 2,364 | 52.39% | 2,123 | 47.05% | 25 | 0.55% |
1924 | 1,644 | 44.40% | 138 | 3.73% | 1,921 | 51.88% |
1920 | 3,202 | 85.71% | 456 | 12.21% | 78 | 2.09% |
1916 | 1,226 | 58.58% | 810 | 38.70% | 57 | 2.72% |
1912 | 356 | 23.58% | 494 | 32.72% | 660 | 43.71% |
1908 | 1,243 | 68.07% | 535 | 29.30% | 48 | 2.63% |
1904 | 1,330 | 80.90% | 209 | 12.71% | 105 | 6.39% |
1900 | 966 | 69.90% | 388 | 28.08% | 28 | 2.03% |
Spink County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,361. Its county seat is Redfield. The county was created in 1873, and was organized in 1879 within Dakota Territory.
Roberts County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,280. Its county seat is Sisseton. The county was named either for S. G. Roberts of Fargo, North Dakota, or for Solomon Robar, an early local French fur trader. It was created on March 8, 1883, and fully organized by August 6 of that year. Its boundary was altered once, in 1885.
Potter County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,472. Its county seat is Gettysburg. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1883.
Moody County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,336 at the 2020 census. Its county seat is Flandreau. The county is named for Gideon C. Moody.
McPherson County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,411. Its county seat is Leola.
Lake County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,059. Its county seat is Madison. The county was formed in 1873.
Jackson County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,806. Its county seat is Kadoka. The county was created in 1883, and was organized in 1915. Washabaugh County was merged into Jackson County in 1983.
Hyde County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,262, making it the second-least populous county in South Dakota. Its county seat is Highmore. The county was founded in 1873, as a county of the Dakota Territory, and organized in 1883. It was named for James Hyde, a member of legislature in the 1870s.
Hand County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,145. Its county seat is Miller.
Hamlin County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,164. Its county seat is Hayti. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1878. It was named for Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first vice-president.
Gregory County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,994. Its county seat is Burke. The county was created in 1862 and organized in 1898. It was named for the politician J. Shaw Gregory.
Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,556. The county seat is Milbank. The county was founded in 1873 and organized in 1878. It is named for Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States.
Faulk County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,125. Its county seat is Faulkton. The county was founded in 1873 and organized in 1883. It is named for Andrew Jackson Faulk, the third Governor of Dakota Territory.
Walsh County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,563. Its county seat is Grafton.
Sheridan County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,265, making it the third-least populous county in North Dakota. Its county seat is McClusky.
Richland County is a county in the far southeast corner of the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,529. Its county seat is Wahpeton.
Oliver County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,877. Its county seat and only city is Center.
McIntosh County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,530. Its county seat is Ashley. The county is notable for being the county with the highest percentage of German-Americans in the United States, with over 76% of the county's residents being of German descent as of 2010.
Logan County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,876. Its county seat is Napoleon.
Foster County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,397. Its county seat is Carrington.