Hettinger County, North Dakota

County in North Dakota, United States

U.S. county in North Dakota

Hettinger County

U.S. county

Hettinger County Courthouse

Hettinger County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota

Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota

North Dakota's location within the U.S.

North Dakota's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State| File:Flag of North Dakota.svg North Dakota
Founded| March 9, 1883 (created)
April 19, 1907 (organized)
Named for| Mathias Hettinger
Seat| Mott
Largest city| Mott
Area

• Total| 1,134 sq mi (2,940 km2)
• Land| 1,132 sq mi (2,930 km2)
• Water| 1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 2,489
• Estimate

(2021)

| 2,430
• Density| 2.2/sq mi (0.85/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district| At-large
Website| www.hettingercounty.net

Hettinger County (/ˈhɛtɪŋɡər/ HET-ing-gər) is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,489.[1] Its county seat is Mott.[2]

The city of Hettinger, North Dakota, is in nearby Adams County.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Efforts to dissolve Hettinger County
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 Lakes[14]
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2000 census
* 3.2 2010 census
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Unincorporated community
* 4.3 Townships
* 4.4 Defunct townships[25]
* 5 Politics
* 6 See also
* 7 Gallery
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History[edit | edit source]

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on March 9, 1883, with territory partitioned from Stark County. Its government was not organized at that time. The county name was chosen by territorial legislator Erastus A. Williams, to honor his father-in-law, Mathias K. Hettinger (1810-1890), who had been a banker and public figure in Freeport, Illinois. A settlement on the Cannonball River was selected as the county seat (Mott).

The county boundaries were reduced in 1885 and 1887. The county was dissolved on November 3, 1896, but was re-created on May 24, 1901, by an action of the state supreme court. This re-creation slightly altered the county's boundaries, due to the redefinition of its boundary lines: a sliver of non-county area between 46°N latitude and the south boundary line of North Dakota was added; a sliver on the west boundary was lost when the definition of the line shifted from 103°W longitude to the survey line dividing Ranges 98 and 99 (to allow the county lines to be defined by federally-surveyed lines).

Since the county's government was still unorganized, it was attached to Stark County for administrative and judicial purposes on March 10, 1903.

On April 17, 1907, the southern half of the county was partitioned off to form Adams County. On April 19 the Hettinger County governmental organization was effected and the county was administratively detached from Stark County.

### Efforts to dissolve Hettinger County[edit | edit source]

In 1891, the North Dakota Legislature approved legislation to dissolve Hettinger County and add its territory to Stark County,[3] but the law was vetoed by Governor Eli C. D. Shortridge.[4][5]

Annexation was attempted a second time in 1895, when the legislature passed legislation expanding the boundaries of Stark, Billings and Mercer Counties, subject to approval by the counties' voters.[6] The vote was approved, annexation went into effect November 3, 1896, and Hettinger County was eliminated.[4] However, Wilson L. Richards, a cattle rancher in one of the annexed counties, sued to overturn the annexation because he and other landowners were now subject to taxation by Stark County. The case went to the North Dakota Supreme Court, which ruled the law unconstitutional on May 18, 1899.[5][7][8] The annexation remained in effect, however, due to a replacement law approved by the legislature March 9, 1899 in anticipation of the court's decision.[4][9] The second annexation law was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1901 because the annexation was not referred to the voters of the affected counties as required by the North Dakota Constitution.[10][11]

File:Map of Hettinger County, N.D., 1917.jpg

Map of Hettinger County, N.D., 1917

The Legislature passed a third annexation law in 1903, this time submitting it to the voters in Stark County and the unorganized counties of Dunn and Hettinger for approval.[12] The annexation was approved by 502 votes in Stark County and 65 votes in Hettinger County, but it failed by 1 vote in Dunn County.[13] Stark County claimed the annexation vote valid, since the legislation required a majority of the aggregate votes cast. However, the North Dakota Constitution required a majority vote in each affected county subject to annexation, so the state of North Dakota sued Stark County on the grounds that the enabling legislation was unconstitutional and that the "no" vote in Dunn County meant the annexation failed. The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled the 1903 law unconstitutional in 1905, which ended further attempts at annexation.[13]

