McLean County, North Dakota

County in North Dakota, United States

County in North Dakota

McLean County

County

Historic McLean County Courthouse, now Historical Museum.

Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota

North Dakota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 47°37′N 101°19′W﻿ / ﻿47.61°N 101.32°W﻿ / 47.61; -101.32
Country|  United States
State|  North Dakota
Founded| March 8, 1883 (created)
November 1, 1883 (organized)
Named for| John A. McLean
Seat| Washburn
Largest city| Garrison
Area

• Total

| 2,328 sq mi (6,030 km2)
• Land| 2,111 sq mi (5,470 km2)
• Water| 217 sq mi (560 km2)  9.3%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 9,771

• Estimate

(2023)

| 9,832
• Density| 4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| At-large
Website| www.mcleancountynd.gov

McLean County (/məˈkleɪn/ mə-KLAYN) is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,771.[1] Its county seat is Washburn.[2]

## History

[edit]

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on March 8, 1883, with areas partitioned from Burleigh, Sheridan, and (now-extinct) Stevens counties. The county was named for John A. McLean, the first mayor of Bismarck.[3] The county organization was completed on November 1 of that year. Its boundaries were altered in 1885, in 1892, and in 1908. It has retained its current configuration since November 3, 1908, when a portion of its previous territory was partitioned to recreate Sheridan County (Sheridan had been dissolved on November 8, 1892, with its territory annexed to McLean).[4]

## Geography

[edit]

The county's western boundary is delineated by Lake Sakakawea, created in 1956 by construction of Garrison Dam at the county's southwestern edge. The southwestern boundary of the county is delineated by the Missouri River as it continues its southeastward flow from the lake. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds in its eastern portion. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point on the north boundary line near its NW corner, at 2,201 ft (671 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 2,328 square miles (6,030 km2), of which 2,111 square miles (5,470 km2) is land and 217 square miles (560 km2) (9.3%) is water.[7] It is the third-largest county in North Dakota by land area and second-largest by total area.

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 83
* North Dakota Highway 28
* North Dakota Highway 37
* North Dakota Highway 41
* North Dakota Highway 48
* North Dakota Highway 53
* North Dakota Highway 200
* North Dakota Highway 200A
* North Dakota Highway 1804

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Ward County \- north
* McHenry County \- northeast
* Sheridan County \- east
* Burleigh County \- southeast
* Oliver County \- south
* Mercer County \- southwest
* Dunn County \- west
* Mountrail County \- northwest

### Protected areas[5]

[edit]

* Audubon National Wildlife Refuge
* Camp Lake National Wildlife Refuge
* De Trobriand State Game Management Area
* Douglas Creek Public Use Area
* Hiddenwood National Wildlife Refuge
* Lake Nettie National Wildlife Refuge
* Lake Otis National Wildlife Refuge
* Lake Susie National Wildlife Refuge
* Lost Lake National Wildlife Refuge
* McLean National Wildlife Refuge
* Riverdale State Game Management Area
* Totten Trail Park
* Wilton Mine State Game Management Area (part)

### Lakes[5]

[edit]

* Blackwater Lake
* Blue Lake
* Brumwell Slough
* Camp Lake
* Cherry Lake (part)
* Cottonwood Lake
* Crooked Lake
* Lake Audubon
* Lake Brekken
* Lake Holmes
* Lake Margaret
* Lake Nettie
* Lake Ordway
* Lake Williams
* Lost Lake
* Minehan Slough
* Nelson Lake
* Otis Lake
* Painted Woods Lake
* Pelican Lake
* Peterson Lake
* Postel Lake (part)
* Strawberry Lake
* Turtle Lake
* Wildwood Lake
* Yanktonal Lake

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1890| 860| | —
1900| 4,791| | 457.1%
1910| 14,496| | 202.6%
1920| 17,266| | 19.1%
1930| 17,991| | 4.2%
1940| 16,082| | −10.6%
1950| 18,824| | 17.1%
1960| 14,030| | −25.5%
1970| 11,251| | −19.8%
1980| 12,383| | 10.1%
1990| 10,457| | −15.6%
2000| 9,311| | −11.0%
2010| 8,962| | −3.7%
2020| 9,771| | 9.0%
2023 (est.)| 9,832| [8]| 0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 9,771 people, 4,129 households, and 2,712 families in the county.[13] The population density was 4.6 inhabitants per square mile (1.8/km2) There were 5,728 housing units.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 8,962 people, 3,897 households, and 2,600 families residing in the county. The population density was 4.25 people per square mile (1.64 people/km2). There were 5,590 housing units at an average density of 2.65 units per square mile (1.02/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% white, 7.0% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.4% were German, 24.6% were Norwegian, 6.5% were Irish, 5.6% were Swedish, 5.1% were English, and 3.6% were American.

