Ward County, North Dakota

Infobox U.S. County
county = Ward County
state = North Dakota


map size = 225
founded = November 23 1885
seat = (1885–1888) Burlington
(1888–present) Minot
largest city = Minot
area_total_sq_mi =2056
area_land_sq_mi =2013
area_water_sq_mi =43
area percentage = 2.11%
census yr = 2000
pop = 58795
density_km2 =11
web = www.co.ward.nd.us |

:"Ward County redirects here. For the county in Texas see Ward County, Texas"Ward County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of 2000, the population was 58,795. Its county seat is Minot;GR|6 the seat was in Burlington until 1888.

Ward County is part of the Minot Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,056 square miles (5,326 km²), of which, 2,013 square miles (5,213 km²) of it is land and 43 square miles (112 km²) of it (2.11%) is water.

Much of the county is flat to rolling plains. The southern reaches of the county are dotted with numerous small lakes, water neither sloping towards the Souris River basin nor Lake Sakakawea.

Townships

Major highways

Adjacent counties

*Renville County (north)
*McHenry County (east)
*McLean County (south)
*Mountrail County (west)
*Burke County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 58,795 people, 23,041 households, and 15,368 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 25,097 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.40% White, 2.22% Black or African American, 2.07% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. 1.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.7% were of German and 27.9% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 23,041 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 13.00% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 19.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,670, and the median income for a family was $41,342. Males had a median income of $27,980 versus $19,830 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,926. About 7.90% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.

Places

Cities

*Berthold
*Burlington
*Carpio
*Des Lacs
*Donnybrook
*Douglas
*Kenmare
*Makoti
*Minot
*Ryder
*Sawyer
*Surrey"Note: all incorporated communities in North Dakota are called "cities" regardless of their size."

Census-designated places

*Minot Air Force Base

Unincorporated communities

*Aurelia - "ghost town" south of Donnybrook
*Drady
*Foxholm - small community in the Des Lacs Valley north of Burlington
*Gassman - founded as the Gassman Creek Coulee trestle was being built, now referred to as "Trestle Valley"
*Hartland - "ghost town" north of Berthold
*Hesnault
*Lonetreee - small 100 person community northwest of Des Lacs and southeast of Berthold
*Logan - small community south of Minot and north of Sawyer in the Souris River Valley
*Rice Lake - small community around Rice Lake south of Minot
*Rice Lake Park
*Ruthville - small community created due to construction of the northward-nearbyly Minot Air Force Base
*South Prairie - small community with modern school, south of Minot
*Wolseth - diminishing community, south of the Renville County border, and Granville

Historical areas:
*Harrison - early sister community of Minot, annexed into Minot
*Waldorf - annexed into Minot boundaries in its early years
*Roach - railroad siding
*Ralston - railroad siding

References

External links

* [http://www.co.ward.nd.us/ Ward County official website]
* [http://wchs.dnsalias.org/wchs/ Ward County Historical Society website]