Dickey County, North Dakota

Dickey County
County
Postcard. Dickey County Courthouse in 1915.
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°07′N 98°29′W / 46.11°N 98.49°W / 46.11; -98.49
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
Founded	March 5, 1881 (created) August 18, 1882 (organized)
Named for	George H. Dickey
Seat	Ellendale
Largest city	Oakes
Area
• Total	1,142 sq mi (2,960 km2)
• Land	1,131 sq mi (2,930 km2)
• Water	11 sq mi (30 km2)  0.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,999
• Estimate  (2022)	4,923
• Density	4.4/sq mi (1.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.dickeynd.com

Dickey County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,999.^[1] Its county seat is Ellendale.^[2]

The Dakota Territory legislature created Dickey County on March 5, 1881, with territories annexed from McPherson County, South Dakota and Ransom County, North Dakota, with some previously unorganized territories added. Its governing structure was effected on August 18, 1882. It was named for a member of the Territorial Legislature, George H. Dickey.^[3][4][5]

Dickey County lies on the south side of North Dakota. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The James River flows south-southeasterly through the east part of the county, and the Maple River flows south-southeasterly through the center part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds in its western portion, with the area devoted to agriculture.^[6] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point being a hill near the southwestern corner at 2,139 ft (652 m) ASL.^[7] The county has a total area of 1,142 square miles (2,960 km²), of which 1,131 square miles (2,930 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (0.9%) is water.^[8]

• Dakota Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Maple River National Wildlife Refuge

• Hilles Lake
• Pheasant Lake

^[6]

As of the census of 2020, there were 4,999 people.

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,289 people, 2,180 households, and 1,379 families in the county. The population density was 4.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.8/km²). There were 2,636 housing units at an average density of 2.3 units per square mile (0.89/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.6% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 56.3% were German, 16.9% were Norwegian, 11.4% were Irish, 7.4% were Swedish, 5.1% were Russian, and 1.1% were American.

Of the 2,180 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.7% were non-families, and 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 43.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,179 and the median income for a family was $53,333. Males had a median income of $36,029 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,824. About 6.8% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

^[6]

• Merricourt

Administration of certain aspects of county government in North Dakota are assigned to subsidiary townships.

Dickey County voters are traditionally Republican-leaning. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2016).

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dickey County, North Dakota

• Dickey County map, North Dakota DOT

46°07′N 98°29′W / 46.11°N 98.49°W / 46.11; -98.49