Nelson County, North Dakota

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Lakes

Source:^[6]

2024 estimate

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 3,007 people and 1,295 households residing in the county. There were 1,781 housing units at an average density of 1.81 per square mile (0.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.1% White (90.8% NH White), 0.9% African American, 2.6% Native American, 1.4% 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 3.2% of the population.^[21]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,015, 1,386 households, and 829 families residing in the county.^[22] The population density was 3.07 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km²). There were 1,791 housing units at an average density of 1.82 per square mile (0.7/km²), of which 22.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.8% were owner-occupied and 19.2% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 23.9%.^[22]

Of the residents, 18.0% were under the age of 18 and 31.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 53.8 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.7 males.^[22]

There were 1,386 households in the county, of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[22]

The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.8% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.3% of the population.^{[22] [23]}

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,126 people, 1,474 households, and 905 families residing in the county. The population density was 3.18 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km²). There were 1,927 housing units at an average density of 1.96 per square mile (0.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.15% White, 0.26% African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from some other races and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.06% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 52.3% were Norwegian, 34.1% were German, 8.2% were Irish, and 3.9% were American.

There were 1,474 households, 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.6% were non-families, and 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.66. The median age was 51.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,071 and the median income for a family was $51,731. Males had a median income of $33,629 versus $28,672 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,838. About 4.0% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

Cities

Census-designated place

• Dahlen

Unincorporated communities

Townships