Morton County, North Dakota

History

The county was created by the 1872-1873 territorial legislature and named for Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton (1823-1877), governor of Indiana during the American Civil War and later a United States Senator. It was organized on March 23, 1878, but the action of the 1878 legislature in attaching the eastern portion to Burleigh County effectively nullified this action. The county was reorganized on February 18, 1881, after the detached portion had been returned to Morton County by the 1881 legislature. Mandan has always been the county seat, though during a period from 1878 to 1879, Mandan, and thus also the county seat, was known as Lincoln.

On November 23, 1916, 1,666 square miles of southern and southwestern Morton County was detached to form Grant County.

After the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) decided on the route in September 2014 to cross Morton County, the county became a focus of DAPL protests in April 2016. In August 2016 the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (SRST) filed and injunction against United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to attempt to halt construction. In his 58-page decision by United States District Judge James E. Boasberg shows that the tribe failed to participate in the process of the USACE and Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) to address the tribes complaints. Furthermore, the tribe never even mentions their fear of water contamination in the injunction. The injunction was denied and also failed on appeal. Amnesty International wrote a letter to Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier on September 28, 2016, requesting that he investigate the use of force by private contractors, remove blockades and discontinue the use of riot gear by Morton County sheriff's deputies when policing protests in order to facilitate the right to peaceful protests in accordance with international law and standards. This letter was written in response to private security guards using guard dogs on advancing protesters on September 3, along with using pepper spray. On November 20, North Dakota police officers fired rubber bullets, tear gas, CS canisters and water from fire hoses at rioting protesters in below freezing temperatures.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,945 square miles (5,040 km²), of which 1,926 square miles (4,990 km²) is land and 19 square miles (49 km²) (1.0%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,303 people, 9,889 households, and 6,932 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 10,587 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.82% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 2.39% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 64.5% were of German and 10.6% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 9,889 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.00% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,028, and the median income for a family was $44,592. Males had a median income of $30,698 versus $21,301 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,202. About 6.80% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.00% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 27,471 people, 11,289 households, and 7,523 families residing in the county. The population density was 14.3 inhabitants per square mile (5.5/km²). There were 12,079 housing units at an average density of 6.3 per square mile (2.4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.6% white, 3.6% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry,

Of the 11,289 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.4% were non-families, and 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 39.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,591 and the median income for a family was $62,713. Males had a median income of $42,044 versus $31,505 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,303. About 5.4% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

Township

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities