Golden Valley County, North Dakota

Infobox U.S. County
county = Golden Valley County
state = North Dakota


map size = 225
founded = September 19, 1912cite web
url= http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/North_Dakota/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
title= Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies|accessdate= 2008-01-31|last= Long |first= John H. |year= 2006|month= |format= |work= Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher= The Newberry Library]
seat = Beach
largest city = Beach
area_total_sq_mi =1002
area_land_sq_mi = 1002
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area percentage = 0.04%
census yr = 2000
pop = 1924
density_km2 = 074
web = |

Golden Valley County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of 2000, the population was 1,924. Its county seat is Beach.GR|6

History

Golden Valley was originally part of Billings County. Voters elected to separate from Billings County in 1910, but litigation prevented formal organization of the county until 1912. The territory in the surrounding area was colloquially referred to as Rattlesnake Flats due to the large number of the snakes found in the area. The region was dubbed Golden Valley in 1902 after a group of land surveyors noticed that the sunlight gave the surrounding grasses a distinct golden color.Cite book | author=North Dakota Historical Records Survey | authorlink= | coauthors= | title=Inventory of the County Archives of North Dakota | date= 1941| publisher= North Dakota Historical Records Survey | volume=No. 17, Golden Valley County |location=Bismarck, North Dakota]

Election Controversy

The vote in 1910 to create Golden Valley County was 837 for and 756 against. Shortly after the vote was certified, suit was filed against the Billings County Commission to overturn the result. The plantiffs alleged that the certification of election was improper, and that certain pre-marked "unofficial" ballots printed by supporters of the new county were cast in place of official ballots, and should be voided. The trial court originally ruled in favor of the plantiffs. The county appealed to the North Dakota Supreme Court, which uphled the county's certification of the election. The court also ruled the pre-marked ballots were invalid, but that the number of invalid votes was not sufficient to overturn the election results. [cite court |litigants = Pederson v. Board of Commissioners of Billings County |vol = 23 |reporter = N.D. |opinion = 547, cite court |vol = 137 |reporter = N.W. |opinion = 484 |court = N.D. |date = 1912] The court's decision upholding the new county was made on September 19, 1912, and Golden Valley was formally organized on November 13, 1912.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,002 square miles (2,596 km²). All but convert|240|acre|km2 of it is dry land. The total area is 0.04% water.

Townships

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*McKenzie County (north)
*Billings County (east)
*Slope County (south)
*Fallon County, Montana (southwest)
*Wibaux County, Montana (west)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,924 people, 761 households, and 506 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.92 people per square mile (0.74/km²). There were 973 housing units at an average density of 0.97 per square mile (0.37/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.77% White, 0.73% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. 49.4% were of German, 13.7% Norwegian and 5.6% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 761 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 4.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 31.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.30% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 22.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 21.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,967, and the median income for a family was $37,105. Males had a median income of $25,478 versus $18,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,173. About 10.80% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.40% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Places

Cities

*Beach
*Golva
*Sentinel Butte"Note: all incorporated communities in North Dakota are called "cities" regardless of their size."

Notable Natives

*A. C. Townley, founder of the North Dakota Nonpartisan Leauge.

References