Dickey County, North Dakota

County in North Dakota, United States

Not to be confused with Dickey, North Dakota.

County in North Dakota

Dickey County

County

Postcard of Dickey County Courthouse in 1915

Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota

North Dakota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 46°06′28″N 98°29′47″W﻿ / ﻿46.107756°N 98.496518°W﻿ / 46.107756; -98.496518
Country|  United States
State|  North Dakota
Founded| March 5, 1881 (created)
August 18, 1882 (organized)
Named after| George H. Dickey
Seat| Ellendale
Largest city| Oakes
Area

• Total

| 1,142.157 sq mi (2,958.17 km2)
• Land| 1,131.493 sq mi (2,930.55 km2)
• Water| 10.664 sq mi (27.62 km2)  0.93%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 4,999

• Estimate

(2024)

| 4,930
• Density| 4.356/sq mi (1.682/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code| 701
Congressional district| At-large
Website| 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] and was estimated to be 4,930 in 2024.[2] The county seat is Ellendale and the largest city is Oakes.[3]

## History

[edit]

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. It was organized on August 18, 1882. It was named for a member of the Territorial Legislature, George H. Dickey.[4][5][6]

## Geography

[edit]

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.[7] 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.[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,142.157 square miles (2,958.17 km2), of which 1,131.493 square miles (2,930.55 km2) is land and 10.664 square miles (27.62 km2) (0.93%) is water.[9] It is the 31st largest county in North Dakota by total area.[10]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 281
* North Dakota Highway 1
* North Dakota Highway 11
* North Dakota Highway 56

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* LaMoure County \- north
* Ransom County \- northeast
* Sargent County \- east
* Brown County, South Dakota \- south
* McPherson County, South Dakota \- southwest
* McIntosh County \- west

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Dakota Lake National Wildlife Refuge
* Maple River National Wildlife Refuge

### Lakes

[edit]

Source:[7]

* Hilles Lake
* Pheasant Lake

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1890| 5,573| | —
1900| 6,061| | 8.8%
1910| 9,839| | 62.3%
1920| 10,499| | 6.7%
1930| 10,877| | 3.6%
1940| 9,696| | −10.9%
1950| 9,121| | −5.9%
1960| 8,147| | −10.7%
1970| 6,976| | −14.4%
1980| 7,207| | 3.3%
1990| 6,107| | −15.3%
2000| 5,757| | −5.7%
2010| 5,289| | −8.1%
2020| 4,999| | −5.5%
2024 (est.)| 4,930| [11]| −1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[2]

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Dickey County was $177,052.[16] As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 1,953 estimated households in Dickey County with an average of 2.37 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $63,125. Approximately 11.5% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Dickey County has an estimated 66.1% employment rate, with 27.1% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 91.4% holding a high school diploma.[2]

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (94.5%), Spanish (1.9%), Indo-European (2.9%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.6%), and Other (0.0%). The median age in the county was 38.6 years.

Dickey County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 1980[17] | Pop. 1990[18] | Pop. 2000[19] | Pop. 2010[20] | Pop. 2020[21]

|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 7,134
(98.99%) | 6,032
(98.77%) | 5,584
(96.99%) | 5,044
(95.37%) | 4,572
(91.46%)
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 1
(0.01%) | 8
(0.13%) | 6
(0.10%) | 35
(0.66%) | 19
(0.38%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 11
(0.15%) | 21
(0.34%) | 20
(0.35%) | 30
(0.57%) | 26
(0.52%)
Asian alone (NH)  | 27
(0.37%) | 13
(0.21%) | 29
(0.50%) | 22
(0.42%) | 27
(0.54%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | — | — | 0
(0.00%) | 1
(0.02%) | 0
(0.00%)
Other race alone (NH)  | 12
(0.17%) | 0
(0.00%) | 1
(0.02%) | 1
(0.02%) | 17
(0.34%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)  | — | — | 39
(0.68%) | 56
(1.06%) | 139
(2.78%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 22
(0.31%) | 33
(0.54%) | 78
(1.35%) | 100
(1.89%) | 199
(3.98%)
Total | 7,207
(100.00%) | 6,107
(100.00%) | 5,757
(100.00%) | 5,289
(100.00%) | 4,999
(100.00%)

### 2024 estimate

[edit]

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 4,930 people and 1,953 households residing in the county. There were 2,392 housing units at an average density of 2.11 per square mile (0.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.7% White (91.5% NH White), 0.8% African American, 1.4% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.2% of the population.[22]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 4,999 people, 1,985 households, and 1,249 families residing in the county.[23] The population density was 4.4 inhabitants per square mile (1.7/km2). There were 2,383 housing units at an average density of 2.11 per square mile (0.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.58% White, 0.56% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.56% from some other races and 4.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.98% of the population.[24]

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,289 people, 2,180 households, and 1,379 families residing 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 2.33 per square mile (0.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.50% White, 0.70% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from some other races and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.89% 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 2,180 households in the county, 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.