## Geography[edit | edit source]

The Cannonball River flows east-southeasterly through the central part of the county. The county terrain consists of semi-arid rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture.[14] The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest point is a hill at the northwestern corner, at 2,897' (883m) ASL.[15] The county has a total area of 1,134 square miles (2,940 km2), of which 1,132 square miles (2,930 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.1%) is water.[16]

### Major highways[edit | edit source]

* File:North Dakota 8.svg North Dakota Highway 8
* File:North Dakota 21.svg North Dakota Highway 21
* File:North Dakota 22.svg North Dakota Highway 22

### Adjacent counties[edit | edit source]

* Stark County (north)
* Grant County (east)
* Adams County (south)
* Slope County (west)

### Lakes[14][edit | edit source]

* Dry Lake
* Jung Lake
* Larson Lake

## Demographics[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1910| 6,557| | —
1920| 7,685| | 17.2%
1930| 8,796| | 14.5%
1940| 7,457| | −15.2%
1950| 7,100| | −4.8%
1960| 6,317| | −11.0%
1970| 5,075| | −19.7%
1980| 4,275| | −15.8%
1990| 3,445| | −19.4%
2000| 2,715| | −21.2%
2010| 2,477| | −8.8%
2020| 2,489| | 0.5%
2021 (est.)| 2,430| | −2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19]
1990-2000[20] 2010-2020[1]

### 2000 census[edit | edit source]

As of the 2000 census, there were 2,715 people, 1,152 households, and 778 families in the county. The population density was 2.4 people per square mile (0.9/km2). There were 1,419 housing units at an average density of 1.3 per square mile (0.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.93% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprised 0.22% of the population. People of German ancestry were 68.7% of the population and people of Norwegian ancestry were 11.1%.

There were 1,152 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.

The county population contained 23.4% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,209, and the median income for a family was $34,668. Males had a median income of $23,201 versus $16,917 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,555. About 12.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census[edit | edit source]

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,477 people, 1,056 households, and 682 families in the county.[21] The population density was 2.2 inhabitants per square mile (0.85/km2). There were 1,414 housing units at an average density of 1.2 per square mile (0.46/km2).[22] The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% white, 2.1% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population.[21] In terms of ancestry, 71.1% were German, 15.8% were Norwegian, 6.1% were Russian, 5.9% were Czech, 5.4% were Irish, 5.3% were Hungarian, and 3.2% were American.[23]

Of the 1,056 households, 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.4% were non-families, and 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 49.4 years.[21]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,393 and the median income for a family was $49,605. Males had a median income of $33,155 versus $26,549 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,928. About 8.2% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.[24]

## Communities[edit | edit source]

### Cities[edit | edit source]

* Mott (county seat)
* New England
* Regent

### Unincorporated community[edit | edit source]

* Bentley
* Burt[14]

### Townships[edit | edit source]

* Acme
* Ashby
* Baer
* Beery
* Black Butte
* Brittian
* Campbell
* Cannon Ball
* Castle Rock
* Chilton
* Clark
* Farina
* Havelock
* Highland
* Kennedy
* Kern
* Kunze
* Madison
* Merrill
* Mott
* New England
* Odessa
* Rifle
* St. Croix
* Solon
* Steiner
* Strehlow
* Tepee Butte
* Wagendorf
* Walker

