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McLean County, North Dakota

Coordinates: 47°37′N 101°19′W / 47.61°N 101.32°W / 47.61; -101.32
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McLean County
County
Historic McLean County Courthouse, now Historical Museum.
Historic McLean County Courthouse, now Historical Museum.
Map of North Dakota highlighting McLean 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°37′N 101°19′W / 47.61°N 101.32°W / 47.61; -101.32
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedMarch 8, 1883 (created)
November 1, 1883 (organized)
Named forJohn A. McLean
SeatWashburn
Largest cityGarrison
Area
 • Total
2,328 sq mi (6,030 km2)
 • Land2,111 sq mi (5,470 km2)
 • Water217 sq mi (560 km2)  9.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
9,771
 • Estimate 
(2023)
9,832 Increase
 • Density4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.mcleancountynd.gov

McLean County (/məˈkleɪn/ mə-KLAYN) is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,771.[1] Its county seat is Washburn.[2]

History

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The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on March 8, 1883, with areas partitioned from Burleigh, Sheridan, and (now-extinct) Stevens counties. The county was named for John A. McLean, the first mayor of Bismarck.[3] The county organization was completed on November 1 of that year. Its boundaries were altered in 1885, in 1892, and in 1908. It has retained its current configuration since November 3, 1908, when a portion of its previous territory was partitioned to recreate Sheridan County (Sheridan had been dissolved on November 8, 1892, with its territory annexed to McLean).[4]

Geography

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The county's western boundary is delineated by Lake Sakakawea, created in 1956 by construction of Garrison Dam at the county's southwestern edge. The southwestern boundary of the county is delineated by the Missouri River as it continues its southeastward flow from the lake. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds in its eastern portion. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point on the north boundary line near its NW corner, at 2,201 ft (671 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 2,328 square miles (6,030 km2), of which 2,111 square miles (5,470 km2) is land and 217 square miles (560 km2) (9.3%) is water.[7] It is the third-largest county in North Dakota by land area and second-largest by total area.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas[5]

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Lakes[5]

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  • Blackwater Lake
  • Blue Lake
  • Brumwell Slough
  • Camp Lake
  • Cherry Lake (part)
  • Cottonwood Lake
  • Crooked Lake
  • Lake Audubon
  • Lake Brekken
  • Lake Holmes
  • Lake Margaret
  • Lake Nettie
  • Lake Ordway
  • Lake Williams
  • Lost Lake
  • Minehan Slough
  • Nelson Lake
  • Otis Lake
  • Painted Woods Lake
  • Pelican Lake
  • Peterson Lake
  • Postel Lake (part)
  • Strawberry Lake
  • Turtle Lake
  • Wildwood Lake
  • Yanktonal Lake

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890860—
19004,791457.1%
191014,496202.6%
192017,26619.1%
193017,9914.2%
194016,082−10.6%
195018,82417.1%
196014,030−25.5%
197011,251−19.8%
198012,38310.1%
199010,457−15.6%
20009,311−11.0%
20108,962−3.7%
20209,7719.0%
2023 (est.)9,832[8]0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 9,771 people, 4,129 households, and 2,712 families in the county.[13] The population density was 4.6 inhabitants per square mile (1.8/km2) There were 5,728 housing units.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 8,962 people, 3,897 households, and 2,600 families residing in the county. The population density was 4.25 people per square mile (1.64 people/km2). There were 5,590 housing units at an average density of 2.65 units per square mile (1.02/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% white, 7.0% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.4% were German, 24.6% were Norwegian, 6.5% were Irish, 5.6% were Swedish, 5.1% were English, and 3.6% were American.

