McIntosh County, North Dakota

History

McIntosh County was created by the 1883 territorial legislature after the southern half of Logan County was divided. The name refers to Edward H. McIntosh, a member of the legislature at the time. The county seat was originally Hoskins, but changed in 1888 after everything in Hoskins but the school was moved three miles east to the new Soo Line Railroad townsite of Ashley.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 995 square miles (2,580 km²), of which 975 square miles (2,530 km²) is land and 20 square miles (52 km²) (2.0%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,390 people, 1,467 households, and 975 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,853 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.88% White, 0.15% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 82.2% were of German and 5.0% American ancestry.

There were 1,467 households out of which 22.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 3.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the county, the population was spread out with 19.40% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 19.40% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 34.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,389, and the median income for a family was $31,771. Males had a median income of $22,153 versus $16,743 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,018. About 10.60% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 18.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 2,809 people, 1,307 households, and 800 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.9 inhabitants per square mile (1.1/km²). There were 1,858 housing units at an average density of 1.9 per square mile (0.73/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.1% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 76.8% were German, 26.9% were Russian, 6.2% were Norwegian, and 5.2% were American.

Of the 1,307 households, 19.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.8% were non-families, and 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.66. The median age was 52.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,904 and the median income for a family was $46,198. Males had a median income of $35,200 versus $23,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,608. About 9.2% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

McIntosh County is a historically Republican county. The last Democrat to carry McIntosh County was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. In 1920, 1940, 1944. and 1952 elections the Republican Presidential candidate reportedly received over 90% of the county's vote. Although shifting somewhat Democratic in more recent Presidential elections John McCain received roughly 59% of the county's vote in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. President Donald Trump won 77% of the vote in 2016, the best result in the county since Eisenhower.

In the United States House of Representatives it is represented by Republican Rick Berg. As part of District 28 it is represented in the North Dakota Senate by Robert S. Erbele (R) and in the North Dakota House of Representatives by Mike Brandenburg (R) and William E. Kretschmar (R).

Cities

Township