Of the 3,897 households, 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.3% were non-families, and 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 49.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,922 and the median income for a family was $62,686. Males had a median income of $48,906 versus $29,431 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,029. About 6.5% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

### Population by decade

[edit]

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Benedict
* Butte
* Coleharbor
* Garrison
* Max
* Mercer
* Riverdale
* Ruso
* Turtle Lake
* Underwood
* Washburn (county seat)
* Wilton (partly in Burleigh County)

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* White Shield

### Unincorporated communities[5]

[edit]

* Falkirk
* Merida
* Raub
* Roseglen

### Townships

[edit]

* Amundsville
* Andrews
* Aurena
* Blackwater
* Blue Hill
* Butte
* Byersville
* Cremerville
* Deepwater
* Dogden
* Douglas
* Gate
* Greatstone
* Horseshoe Valley
* Lake Williams
* Longfellow
* Loquemont
* Malcolm
* McGinnis
* Medicine Hill
* Mercer
* Otis
* Roseglen
* Rosemont
* Saint Mary
* Snow
* Turtle Lake
* Victoria
* Wise

### Communities flooded by Garrison Dam

[edit]

* Beaver Creek
* Charging Eagle
* Elbowoods
* Independence
* Lucky Mound
* Nishu
* Red Butte (Mandan community)
* Shell Creek

## Politics

[edit]

McLean County voters have voted Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for McLean County, North Dakota[14][15] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 4,198  | 75.83% | 1,230  | 22.22%  | 108  | 1.95%
2016 | 3,860  | 72.62% | 1,081  | 20.34%  | 374  | 7.04%
2012 | 3,141  | 63.61% | 1,670  | 33.82%  | 127  | 2.57%
2008 | 2,767  | 58.42% | 1,867  | 39.42%  | 102  | 2.15%
2004 | 3,014  | 63.45% | 1,664  | 35.03%  | 72  | 1.52%
2000 | 2,891  | 62.23% | 1,465  | 31.53%  | 290  | 6.24%
1996 | 1,988  | 45.39% | 1,759  | 40.16%  | 633  | 14.45%
1992 | 2,124  | 40.05% | 1,808  | 34.09%  | 1,371  | 25.85%
1988 | 2,906  | 53.85% | 2,428  | 45.00%  | 62  | 1.15%
1984 | 3,673  | 62.82% | 2,062  | 35.27%  | 112  | 1.92%
1980 | 4,234  | 67.79% | 1,613  | 25.82%  | 399  | 6.39%
1976 | 2,729  | 48.17%  | 2,815  | 49.69% | 121  | 2.14%
1972 | 3,575  | 66.23% | 1,703  | 31.55%  | 120  | 2.22%
1968 | 2,764  | 54.95% | 2,050  | 40.76%  | 216  | 4.29%
1964 | 2,204  | 39.73%  | 3,339  | 60.19% | 4  | 0.07%
1960 | 3,398  | 55.05% | 2,771  | 44.89%  | 4  | 0.06%
1956 | 3,653  | 58.17% | 2,609  | 41.54%  | 18  | 0.29%
1952 | 5,184  | 68.62% | 2,295  | 30.38%  | 76  | 1.01%
1948 | 2,762  | 50.10% | 2,283  | 41.41%  | 468  | 8.49%
1944 | 2,822  | 53.37% | 2,326  | 43.99%  | 140  | 2.65%
1940 | 4,113  | 58.99% | 2,666  | 38.24%  | 193  | 2.77%
1936 | 1,732  | 25.24%  | 4,018  | 58.55% | 1,112  | 16.21%
1932 | 1,369  | 23.92%  | 4,354  | 76.08% | 0  | 0.00%
1928 | 2,730  | 47.51%  | 2,855  | 49.69% | 161  | 2.80%
1924 | 1,651  | 36.02%  | 194  | 4.23%  | 2,738  | 59.74%
1920 | 3,724  | 74.23% | 748  | 14.91%  | 545  | 10.86%
1916 | 1,054  | 41.64%  | 1,210  | 47.81% | 267  | 10.55%
1912 | 505  | 25.63%  | 583  | 29.59% | 882  | 44.77%
1908 | 2,273  | 67.83% | 927  | 27.66%  | 151  | 4.51%
1904 | 1,928  | 88.44% | 219  | 10.05%  | 33  | 1.51%
1900 | 587  | 83.74% | 110  | 15.69%  | 4  | 0.57%

