Grant County, North Dakota

County in North Dakota, United States

County in North Dakota

Grant County

County

Carson Roller Mill

Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota

North Dakota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 46°21′28″N 101°38′21″W﻿ / ﻿46.357827°N 101.639049°W﻿ / 46.357827; -101.639049
Country|  United States
State|  North Dakota
Founded| November 7, 1916 (created)
November 28, 1916 (organized)
Named after| Ulysses S. Grant
Seat| Carson
Largest city| Elgin
Area

• Total

| 1,666.014 sq mi (4,314.96 km2)
• Land| 1,659.233 sq mi (4,297.39 km2)
• Water| 6.781 sq mi (17.56 km2)  0.41%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 2,301

• Estimate

(2024)

| 2,247
• Density| 1.354/sq mi (0.523/km2)
Time zone| UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code| 701
Congressional district| At-large
Website| grantcountynd.com

Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,301.[1] The county seat is Carson and the largest city is Elgin.[2]

## History

[edit]

The territory of Grant County was part of Morton County until 1916. On November 7 the county voters determined that the SW portion of the county would be partitioned off to form a new county, to be named after Ulysses S. Grant, the US President from 1869 to 1877. Accordingly, the county government was organized on November 28, with Carson as the seat. The county's boundaries have remained unchanged since its creation.[3][4][5]

Outline map of Grant County, North Dakota, 1918

## Geography

[edit]

Heart Butte is a prominent geographic feature in Grant County, and the namesake for the nearby Heart Butte Dam.

The Heart River flows eastward through the upper part of Grant County, and Cedar Creek flows east-northeastward along the county's southern boundary line. The county terrain consists of isolated hills among rolling hills, carved by drainages. The semi-arid ground is partially devoted to agriculture.[6] The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest point is a rise near its southwestern corner, at 2,680 ft (820 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 1,666 square miles (4,310 km2), of which 1,659 square miles (4,300 km2) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km2) (0.4%) is water.[8] Lake Tschida, a Bureau of Reclamation reservoir and recreation area on the Heart River, is the county's largest body of water.[9]

The southwestern corner of North Dakota observes Mountain Time (Adams, Billings, Bowman, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Slope, and Stark counties). The counties of McKenzie, Dunn, and Sioux counties are split, with the western portions of each observing Mountain Time.

### Major highways

[edit]

* North Dakota Highway 21
* North Dakota Highway 31
* North Dakota Highway 49

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Morton County \- northeast (observes Central Time)
* Sioux County \- south
* Adams County \- southwest
* Hettinger County \- west
* Stark County \- northwest

### Protected areas

[edit]

Source:[6]

* Cedar River National Grassland (part)
* Heart Butte River State Game Management Area
* Otter Creek State Game Management Area
* Pretty Rock National Wildlife Refuge
* Sheep Creek Dam State Recreation Area

### Lakes

[edit]

Source:[6]

* Pretty Rock Lake
* Sheep Creek Dam
* Lake Tschida

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1920| 9,553| | —
1930| 10,134| | 6.1%
1940| 8,264| | −18.5%
1950| 7,114| | −13.9%
1960| 6,248| | −12.2%
1970| 5,009| | −19.8%
1980| 4,274| | −14.7%
1990| 3,549| | −17.0%
2000| 2,841| | −19.9%
2010| 2,394| | −15.7%
2020| 2,301| | −3.9%
2024 (est.)| 2,247| [10]| −2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[1]

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Grant County was $90,910.[15]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2020, there were 2,301 people. 1,649 houses.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,394 people, 1,128 households, and 694 families in the county. The population density was 1.4 inhabitants per square mile (0.54/km2). There were 1,690 housing units at an average density of 1.02 units per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.2% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 66.6% were German, 14.0% were Norwegian, 12.5% were Russian, 5.9% were Irish, 5.5% were English, and 2.2% were American.

