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Adams County, North Dakota

Coordinates: 46°05′49″N 102°32′00″W / 46.096815°N 102.533198°W / 46.096815; -102.533198
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Adams, North Dakota.

Adams County
County
Postcard. Adams County Courthouse in Hettinger
Postcard. Adams County Courthouse in Hettinger
Official logo of Adams County
Logo
Map of North Dakota highlighting Adams County
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°05′49″N 102°32′00″W / 46.096815°N 102.533198°W / 46.096815; -102.533198
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedApril 17, 1907 (created)
April 24, 1907 (organized)
SeatHettinger
Largest cityHettinger
Area
 • Total
988.665 sq mi (2,560.63 km2)
 • Land987.547 sq mi (2,557.73 km2)
 • Water1.118 sq mi (2.90 km2)  0.11%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,200
 • Estimate 
(2024)
2,141 Decrease
 • Density2.168/sq mi (0.837/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code701
Congressional districtAt-large
Websiteadamscountynd.com

Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,200,[1] and was estimated to be 2,141 in 2024,[2] The county seat is Hettinger.[3]

History

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The county was created on April 17, 1907, and organized one week later.[4][5][6] It was named for John Quincy Adams (1848–1919), a railroad official for the Milwaukee Road Railroad and distant relative of sixth U.S. President John Quincy Adams (1767–1848).[7] In 1923, Adams County was the site of one of the deadliest tornadoes in North Dakota's recorded history.[8] The "Adams County Twister' killed eight people and injured 20.[8]

Geography

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Adams County lies on the south line of North Dakota. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of South Dakota. Its terrain consists of semi-arid low rolling hills.[9] Its terrain generally slopes eastward, and its highest point is on its upper west boundary line, at 3,002 ft (915 m) ASL.[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 988.665 square miles (2,560.63 km2), of which 987.547 square miles (2,557.73 km2) is land and 1.118 square miles (2.90 km2) (0.11%) is water.[11] It is the 40th largest county in North Dakota by total area.[12]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Protected areas

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  • North Lemmon Lake State Game Management Area[9]

Lakes

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  • North Lemmon Lake
  • Mirror Lake[9]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19105,407—
19205,5933.4%
19306,34313.4%
19404,664−26.5%
19504,9105.3%
19604,449−9.4%
19703,832−13.9%
19803,584−6.5%
19903,174−11.4%
20002,593−18.3%
20102,343−9.6%
20202,200−6.1%
2024 (est.)2,141[13]−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16]
1990–2000[17] 2010–2020[2]

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Adams County was $114,750.[18]

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 1,019 estimated households in Adams County with an average of 2.06 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $55,417. Approximately 11.8% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Adams County has an estimated 56.9% employment rate, with 20.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 92.4% 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 (93.9%), Spanish (4.0%), Indo-European (1.4%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.0%), and Other (0.7%).

The median age in the county was 50.0 years.

Adams 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[19] Pop. 1990[20] Pop. 2000[21] Pop. 2010[22] Pop. 2020[23]
White alone (NH) 3,559
(99.30%)		 3,160
(99.56%)		 2,550
(98.34%)		 2,266
(96.71%)		 2,028
(92.18%)
Black or African American alone (NH) 1
(0.03%)		 3
(0.09%)		 14
(0.54%)		 8
(0.34%)		 12
(0.55%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 8
(0.22%)		 10
(0.32%)		 8
(0.31%)		 15
(0.64%)		 14
(0.64%)
Asian alone (NH) 7
(0.20%)		 0
(0.00%)		 4
(0.15%)		 9
(0.38%)		 39
(1.77%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 1
(0.04%)		 2
(0.09%)		 1
(0.05%)
Other race alone (NH) 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 9
(0.35%)		 23
(0.98%)		 70
(3.18%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9
(0.25%)		 1
(0.03%)		 7
(0.27%)		 20
(0.85%)		 36
(1.64%)
Total 3,584
(100.00%)		 3,174
(100.00%)		 2,593
(100.00%)		 2,343
(100.00%)		 2,200
(100.00%)