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "County History". Official Portal for North Dakota State Government. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
4. ^ "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 26, 2019.
5. ^ a b c d "McLean County · North Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
6. ^ ""Find an Altitude/McLean County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 26, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 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. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved May 9, 2024.
9. ^ "U.S. 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. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
13. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
15. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 526 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 325 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 31 votes.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Mary Ann Barnes Williams, Pioneer Days of Washburn, N. Dakota and Vicinity. Washburn ND: Washburn Leader, 1936.
* McLean County Heritage. Washburn ND: McLean County Historical Society, 1978.

## External links

[edit]

* McLean County maps, Sheet 1 (western), Sheet 2 (northeast), and Sheet 3 (southeast), North Dakota DOT

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to McLean County, North Dakota

| Mountrail County | Ward County | McHenry County

|
|

|  |
Dunn County |

McLean County, North Dakota

| Sheridan County
|  |
Mercer County | Oliver County | Burleigh County

* v
* t
* e

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

County seat: Washburn

Cities|

* Benedict
* Butte
* Coleharbor
* Garrison
* Max
* Mercer
* Riverdale
* Ruso
* Turtle Lake
* Underwood
* Washburn
* Wilton‡

Map of North Dakota highlighting McLean County

Townships|

* Amundsville
* Andrews
* Aurena
* Blackwater
* Blue Hill
* Butte
* Byersville
* Cremerville
* Deepwater
* Dogden
* Douglas
* Gate
* Greatstone
* Horseshoe Valley
* Lake Williams
* Longfellow
* Loquemont
* Malcolm
* McGinnis
* Medicine Hill
* Mercer
* Otis
* Roseglen
* Rosemont
* Snow
* St. Mary
* Turtle Lake
* Victoria
* Wise

Unorganized
territories|

* East McLean
* Fort Berthold
* North Central McLean
* South McLean
* Underwood
* West McLean

CDP|

* White Shield

Other
communities|

* Emmet
* Roseglen

Indian reservations|

* Fort Berthold Indian Reservation‡
* Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation‡

Ghost town|

* Elbowoods

Footnotes|

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

* North Dakota portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of North Dakota

Bismarck (capital)

Topics|

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Society|

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Regions|

* Badlands
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Larger cities
pop. over 5,000|

* Bismarck
* Devils Lake
* Dickinson
* Fargo
* Grand Forks
* Jamestown
* Mandan
* Minot
* Valley City
* Wahpeton
* Watford City
* West Fargo
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Smaller cities
pop. 1,000–5,000|

* Beach
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* Bowman
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* Cando
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* Casselton
* Cavalier
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* Watford City
* Wishek

Counties|

* Adams
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* Bottineau
* Bowman
* Burke
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* Cavalier
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* Grand Forks
* Grant
* Griggs
* Hettinger
* Kidder
* LaMoure
* Logan
* McHenry
* McIntosh
* McKenzie
* McLean
* Mercer
* Morton
* Mountrail
* Nelson
* Oliver
* Pembina
* Pierce
* Ramsey
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* Renville
* Richland
* Rolette
* Sargent
* Sheridan
* Sioux
* Slope
* Stark
* Steele
* Stutsman
* Towner
* Traill
* Walsh
* Ward
* Wells
* Williams

North Dakota portal

Authority control databases

International|

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National|

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Other|

* NARA

47°37′N 101°19′W﻿ / ﻿47.61°N 101.32°W﻿ / 47.61; -101.32
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