### Population by decade

[edit]

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Ellendale (county seat)
* Forbes
* Fullerton
* Monango
* Ludden
* Oakes

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Source:[7]

* Glover
* Guelph
* Keystone
* Silverleaf
* Wirch

## Former communities

[edit]

* Merricourt

## Government

[edit]

### Townships

[edit]

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

* Ada
* Albertha
* Albion
* Bear Creek
* Clement
* Divide
* Elden
* Ellendale
* Elm
* German
* Grand Valley
* Hamburg
* Hudson
* James River Valley
* Kent
* Kentner
* Keystone
* Lorraine
* Lovell
* Maple
* Northwest
* Port Emma
* Porter
* Potsdam
* Riverdale
* Spring Valley
* Valley
* Van Meter
* Whitestone
* Wright
* Yorktown
* Young

## Politics

[edit]

Dickey County voters are traditionally Republican-leaning. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for Dickey County, North Dakota[25] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,829  | 74.56% | 557  | 22.71%  | 67  | 2.73%
2020 | 1,742  | 71.86% | 608  | 25.08%  | 74  | 3.05%
2016 | 1,667  | 69.26% | 554  | 23.02%  | 186  | 7.73%
2012 | 1,610  | 63.51% | 853  | 33.65%  | 72  | 2.84%
2008 | 1,525  | 58.21% | 1,044  | 39.85%  | 51  | 1.95%
2004 | 1,890  | 67.00% | 883  | 31.30%  | 48  | 1.70%
2000 | 1,853  | 66.51% | 806  | 28.93%  | 127  | 4.56%
1996 | 1,418  | 53.21% | 953  | 35.76%  | 294  | 11.03%
1992 | 1,514  | 49.48% | 918  | 30.00%  | 628  | 20.52%
1988 | 2,064  | 61.87% | 1,249  | 37.44%  | 23  | 0.69%
1984 | 2,460  | 69.37% | 1,051  | 29.64%  | 35  | 0.99%
1980 | 2,455  | 68.69% | 917  | 25.66%  | 202  | 5.65%
1976 | 2,027  | 54.65% | 1,612  | 43.46%  | 70  | 1.89%
1972 | 2,277  | 63.59% | 1,266  | 35.35%  | 38  | 1.06%
1968 | 2,087  | 62.34% | 1,098  | 32.80%  | 163  | 4.87%
1964 | 1,808  | 49.81%  | 1,818  | 50.08% | 4  | 0.11%
1960 | 2,420  | 62.76% | 1,433  | 37.16%  | 3  | 0.08%
1956 | 2,327  | 61.72% | 1,435  | 38.06%  | 8  | 0.21%
1952 | 2,917  | 71.23% | 1,150  | 28.08%  | 28  | 0.68%
1948 | 1,774  | 54.89% | 1,264  | 39.11%  | 194  | 6.00%
1944 | 2,134  | 61.11% | 1,339  | 38.34%  | 19  | 0.54%
1940 | 2,777  | 57.44% | 1,721  | 35.59%  | 337  | 6.97%
1936 | 1,533  | 34.39%  | 2,287  | 51.30% | 638  | 14.31%
1932 | 1,424  | 30.67%  | 3,068  | 66.08% | 151  | 3.25%
1928 | 2,250  | 52.90% | 1,977  | 46.48%  | 26  | 0.61%
1924 | 1,716  | 43.66%  | 352  | 8.96%  | 1,862  | 47.38%
1920 | 2,887  | 75.79% | 766  | 20.11%  | 156  | 4.10%
1916 | 1,037  | 50.12% | 920  | 44.47%  | 112  | 5.41%
1912 | 494  | 29.90%  | 723  | 43.77% | 435  | 26.33%
1908 | 1,062  | 60.96% | 633  | 36.34%  | 47  | 2.70%
1904 | 998  | 69.64% | 336  | 23.45%  | 99  | 6.91%
1900 | 763  | 56.19% | 567  | 41.75%  | 28  | 2.06%

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
2. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dickey County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 106 - via Archive.org.
5. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
6. ^ "County History". www.nd.gov. State of North Dakota. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
7. ^ a b c Dickey County ND Google Maps (accessed February 17, 2019)
8. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Dickey County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 17, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
9. ^ "2024 County Gazetteer Files – North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
10. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dickey County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
11. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved June 2, 2025.
12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
14. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
16. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
17. ^ "Dickey County, North Dakota — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
18. ^ "1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics North Dakota" (PDF). www.census.gov. October 6, 2022. p. 20. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
19. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Dickey County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
20. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dickey County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
21. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dickey County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
22. ^ "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
23. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
24. ^ "How many people live in Dickey County, North Dakota". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
25. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Dickey County – official website
* Dickey County map, North Dakota DOT

Places adjacent to Dickey County, North Dakota

|  | LaMoure County | Ransom County

|
|

|  |
McIntosh County |

Dickey County, North Dakota

| Sargent County
|  |
McPherson County, South Dakota | Brown County, South Dakota |

* v
* t
* e

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

County seat: Ellendale

Cities|

* Ellendale
* Forbes
* Fullerton
* Ludden
* Monango
* Oakes

Map of North Dakota highlighting Dickey County

Townships|

* Ada
* Albertha
* Albion
* Bear Creek
* Clement
* Divide
* Elden
* Ellendale
* Elm
* German
* Grand Valley
* Hamburg
* Hudson
* James River Valley
* Kent
* Kentner
* Keystone
* Lorraine
* Lovell
* Maple
* Merricourt
* Northwest
* Port Emma
* Porter
* Potsdam
* Riverdale
* Spring Valley
* Valley
* Van Meter
* Whitestone
* Wright
* Yorktown
* Young

Unincorporated
communities|

* Glover
* Guelph

Ghost town|

* Keystone

* North Dakota portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of North Dakota

Bismarck (capital)

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Regions|

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Larger cities
pop. over 5,000|

* Bismarck
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Smaller cities
pop. 1,000–5,000|

* Beach
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North Dakota portal

Authority control databases

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Other|

* Yale LUX

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