### Defunct townships[25][edit | edit source]

* Alden
* Indian Creek Township

## Politics[edit | edit source]

Hettinger County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Hettinger County, North Dakota[26] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 1,050  | 82.61% | 196  | 15.42%  | 25  | 1.97%
2016 | 1,050  | 81.02% | 168  | 12.96%  | 78  | 6.02%
2012 | 1,000  | 73.42% | 313  | 22.98%  | 49  | 3.60%
2008 | 893  | 66.25% | 406  | 30.12%  | 49  | 3.64%
2004 | 1,044  | 69.88% | 405  | 27.11%  | 45  | 3.01%
2000 | 1,057  | 69.59% | 353  | 23.24%  | 109  | 7.18%
1996 | 765  | 53.65% | 418  | 29.31%  | 243  | 17.04%
1992 | 854  | 46.46% | 465  | 25.30%  | 519  | 28.24%
1988 | 1,395  | 66.08% | 698  | 33.06%  | 18  | 0.85%
1984 | 1,646  | 74.75% | 524  | 23.80%  | 32  | 1.45%
1980 | 1,699  | 75.28% | 434  | 19.23%  | 124  | 5.49%
1976 | 1,135  | 49.30% | 1,095  | 47.57%  | 72  | 3.13%
1972 | 1,511  | 64.93% | 726  | 31.20%  | 90  | 3.87%
1968 | 1,424  | 63.97% | 638  | 28.66%  | 164  | 7.37%
1964 | 1,188  | 48.19%  | 1,275  | 51.72% | 2  | 0.08%
1960 | 1,541  | 55.79% | 1,219  | 44.13%  | 2  | 0.07%
1956 | 1,882  | 70.17% | 796  | 29.68%  | 4  | 0.15%
1952 | 2,330  | 87.79% | 297  | 11.19%  | 27  | 1.02%
1948 | 1,517  | 64.33% | 752  | 31.89%  | 89  | 3.77%
1944 | 1,812  | 76.42% | 554  | 23.37%  | 5  | 0.21%
1940 | 2,468  | 78.32% | 671  | 21.29%  | 12  | 0.38%
1936 | 989  | 29.82%  | 1,383  | 41.69% | 945  | 28.49%
1932 | 921  | 27.43%  | 2,336  | 69.57% | 101  | 3.01%
1928 | 1,553  | 53.87% | 1,323  | 45.89%  | 7  | 0.24%
1924 | 936  | 39.73%  | 128  | 5.43%  | 1,292  | 54.84%
1920 | 1,849  | 83.44% | 327  | 14.76%  | 40  | 1.81%
1916 | 856  | 53.67% | 661  | 41.44%  | 78  | 4.89%
1912 | 442  | 37.71% | 381  | 32.51%  | 349  | 29.78%
1908 | 568  | 73.96% | 181  | 23.57%  | 19  | 2.47%

## See also[edit | edit source]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Hettinger County, North Dakota

## Gallery[edit | edit source]

* Bentley, North Dakota church.jpg

Church building in Bentley

* Neuberg Congregational Church.JPG

Neuburg Congregational Church

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hettinger County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Long, John H. (2006). "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
4. ^ a b c Long, John H. (2006). "North Dakota: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries". North Dakota Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on November 27, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. ^ a b "State of Stark". Bismarck Daily Tribune. May 19, 1899. p. 3.
6. ^ N. Dak. Laws 1895, 4th sess., ch. 25/pp. 21–23;
7. ^ Richards v. Stark Co., 8 N.D. 392., 79 N.W. Rep. 863 (N.D. 1899).
8. ^ "State of Stark". Bismarck Daily Tribune. June 19, 1899. p. 3.
9. ^ N. Dak. Laws 1899, 6th sess., ch. 57/p. 67
10. ^ Schaffner v. Young, 10 N.D. 245., 86 N.W. Rep. 733 (N.D. 1901).
11. ^ "Act of 1895 and Curative Act of 1899 are Both Unconstitutional and Void". Bismarck Daily Tribune. May 24, 1901. p. 2.
12. ^ N. Dak. Laws 1903, 8th sess., chs. 68–69/pp. 77–80
13. ^ a b State of North Dakota v. Stark County, 14 N.D. 368., 103 N.W. 913 (N.D. 1905).
14. ^ a b c Hettinger County ND Google Maps (accessed February 20, 2019)
15. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Hettinger County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 20, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
16. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
17. ^ "United States Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
18. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
19. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
20. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
21. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
22. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
23. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
24. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
25. ^ "Population Estimates Boundary Changes". October 1, 2004. Archived from the original on October 1, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
26. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

