The Dakota Territory legislature created Nelson County on March 2, 1883, with areas annexed from Foster, Grand Forks and Ramsey counties, and with some previously unorganized area. It was not organized at that time, but was attached to Grand Forks County for administrative and judicial purposes. Its proposed boundary was enlarged on March 9, 1883, and on June 9, 1883, the county organization was effected and the administrative attachment to Grand Forks County was terminated.[3][4]
Geography
The county terrain consists of rolling hills dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the midpoint of its north boundary line, at 1,545 ft (471 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 1,009 square miles (2,610 km2), of which 982 square miles (2,540 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (2.7%) is water.[7]
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 3,015 people.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,126 people, 1,474 households, and 905 families in the county. The population density was 3.18 people per square mile (1.23 people/km2). There were 1,927 housing units at an average density of 1.96 units per square mile (0.76/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.2% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 52.3% were Norwegian, 34.1% were German, 8.2% were Irish, and 3.9% were American.
Of the 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.
Nelson County voters have slightly favored Republicans for the past several decades. Since 1964 the county selected the Republican Party candidate in 64% of national elections.
United States presidential election results for Nelson County, North Dakota[14][15]
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