Pierce County, North Dakota
County in North Dakota, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,990,[1] and was estimated to be 3,838 in 2025.[2] The county seat and the largest city is Rugby.[3]
United StatesApril 6, 1889 (organized)
Pierce County, North Dakota | |
|---|---|
The Pierce County Courthouse in Rugby | |
 Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota | |
| Coordinates: 48.238883°N 99.966497°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State |  North Dakota |
| Founded | March 11, 1887 (created) April 6, 1889 (organized) |
| Named after | Gilbert A. Pierce |
| Seat | Rugby |
| Largest city | Rugby |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,082.466 sq mi (2,803.57 km2) |
| • Land | 1,018.285 sq mi (2,637.35 km2) |
| • Water | 64.181 sq mi (166.23 km2) 5.93% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,990 |
• Estimate (2025) | 3,838  |
| • Density | 3.784/sq mi (1.461/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 701 |
| Congressional district | At-large |
| Website | piercecountynd.gov |
History
The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on March 11, 1887, with areas partitioned from Bottineau, Rolette, McHenry and the now-extinct DeSmet counties. It was named for Gilbert A. Pierce, a Dakotas political figure. The county was not organized at that time, nor was it attached to another county for administrative or judicial purposes. It was attached to McHenry County on February 4, 1889, but that lasted only two months; on April 6 the county government was affected and the attachment to McHenry was terminated.
The county's boundaries were enlarged on November 8, 1892, when Church County was dissolved and a portion of its territory was annexed into Pierce.[4][5]
The geographical center of North America is in Pierce County, approximately six miles (9.7 km) west of Balta.[6] Rugby has a monument for the center at the intersection of US 2 and ND 3.
Geography
The North Fork of the Sheyenne River flows easterly through central Pierce County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture.[7] The terrain generally slopes to the north and east, with its highest point a hill near the SW county corner, at 1,634 ft (498 m) ASL.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,082.466 square miles (2,803.57 km2), of which 1,018.285 square miles (2,637.35 km2) is land and 64.181 square miles (166.23 km2) (5.93%) is water.[9] It is the 37th largest county in North Dakota by total area.[10]
Major highways
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Transit
Adjacent counties
- Rolette County - north
- Towner County - northeast
- Benson County - east
- Wells County - southeast
- Sheridan County - southwest
- McHenry County - west
- Bottineau County - northwest
Protected areas
Source:[7]
- Boyer National Wildlife Refuge
- Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- Hurricane Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- Meyer Township National Wildlife Refuge
Lakes
Source:[7]
- Antelope Lakes
- Aylmer Lake (part)
- Battema Lake
- Buffalo Lake
- Clear Lake
- Davis Lake
- Girard Lake
- Goose Lake
- Gunderson Lake
- Guss Lake
- Horseshoe Lake
- Kilgore Lake
- Lesmeister Lake
- Long Lake
- Petrified Lake
- Ranch Lake
- Round Lake
- Sand Lake
- Smoky Lake (part)
- Twin Lakes (part)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 905 | — | |
| 1900 | 4,765 | 426.5% | |
| 1910 | 9,740 | 104.4% | |
| 1920 | 9,283 | −4.7% | |
| 1930 | 9,074 | −2.3% | |
| 1940 | 9,208 | 1.5% | |
| 1950 | 8,326 | −9.6% | |
| 1960 | 7,394 | −11.2% | |
| 1970 | 6,323 | −14.5% | |
| 1980 | 6,166 | −2.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,052 | −18.1% | |
| 2000 | 4,675 | −7.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,357 | −6.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,990 | −8.4% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 3,838 | [11] | −3.8% |
| 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 Pierce County was $151,940.[16]
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 1,840 estimated households in Pierce County with an average of 2.07 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $63,214. Approximately 11.0% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Pierce County has an estimated 59.9% employment rate, with 27.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.9% 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 (97.4%), Spanish (0.3%), Indo-European (1.8%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.5%), and Other (0.0%).
The median age in the county was 44.3 years.
Pierce 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.
| Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 1980[17] | Pop. 1990[18] | Pop. 2000[19] | Pop. 2010[20] | Pop. 2020[21] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,079 (98.59%) | 5,011 (99.19%) | 4,584 (98.05%) | 4,084 (93.73%) | 3,611 (90.50%) |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 0 (0.00%) | 2 (0.04%) | 4 (0.09%) | 19 (0.44%) | 36 (0.90%) |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 20 (0.32%) | 23 (0.46%) | 32 (0.68%) | 169 (3.88%) | 146 (3.66%) |
| Asian alone (NH) | 28 (0.45%) | 15 (0.30%) | 12 (0.26%) | 3 (0.07%) | 17 (0.43%) |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | — | — | 0 (0.00%) | 1 (0.02%) | 5 (0.13%) |
| Other race alone (NH) | 14 (0.23%) | 0 (0.00%) | 0 (0.00%) | 4 (0.09%) | 10 (0.25%) |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | — | — | 15 (0.32%) | 33 (0.76%) | 93 (2.33%) |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 25 (0.41%) | 1 (0.02%) | 28 (0.60%) | 44 (1.01%) | 72 (1.80%) |
| Total | 6,166 (100.00%) | 5,052 (100.00%) | 4,675 (100.00%) | 4,357 (100.00%) | 3,990 (100.00%) |
2024 estimate
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 3,853 people and 1,840 households residing in the county. There were 2,049 housing units at an average density of 2.01 per square mile (0.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% White (89.2% NH White), 0.8% African American, 5.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.1% of the population.[22]
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 3,990 people, 1,719 households, and 1,041 families residing in the county.[23] The population density was 3.92 inhabitants per square mile (1.5/km2). There were 2,040 housing units at an average density of 2.00 per square mile (0.8/km2).[24]
Of the residents, 22.4% were under the age of 18 and 24.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 46.3 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.6 males.[24]
The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 3.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.7% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.[25]
There were 1,719 households in the county, of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[24]
There were 2,040 housing units, of which 15.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.7% were owner-occupied and 21.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.3%.[24]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 4,357 people, 1,835 households, and 1,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 4.28 inhabitants per square mile (1.7/km2). There were 2,199 housing units at an average density of 2.16 per square mile (0.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.10% White, 0.46% African American, 3.90% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from some other races and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.01% of the population.
In terms of ancestry, 52.3% were German, 34.5% were Norwegian, 5.5% were Irish, and 2.0% were American.
Of the 1,835 households, 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.6% were non-families, and 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 46.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,091 and the median income for a family was $55,304. Males had a median income of $39,511 versus $21,811 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,575. About 6.4% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.
Population by decade
Communities
Politics
Pierce County voters have tended to vote Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 535 | 64.93% | 276 | 33.50% | 13 | 1.58% |
| 1904 | 921 | 73.39% | 284 | 22.63% | 50 | 3.98% |
| 1908 | 884 | 57.37% | 610 | 39.58% | 47 | 3.05% |
| 1912 | 264 | 22.39% | 453 | 38.42% | 462 | 39.19% |
| 1916 | 703 | 44.27% | 789 | 49.69% | 96 | 6.05% |
| 1920 | 2,102 | 84.59% | 294 | 11.83% | 89 | 3.58% |
| 1924 | 1,160 | 46.89% | 157 | 6.35% | 1,157 | 46.77% |
| 1928 | 1,469 | 47.60% | 1,606 | 52.04% | 11 | 0.36% |
| 1932 | 856 | 25.68% | 2,439 | 73.18% | 38 | 1.14% |
| 1936 | 912 | 24.23% | 2,168 | 57.60% | 684 | 18.17% |
| 1940 | 2,349 | 61.64% | 1,451 | 38.07% | 11 | 0.29% |
| 1944 | 1,992 | 60.07% | 1,307 | 39.41% | 17 | 0.51% |
| 1948 | 1,738 | 58.86% | 1,147 | 38.84% | 68 | 2.30% |
| 1952 | 2,806 | 77.77% | 773 | 21.42% | 29 | 0.80% |
| 1956 | 1,997 | 59.75% | 1,340 | 40.10% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1960 | 1,464 | 44.19% | 1,848 | 55.78% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1964 | 1,178 | 38.33% | 1,893 | 61.60% | 2 | 0.07% |
| 1968 | 1,700 | 57.07% | 1,048 | 35.18% | 231 | 7.75% |
| 1972 | 1,970 | 66.15% | 973 | 32.67% | 35 | 1.18% |
| 1976 | 1,396 | 48.35% | 1,434 | 49.67% | 57 | 1.97% |
| 1980 | 2,273 | 76.07% | 517 | 17.30% | 198 | 6.63% |
| 1984 | 1,883 | 71.71% | 691 | 26.31% | 52 | 1.98% |
| 1988 | 1,422 | 57.41% | 1,008 | 40.69% | 47 | 1.90% |
| 1992 | 1,099 | 45.21% | 761 | 31.30% | 571 | 23.49% |
| 1996 | 1,017 | 51.52% | 671 | 33.99% | 286 | 14.49% |
| 2000 | 1,348 | 68.39% | 500 | 25.37% | 123 | 6.24% |
| 2004 | 1,475 | 67.20% | 686 | 31.25% | 34 | 1.55% |
| 2008 | 1,301 | 60.82% | 792 | 37.03% | 46 | 2.15% |
| 2012 | 1,465 | 67.26% | 660 | 30.30% | 53 | 2.43% |
| 2016 | 1,437 | 69.39% | 431 | 20.81% | 203 | 9.80% |
| 2020 | 1,585 | 74.48% | 497 | 23.36% | 46 | 2.16% |
| 2024 | 1,493 | 75.79% | 439 | 22.28% | 38 | 1.93% |
Education
School districts include:[28]
- Anamoose Public School District 14
- Bottineau Public School District 1
- Harvey Public School District 38
- Leeds Public School District 6
- Maddock Public School District 9
- North Star School District 10
- Rugby Public School District 5
- Towner-Granville-Upham Public School District 60
Former districts:
- Wolford Public School District 1[28] - Closed in 2019[29]