## External links[edit | edit source]

* Hettinger County, North Dakota
* 50th anniversary, Hettinger County, North Dakota :a tribute to our pioneers : 50 years of progress (1957) from the Digital Horizons website
* Hettinger County map, North Dakota DOT

Places adjacent to Hettinger County, North Dakota

|  | Stark County |

|
|

| North |
Slope County |

WestHettinger County, North DakotaEast

| Grant County
| South |
| Adams County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Hettinger County, North Dakota, United States

County seat: Mott

Cities|

* Mott
* New England
* Regent

Map of North Dakota highlighting Hettinger County

Townships|

* Acme
* Ashby
* Baer
* Beery
* Black Butte
* Brittian
* Campbell
* Cannon Ball
* Castle Rock
* Chilton
* Clark
* Farina
* Havelock
* Highland
* Kennedy
* Kern
* Kunze
* Madison
* Merrill
* Mott
* New England
* Odessa
* Rifle
* St. Croix
* Solon
* Steiner
* Strehlow
* Tepee Butte
* Wagendorf
* Walker

Unorganized
territory|

* Central Hettinger

Unincorporated
communities|

* Bentley
* Burt
* Havelock

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of North Dakota

Bismarck (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Climate
* Colleges and universities
* Cuisine
* Delegations
* Geography
* Governors
* History
* Bibliography
* Islands
* LGBT history
* Music
* People
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Politics

Regions|

* Badlands
* Missouri Coteau
* Drift Prairie
* Red River Valley
* Turtle Mountains

Larger cities
pop. over 5,000|

* Bismarck
* Devils Lake
* Dickinson
* Fargo
* Grand Forks
* Jamestown
* Mandan
* Minot
* Valley City
* Wahpeton
* Watford City
* West Fargo
* Williston

Smaller cities
pop. 1,000–5,000|

* Beach
* Beulah
* Bottineau
* Bowman
* Burlington
* Cando
* Carrington
* Casselton
* Cavalier
* Cooperstown
* Crosby
* Ellendale
* Garrison
* Grafton
* Hankinson
* Harvey
* Hazen
* Hettinger
* Hillsboro
* Horace
* Kenmare
* Langdon
* Larimore
* Lincoln
* Linton
* Lisbon
* Mayville
* New Rockford
* New Town
* Oakes
* Park River
* Rolla
* Rugby
* Stanley
* Thompson
* Tioga
* Velva
* Walhalla
* Washburn
* Watford City
* Wishek

Counties|

* Adams
* Barnes
* Benson
* Billings
* Bottineau
* Bowman
* Burke
* Burleigh
* Cass
* Cavalier
* Dickey
* Divide
* Dunn
* Eddy
* Emmons
* Foster
* Golden Valley
* Grand Forks
* Grant
* Griggs
* Hettinger
* Kidder
* LaMoure
* Logan
* McHenry
* McIntosh
* McKenzie
* McLean
* Mercer
* Morton
* Mountrail
* Nelson
* Oliver
* Pembina
* Pierce
* Ramsey
* Ransom
* Renville
* Richland
* Rolette
* Sargent
* Sheridan
* Sioux
* Slope
* Stark
* Steele
* Stutsman
* Towner
* Traill
* Walsh
* Ward
* Wells
* Williams

Coordinates: 46°26′N 102°26′W﻿ / ﻿46.433°N 102.433°W﻿ / 46.433; -102.433
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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