McHenry County, North Dakota

County in North Dakota, United States

Not to be confused with McHenry, North Dakota.

U.S. county in North Dakota

McHenry County

U.S. county

McHenry County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota

North Dakota's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  North Dakota
Founded| January 4, 1873 (created)
October 15, 1884 (organized)
Seat| Towner
Largest city| Velva
Area

• Total| 1,912 sq mi (4,950 km2)
• Land| 1,874 sq mi (4,850 km2)
• Water| 38 sq mi (100 km2)  2.0%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 5,345
• Estimate

(2021)

| 5,249
• Density| 2.8/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| At-large
Website| www.mchenrycountynd.com

McHenry County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,345.[1] Its county seat is Towner.[2]

McHenry County is part of the Minot, ND Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 National protected areas
* 2.4 Lakes[5]
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2000 census
* 3.2 2010 census
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Unincorporated communities[5]
* 4.3 Townships
* 5 Notable people
* 6 Politics
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

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The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with territory annexed from Bottineau County. It was named for James McHenry, an early settler of Vermillion (in present South Dakota). The county government was not organized at that time, nor was the county attached to another county for administrative and judicial purposes. The county organization was effected on October 15, 1884. The county boundaries were altered in 1885, 1887, 1891, and in 1892. It has retained its present boundaries since 1892.[3]

When the county was organized in 1884, Villard was named as county seat. In 1885 this designation was moved to Scriptown. In 1886 the designation was again moved, to Towner, which has remained the seat to the present time (the two former sites are now ghost towns).[4]

## Geography

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The Souris River loops through the county before turning north to its eventual discharge into Lake Winnipeg. The Wintering River drains the southern part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, partly devoted to agriculture (including limited use of center pivot irrigation).[5] The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point on the west boundary line near the southwest corner, at 2,156' (657m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 1,912 square miles (4,950 km2), of which 1,874 square miles (4,850 km2) is land and 38 square miles (98 km2) (2.0%) is water.[7] In 2013, 131 plants were collected in the Lake George area.[8]

### Major highways

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* U.S. Highway 2
* U.S. Highway 52
* North Dakota Highway 14
* North Dakota Highway 19
* North Dakota Highway 41
* North Dakota Highway 53
* North Dakota Highway 97

### Adjacent counties

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* Bottineau County \- north
* Pierce County \- east
* Sheridan County \- southeast
* McLean County \- southwest
* Ward County \- west
* Renville County \- northwest

### National protected areas

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* Cottonwood Lake National Wildlife Refuge
* Denbigh Experimental Forest
* J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Wintering River National Wildlife Refuge

### Lakes[5]

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* Bromley Lake
* Buffalo Lodge Lake
* Connia Slough
* Erickson Lake
* Heringen Lake
* Horseshoe Lake (part)
* Lake George
* Lake Hester
* Lauinger Lake
* Martin Lake
* North Lake
* Potters Lake
* Round Lake
* Smoky Lake (part)
* Stevens Slough
* Stink Lake

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1890| 1,584| | —
1900| 5,253| | 231.6%
1910| 17,627| | 235.6%
1920| 15,544| | −11.8%
1930| 15,439| | −0.7%
1940| 14,034| | −9.1%
1950| 12,556| | −10.5%
1960| 11,099| | −11.6%
1970| 8,977| | −19.1%
1980| 7,858| | −12.5%
1990| 6,528| | −16.9%
2000| 5,987| | −8.3%
2010| 5,395| | −9.9%
2020| 5,345| | −0.9%
2021 (est.)| 5,249| | −1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

### 2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 5,987 people, 2,526 households, and 1,699 families in the county. The population density was 3.19/sqmi (1.23/km2). There were 2,983 housing units at an average density of 1.59/sqmi (0.61/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.73% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.4% were of German and 34.0% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 2,526 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.

The county population contained 24.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,274, and the median income for a family was $35,676. Males had a median income of $25,740 versus $18,505 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,140. About 12.0% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 5,395 people, 2,377 households, and 1,527 families in the county.[13] The population density was 2.88/sqmi (1.11/km2). There were 2,948 housing units at an average density of 1.57/sqmi (0.61/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.6% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 55.3% were of German, 39.5% Norwegian, 5.3% English, 3.6% Swedish, 3.5% American, 2.4% Russian and 1.7% Dutch ancestry.[15]

Of the 2,377 households, 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.8% were non-families, and 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 46.2 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,944 and the median income for a family was $54,350. Males had a median income of $36,625 versus $26,205 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,911. About 6.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.[16]

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Anamoose
* Balfour
* Bantry
* Bergen
* Deering
* Drake
* Granville
* Karlsruhe
* Kief
* Towner (county seat)
* Upham
* Velva
* Voltaire

### Unincorporated communities[5]

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* Berwick
* Cole Ford
* Denbigh
* Funston
* Genoa
* Guthrie
* Kottkethal[17]
* Milroy
* Newport
* Norfolk[17]
* Norwich
* Rangeley
* Riga
* Rising
* Rose Hill
* Simcoe
* Verendrye
* Willowdale[17]
* Willow Vale[17]
* Willow Valley[17]
* Willow Creek

### Townships

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* Anamoose
* Balfour
* Bantry
* Berwick
* Bjornson
* Brown
* Cottonwood Lake
* Deep River
* Deering
* Denbigh
* Egg Creek
* Falsen
* Gilmore
* Granville
* Grilley
* Hendrickson
* Karlsruhe
* Kottke Valley
* Lake George
* Lake Hester
* Land
* Layton
* Lebanon
* Little Deep
* Meadow
* Mouse River
* Newport
* Normal
* North Prairie
* Norwich
* Odin
* Olivia
* Pratt
* Riga
* Rose Hill
* Round Lake
* Saline
* Schiller
* Spring Grove
* Strege
* Velva
* Villard
* Voltaire
* Wagar
* Willow Creek

