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Oliver County, North Dakota

Coordinates: 47°07′N 101°21′W / 47.11°N 101.35°W / 47.11; -101.35
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Oliver County
County
Missouri River at Cross Ranch State Park.
Missouri River at Cross Ranch State Park.
Map of North Dakota highlighting Oliver 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: 47°07′N 101°21′W / 47.11°N 101.35°W / 47.11; -101.35
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedApril 14, 1885 (created)
May 18, 1885 (organized)
Named forHarry S. Oliver
SeatCenter
Largest cityCenter
Area
 • Total
731 sq mi (1,890 km2)
 • Land723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Water8.7 sq mi (23 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,877
 • Estimate 
(2022)
1,856 Decrease
 • Density2.6/sq mi (0.99/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websiteolivercountynd.org

Oliver County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,877.[1] Its county seat and only city is Center.[2]

History

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The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on April 14, 1885, with territory partitioned from Mercer County. It was named for Harry S. Oliver of Lisbon, North Dakota, a Republican politician and member of the Dakota Territory House of Representatives at the time. The county government was organized on May 18, with Sanger (then known as "Bentley") as county seat. The seat was moved to Center in 1902.[3][4]

Oliver County is included in the Bismarck, North Dakota Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

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The northeastern/eastern boundary of Oliver County is delineated by the Missouri River as it flows southeastward after leaving Lake Sakakawea. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the east, with the highest point a hill near its southwestern corner, at 2,382 ft (726 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 731 square miles (1,890 km2), of which 723 square miles (1,870 km2) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km2) (1.2%) is water.[7] It is the fifth-smallest county in North Dakota by area.

By sheer coincidence, the county seat, Center, named for being near the geographical center of the county, has also been calculated to be the geographic center of North America.[8]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas[5]

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  • Cross Ranch State Park

Lakes[5]

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  • Mandan Lake
  • Nelson Lake

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890464—
1900990113.4%
19103,577261.3%
19204,42523.7%
19304,262−3.7%
19403,859−9.5%
19503,091−19.9%
19602,610−15.6%
19702,322−11.0%
19802,4957.5%
19902,381−4.6%
20002,065−13.3%
20101,846−10.6%
20201,8771.7%
2022 (est.)1,856[9]−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020, there were 1,877 people.

2010 census

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As of the census of 2010, there were 1,846 people, 756 households, and 554 families in the county. The population density was 2.55 people per square mile (0.98 people/km2). There were 905 housing units at an average density of 1.25 units per square mile (0.48/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 1.5% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 66.8% were German, 19.3% were Norwegian, 7.6% were Russian, 6.3% were English, and 4.4% were American.

Of the 756 households, 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.7% were non-families, and 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 47.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $62,308 and the median income for a family was $75,069. Males had a median income of $60,592 versus $28,409 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,348. About 6.5% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 19.6% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Communities

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City

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Unincorporated communities[5]

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Politics

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

United States presidential election results for Oliver County, North Dakota[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 909 83.62% 156 14.35% 22 2.02%
2020 918 86.12% 129 12.10% 19 1.78%
2016 830 81.61% 119 11.70% 68 6.69%
2012 693 68.41% 281 27.74% 39 3.85%
2008 682 65.58% 332 31.92% 26 2.50%
2004 790 70.60% 310 27.70% 19 1.70%
2000 709 67.46% 244 23.22% 98 9.32%
1996 499 48.83% 333 32.58% 190 18.59%
1992 503 40.96% 306 24.92% 419 34.12%
1988 696 56.27% 526 42.52% 15 1.21%
1984 915 67.43% 419 30.88% 23 1.69%
1980 966 73.40% 270 20.52% 80 6.08%
1976 575 50.44% 529 46.40% 36 3.16%
1972 669 65.14% 293 28.53% 65 6.33%
1968 616 63.44% 269 27.70% 86 8.86%
1964 469 46.12% 548 53.88% 0 0.00%
1960 703 58.68% 494 41.24% 1 0.08%
1956 788 73.03% 279 25.86% 12 1.11%
1952 1,132 87.82% 143 11.09% 14 1.09%
1948 749 67.84% 304 27.54% 51 4.62%
1944 756 76.83% 219 22.26% 9 0.91%
1940 1,356 83.55% 266 16.39% 1 0.06%
1936 469 29.82% 906 57.60% 198 12.59%
1932 302 20.56% 1,152 78.42% 15 1.02%
1928 680 51.67% 631 47.95% 5 0.38%
1924 367 32.16% 31 2.72% 743 65.12%
1920 1,105 85.86% 111 8.62% 71 5.52%
1916 346 47.79% 327 45.17% 51 7.04%
1912 131 22.66% 139 24.05% 308 53.29%
1908 325 62.50% 179 34.42% 16 3.08%
1904 241 81.42% 46 15.54% 9 3.04%
1900 110 58.82% 75 40.11% 2 1.07%

Education

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School districts include:[15]

Center previously had a separate school district, but it merged with Stanton's in 2004.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Oliver County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  4. ^ "County History". Official Portal for North Dakota State Government. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d "Oliver County · North Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  6. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Oliver County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 26, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  8. ^ Hsu, Charlotte. "Where's the center of North America? Geographer's new method finds a new answer". Science Daily. Science Daily. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Oliver County, ND" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2022. - Text list - 2010 map, 2010 text list
  16. ^ Donovan, Lauren (November 12, 2003). "Stanton, Center to join together". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
[edit]

47°07′N 101°21′W / 47.11°N 101.35°W / 47.11; -101.35

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