Of the 3,897 households, 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.3% were non-families, and 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 49.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,922 and the median income for a family was $62,686. Males had a median income of $48,906 versus $29,431 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,029. About 6.5% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities[5]

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Townships

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  • Amundsville
  • Andrews
  • Aurena
  • Blackwater
  • Blue Hill
  • Butte
  • Byersville
  • Cremerville
  • Deepwater
  • Dogden
  • Douglas
  • Gate
  • Greatstone
  • Horseshoe Valley
  • Lake Williams
  • Longfellow
  • Loquemont
  • Malcolm
  • McGinnis
  • Medicine Hill
  • Mercer
  • Otis
  • Roseglen
  • Rosemont
  • Saint Mary
  • Snow
  • Turtle Lake
  • Victoria
  • Wise

Communities flooded by Garrison Dam

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  • Beaver Creek
  • Charging Eagle
  • Elbowoods
  • Independence
  • Lucky Mound
  • Nishu
  • Red Butte (Mandan community)
  • Shell Creek

Politics

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McLean County voters have voted Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for McLean County, North Dakota[14][15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 4,231 78.05% 1,093 20.16% 97 1.79%
2020 4,198 75.83% 1,230 22.22% 108 1.95%
2016 3,860 72.62% 1,081 20.34% 374 7.04%
2012 3,141 63.61% 1,670 33.82% 127 2.57%
2008 2,767 58.42% 1,867 39.42% 102 2.15%
2004 3,014 63.45% 1,664 35.03% 72 1.52%
2000 2,891 62.23% 1,465 31.53% 290 6.24%
1996 1,988 45.39% 1,759 40.16% 633 14.45%
1992 2,124 40.05% 1,808 34.09% 1,371 25.85%
1988 2,906 53.85% 2,428 45.00% 62 1.15%
1984 3,673 62.82% 2,062 35.27% 112 1.92%
1980 4,234 67.79% 1,613 25.82% 399 6.39%
1976 2,729 48.17% 2,815 49.69% 121 2.14%
1972 3,575 66.23% 1,703 31.55% 120 2.22%
1968 2,764 54.95% 2,050 40.76% 216 4.29%
1964 2,204 39.73% 3,339 60.19% 4 0.07%
1960 3,398 55.05% 2,771 44.89% 4 0.06%
1956 3,653 58.17% 2,609 41.54% 18 0.29%
1952 5,184 68.62% 2,295 30.38% 76 1.01%
1948 2,762 50.10% 2,283 41.41% 468 8.49%
1944 2,822 53.37% 2,326 43.99% 140 2.65%
1940 4,113 58.99% 2,666 38.24% 193 2.77%
1936 1,732 25.24% 4,018 58.55% 1,112 16.21%
1932 1,369 23.92% 4,354 76.08% 0 0.00%
1928 2,730 47.51% 2,855 49.69% 161 2.80%
1924 1,651 36.02% 194 4.23% 2,738 59.74%
1920 3,724 74.23% 748 14.91% 545 10.86%
1916 1,054 41.64% 1,210 47.81% 267 10.55%
1912 505 25.63% 583 29.59% 882 44.77%
1908 2,273 67.83% 927 27.66% 151 4.51%
1904 1,928 88.44% 219 10.05% 33 1.51%
1900 587 83.74% 110 15.69% 4 0.57%

Education

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School districts include:[16]

Riverdale School District 89 had portions in McLean County and in Mercer County. The Associated Press described the district as "divided equally" between the counties. In 1993 members of the Riverdale School District school board voted to abolish their school district, with the Underwood and Hazen districts to obtain pieces of it.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "County History". Official Portal for North Dakota State Government. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "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 26, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d "McLean County · North Dakota". Google Maps. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  6. ^ ""Find an Altitude/McLean 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. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  15. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 526 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 325 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 31 votes.
  16. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: McLean County, ND" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2024. - Text list
  17. ^ "School officials want new line dividing districts". The Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. Associated Press. January 13, 1994. p. A9 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading

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  • Mary Ann Barnes Williams, Pioneer Days of Washburn, N. Dakota and Vicinity. Washburn ND: Washburn Leader, 1936.
  • McLean County Heritage. Washburn ND: McLean County Historical Society, 1978.
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47°37′N 101°19′W / 47.61°N 101.32°W / 47.61; -101.32

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