2023 estimate

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As of the 2023 estimate, there were 2,163 people and 1,019 households residing in the county. There were 1,363 housing units at an average density of 1.38 per square mile (0.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.4% White (88.8% NH White), 1.7% African American, 1.1% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.0% of the population.[24]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 2,200 people, 1,011 households, and 599 families residing in the county.[25] The population density was 2.2 inhabitants per square mile (0.8/km2). There were 1,364 housing units at an average density of 1.38 per square mile (0.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.68% White, 0.59% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from some other races and 3.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.64% of the population.[26]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 2,343 people, 1,098 households, and 658 families in the county. The population density was 2.4 inhabitants per square mile (0.9/km2). There were 1,377 housing units at an average density of 1.39 per square mile (0.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.27% White, 0.34% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from some other races and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.85% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 51.8% were German, 29.9% were Norwegian, 8.0% were Irish, 7.4% were Swedish, 7.1% were English, 5.4% were Russian, and 4.6% were American.

There were 1,098 households, 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.1% were non-families, and 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.69. The median age was 49.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,966 and the median income for a family was $50,227. Males had a median income of $31,290 versus $25,145 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,118. About 5.7% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Communities

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Detailed map of Adams County

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Townships

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Unorganized territories

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Defunct townships

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Politics

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Adams County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only two national elections since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Adams County, North Dakota[29]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 962 80.10% 215 17.90% 24 2.00%
2020 981 77.30% 258 20.33% 30 2.36%
2016 909 74.63% 216 17.73% 93 7.64%
2012 918 71.38% 328 25.51% 40 3.11%
2008 788 62.00% 435 34.23% 48 3.78%
2004 915 70.88% 353 27.34% 23 1.78%
2000 826 71.21% 286 24.66% 48 4.14%
1996 575 49.91% 366 31.77% 211 18.32%
1992 647 39.79% 469 28.84% 510 31.37%
1988 1,018 58.61% 708 40.76% 11 0.63%
1984 1,343 70.68% 530 27.89% 27 1.42%
1980 1,334 68.73% 470 24.21% 137 7.06%
1976 940 48.53% 959 49.51% 38 1.96%
1972 1,177 62.77% 665 35.47% 33 1.76%
1968 1,020 57.27% 641 35.99% 120 6.74%
1964 877 46.45% 1,010 53.50% 1 0.05%
1960 1,232 59.69% 832 40.31% 0 0.00%
1956 1,338 64.86% 723 35.05% 2 0.10%
1952 1,561 70.54% 633 28.60% 19 0.86%
1948 908 51.01% 753 42.30% 119 6.69%
1944 966 58.62% 668 40.53% 14 0.85%
1940 1,231 58.76% 837 39.95% 27 1.29%
1936 746 31.03% 1,321 54.95% 337 14.02%
1932 915 35.11% 1,514 58.10% 177 6.79%
1928 1,590 70.67% 644 28.62% 16 0.71%
1924 776 40.25% 106 5.50% 1,046 54.25%
1920 1,377 77.88% 347 19.63% 44 2.49%
1916 469 43.63% 532 49.49% 74 6.88%
1912 205 24.15% 249 29.33% 395 46.53%
1908 577 70.45% 201 24.54% 41 5.01%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Adams County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  4. ^ North Dakota Secretary of State (1995). North Dakota Blue Book. Bismarck: North Dakota Secretary of State. p. 446.
  5. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2006. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  6. ^ "County History". www.nd.gov. State of North Dakota. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  7. ^ Wick, Douglas A. North Dakota Place Names. Hedemarken Collectibles. p. 217. ISBN 0-9620968-0-6.
  8. ^ a b Jackson, William (2024). North Dakota Tornadoes Twisters & Cyclones. Dickinson, ND: Valley Star Publications. p. 23. ISBN 979-8-89480-378-4.
  9. ^ a b c Adams County ND Google Maps (accessed February 13, 2019)
  10. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Adams County ND - Google Maps (accessed February 13, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  11. ^ "2024 County Gazetteer Files – North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Adams County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  13. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  14. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  15. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  19. ^ "Adams County, North Dakota — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  20. ^ "1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics North Dakota" (PDF). www.census.gov. October 6, 2022. p. 20. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  21. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Adams County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  22. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Adams County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  23. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Adams County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  24. ^ "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  25. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  26. ^ "How many people live in Adams County, North Dakota". USA Today. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  27. ^ Holden Unorganized Territory consists of the boundaries of the former Holden Township.
  28. ^ Whetstone Township disorganized and became part of West Adams Unorganized Territory January 1, 2006.
  29. ^ Leip, David. "US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Adams County (North Dakota).
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