## Notable people

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* Sondre Norheim, pioneer of modern skiing
* Cordell Volson, professional football player

## Politics

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McHenry 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 McHenry County, North Dakota[18] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 2,364  | 78.72% | 564  | 18.78%  | 75  | 2.50%
2016 | 2,050  | 72.70% | 490  | 17.38%  | 280  | 9.93%
2012 | 1,678  | 61.87% | 943  | 34.77%  | 91  | 3.36%
2008 | 1,374  | 56.87% | 981  | 40.60%  | 61  | 2.52%
2004 | 1,744  | 61.84% | 1,030  | 36.52%  | 46  | 1.63%
2000 | 1,682  | 61.45% | 888  | 32.44%  | 167  | 6.10%
1996 | 1,187  | 43.07% | 1,096  | 39.77%  | 473  | 17.16%
1992 | 1,321  | 38.90% | 1,173  | 34.54%  | 902  | 26.56%
1988 | 1,888  | 52.69% | 1,665  | 46.47%  | 30  | 0.84%
1984 | 2,485  | 65.38% | 1,283  | 33.75%  | 33  | 0.87%
1980 | 2,922  | 71.20% | 939  | 22.88%  | 243  | 5.92%
1976 | 2,043  | 49.70% | 1,994  | 48.50%  | 74  | 1.80%
1972 | 2,765  | 63.62% | 1,554  | 35.76%  | 27  | 0.62%
1968 | 2,226  | 54.21% | 1,595  | 38.85%  | 285  | 6.94%
1964 | 1,728  | 39.46%  | 2,643  | 60.36% | 8  | 0.18%
1960 | 2,715  | 54.87% | 2,231  | 45.09%  | 2  | 0.04%
1956 | 3,019  | 62.12% | 1,825  | 37.55%  | 16  | 0.33%
1952 | 4,227  | 76.60% | 1,228  | 22.25%  | 63  | 1.14%
1948 | 2,578  | 56.45% | 1,770  | 38.76%  | 219  | 4.80%
1944 | 3,141  | 61.44% | 1,934  | 37.83%  | 37  | 0.72%
1940 | 3,894  | 63.07% | 2,225  | 36.04%  | 55  | 0.89%
1936 | 1,619  | 26.24%  | 3,294  | 53.40% | 1,256  | 20.36%
1932 | 1,396  | 25.08%  | 3,937  | 70.73% | 233  | 4.19%
1928 | 2,914  | 53.04% | 2,535  | 46.14%  | 45  | 0.82%
1924 | 1,692  | 36.89%  | 264  | 5.76%  | 2,631  | 57.36%
1920 | 3,534  | 74.09% | 848  | 17.78%  | 388  | 8.13%
1916 | 692  | 31.33%  | 1,316  | 59.57% | 201  | 9.10%
1912 | 589  | 23.61%  | 959  | 38.44% | 947  | 37.96%
1908 | 1,772  | 56.16% | 1,296  | 41.08%  | 87  | 2.76%
1904 | 1,807  | 73.54% | 556  | 22.63%  | 94  | 3.83%
1900 | 595  | 70.00% | 222  | 26.12%  | 33  | 3.88%

## See also

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

## References

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1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: McHenry County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
4. ^ "County History". Official Portal for North Dakota State Government. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
5. ^ a b c McHenry County ND Google Maps (accessed February 23, 2019)
6. ^ ""Find an Altitude/McHenry County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 23, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
8. ^ The checklist of the flora of Lake George environs, McHenry County, North Dakota
9. ^ "United States Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
13. ^ 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.
14. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
15. ^ "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.
16. ^ "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.
17. ^ a b c d e Genealogy Trails: North Dakota (accessed February 23, 2019)
18. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

## External links

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* McHenry County JDA
* McHenry County maps, Sheet 1 (northern) and Sheet 2 (southern), North Dakota DOT

Places adjacent to McHenry County, North Dakota

| Renville County | Bottineau County |

|
|

|  |
Ward County |

McHenry County, North Dakota

| Pierce County
|  |
McLean County |
| Sheridan County

* v
* t
* e

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

County seat: Towner

Cities|

* Anamoose
* Balfour
* Bantry
* Bergen
* Deering
* Drake
* Granville
* Karlsruhe
* Kief
* Towner
* Upham
* Velva
* Voltaire

Map of North Dakota highlighting McHenry County

Townships|

* Anamoose
* Balfour
* Bantry
* Berwick
* Bjornson
* Brown
* Cottonwood Lake
* Deep River
* Deering
* Denbigh
* Egg Creek
* Falsen
* Gilmore
* Granville
* Grilley
* Hendrickson
* Karlsruhe
* Kottke Valley
* Lake George
* Lake Hester
* Land
* Layton
* Lebanon
* Little Deep
* Meadow
* Mouse River
* Newport
* Normal
* North Prairie
* Norwich
* Odin
* Olivia
* Pratt
* Riga
* Rose Hill
* Round Lake
* Saline
* Schiller
* Spring Grove
* Strege
* Velva
* Villard
* Voltaire
* Wagar
* Willow Creek

Unorganized
territory|

* East McHenry
* Northeast McHenry

Other
communities|

* Berwick
* Denbigh
* Norwich
* Verendrye

Indian reservation|

* Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation‡

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* 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: 48°14′N 100°38′W﻿ / ﻿48.23°N 100.64°W﻿ / 48.23; -100.64
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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