Of the 1,128 households, 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.5% were non-families, and 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 51.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,500 and the median income for a family was $53,542. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $27,303 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,840. About 7.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

### Population by decade

[edit]

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Carson (county seat)
* Elgin
* Leith
* New Leipzig

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Heil
* Raleigh

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Brisbane
* Dogtooth
* Freda
* Johnson Ford[6]
* Lark
* Saint Gertrude[6]
* Shields

### Townships

[edit]

* Elm
* Fisher
* Freda
* Howe
* Lark
* Leipzig
* Minnie
* Pretty Rock
* Raleigh
* Rock
* Winona

### Defunct township

[edit]

* Otter Creek Township[16]

## Politics

[edit]

Grant County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Grant County, North Dakota[17] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,076  | 82.39% | 205  | 15.70%  | 25  | 1.91%
2020 | 1,145  | 82.91% | 207  | 14.99%  | 29  | 2.10%
2016 | 1,108  | 80.23% | 185  | 13.40%  | 88  | 6.37%
2012 | 1,025  | 72.54% | 334  | 23.64%  | 54  | 3.82%
2008 | 873  | 64.91% | 405  | 30.11%  | 67  | 4.98%
2004 | 952  | 76.65% | 264  | 21.26%  | 26  | 2.09%
2000 | 1,077  | 75.47% | 235  | 16.47%  | 115  | 8.06%
1996 | 760  | 55.51% | 300  | 21.91%  | 309  | 22.57%
1992 | 900  | 45.94% | 415  | 21.18%  | 644  | 32.87%
1988 | 1,351  | 66.13% | 654  | 32.01%  | 38  | 1.86%
1984 | 1,607  | 74.92% | 507  | 23.64%  | 31  | 1.45%
1980 | 1,891  | 80.85% | 317  | 13.55%  | 131  | 5.60%
1976 | 1,205  | 53.37% | 952  | 42.16%  | 101  | 4.47%
1972 | 1,569  | 70.17% | 596  | 26.65%  | 71  | 3.18%
1968 | 1,648  | 71.78% | 488  | 21.25%  | 160  | 6.97%
1964 | 1,421  | 57.11% | 1,063  | 42.73%  | 4  | 0.16%
1960 | 1,794  | 65.21% | 955  | 34.71%  | 2  | 0.07%
1956 | 1,872  | 72.03% | 718  | 27.63%  | 9  | 0.35%
1952 | 2,465  | 85.32% | 403  | 13.95%  | 21  | 0.73%
1948 | 1,555  | 66.94% | 689  | 29.66%  | 79  | 3.40%
1944 | 1,745  | 80.64% | 410  | 18.95%  | 9  | 0.42%
1940 | 2,815  | 81.52% | 627  | 18.16%  | 11  | 0.32%
1936 | 1,022  | 29.57%  | 1,858  | 53.76% | 576  | 16.67%
1932 | 657  | 17.98%  | 2,912  | 79.69% | 85  | 2.33%
1928 | 1,759  | 54.59% | 1,434  | 44.51%  | 29  | 0.90%
1924 | 1,120  | 39.07%  | 125  | 4.36%  | 1,622  | 56.57%
1920 | 2,184  | 83.17% | 296  | 11.27%  | 146  | 5.56%

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
3. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
4. ^ "County History". www.nd.gov. State of North Dakota. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
5. ^ Certification of the division of Morton County, ND 28 November 1916Archived July 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ a b c d e Grant County ND Google Maps (accessed February 19, 2019)
7. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Grant County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 19, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
9. ^ "Heart Butte Reservoir". Recreation.gov. Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
10. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved June 30, 2025.
11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
13. ^ 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.
14. ^ "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.
15. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
16. ^ "Geographic Change Notes for North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (TXT) on October 10, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

## Further reading

[edit]

Kane, Joseph Nathan; Charles Curry Aiken (2004). The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950-2000. Scarecrow Press. p. 116. ISBN 0-8108-5036-2.

## External links

[edit]

* Grant County Official website
* Grant County maps, Sheet 1 (northern) and Sheet 2 (southern), North Dakota DOT

Places adjacent to Grant County, North Dakota

| Stark County |
| Morton County

|
|

|  |
Hettinger County |

Grant County, North Dakota

|  |
Adams County | Sioux County |

* v
* t
* e

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

County seat: Carson

Cities|

* Carson
* Elgin
* Leith
* New Leipzig

Map of North Dakota highlighting Grant County

Townships|

* Elm
* Fisher
* Freda
* Howe
* Lark
* Leipzig
* Minnie
* Pretty Rock
* Raleigh
* Rock
* Winona

Unorganized
territories|

* East Grant
* West Grant

CDPs|

* Heil
* Raleigh

Other
communities|

* Brisbane
* Dogtooth
* Freda
* Shields

Ghost town|

* Leipzig

* North Dakota portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of North Dakota

Bismarck (capital)

Topics|

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Regions|

* Badlands
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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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Counties|

* Adams
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* Ward
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* Williams

North Dakota portal

Authority control databases

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* Yale LUX

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