Cass County, North Dakota

Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 184,525.[1] Cass County is the most populous county in North Dakota, accounting for nearly 24% of the state's population.[2][3] The county seat is Fargo,[4] the state's most populous city.

Cass County
County
Cass County Courthouse in Fargo
Cass County Courthouse in Fargo
Map of North Dakota highlighting Cass 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: 46°56′N 97°15′W
Country United States
State North Dakota
Founded1873
Named forGeorge Washington Cass
SeatFargo
Largest cityFargo
Area
 • Total1,768 sq mi (4,580 km2)
 • Land1,765 sq mi (4,570 km2)
 • Water3.0 sq mi (8 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total184,525
 • Estimate 
(2022)
192,734 Increase
 • Density100/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.casscountynd.gov

Cass County is part of the Fargo, ND-Moorhead, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Cass County was defined by action of the Dakota Territory legislature on January 4, 1873, and its organization was effected on October 27 of that year. It was named for railroad executive George Washington Cass (1810 - 1888).[5] Its boundaries were altered in 1875, and in 1961.[6][7]

Geography

Cass County lies on the east side of North Dakota. Its east boundary line abuts the west boundary line of the state of Minnesota across the river. The Red River flows northward along the county's east boundary, on its way to Lake Winnipeg and Hudson Bay. The county's terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture except around developed areas.[8] Its terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point on the southwestern corner at 1,194 ft (364 m) ASL.[9] The county has a total area of 1,768 square miles (4,580 km2), of which 1,765 square miles (4,570 km2) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2) (0.2%) is water.[10]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Lakes

Cass County has the following lakes:[8]

  • Brewer Lake
  • Lake Bertha

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18808,998—
189019,613118.0%
190028,62545.9%
191033,93518.6%
192041,47722.2%
193048,73517.5%
194052,8498.4%
195058,87711.4%
196066,94713.7%
197073,65310.0%
198088,24719.8%
1990102,87416.6%
2000123,13819.7%
2010149,77821.6%
2020184,52523.2%
2022 (est.)192,734[11]4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 184,525 people, 85,397 households, and 46,103 families in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 149,778 people, 63,899 households, and 35,215 families in the county. The population density was 84.9 inhabitants per square mile (32.8/km2). There were 67,938 housing units at an average density of 38.5 per square mile (14.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.7% white, 2.4% Asian, 2.3% black or African American, 1.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 45.4% were German, 35.8% were Norwegian, 9.2% were Irish, 6.3% were Swedish, and 1.7% were American.

Of the 63,899 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 44.9% were non-families, and 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 31.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,600 and the median income for a family was $68,858. Males had a median income of $42,557 versus $31,916 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,184. About 5.8% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

Government

Cass County is governed by a board of commissioners elected to four-year terms. Other elected officials include the sheriff and state's attorney. Appointed officials include administrator, extension agent, director of tax equalization, finance auditor, highway engineer, human services officer, information technology coordinator, recorder, veterans service officer, and weed control officer.

District Commissioner In office since Current term expires in
1stChad Peterson (Chair)20122020
2ndRick Steen (vice chair)20142022
3rdKen Pawluk20192020
4thDuane Breitling20182022
5thMary Scherling20122020

The current Sheriff is Jesse F. Jahner. Jahner has served as Sheriff of Cass County since January 2, 2019.

The voters of Cass County have historically tended to vote Republican. As recently as the 2004 presidential election, George W. Bush carried Cass County with nearly 60 percent of the vote. However, in recent elections, the county has become more politically diverse and competitive, particularly in Fargo. Since 2008, no Republican presidential candidate has received over 50% of the vote in Cass County. In 2008, Democratic candidate Barack Obama won the majority of votes in Cass County, with a voting percentage very close to the percentage Obama received in the entire nation, while John McCain won the majority of votes in North Dakota. Mitt Romney's winning margin in 2012 over Obama in Cass County was 49.9% to 47%, while Donald Trump received 49.3% of votes in 2016, compared to 38.8% for Hillary Clinton and 11.9% for third-party candidates. In 2018, Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp achieved a 14-point lead in Eastern North Dakota, although the state as a whole soundly elected Republican Kevin Cramer.

United States presidential election results for Cass County, North Dakota[16][17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 42,619 49.53% 40,311 46.84% 3,123 3.63%
2016 39,816 49.26% 31,361 38.80% 9,644 11.93%
2012 36,855 49.90% 34,712 47.00% 2,288 3.10%
2008 32,566 45.34% 37,622 52.37% 1,646 2.29%
2004 39,619 59.39% 26,010 38.99% 1,082 1.62%
2000 33,536 56.85% 21,451 36.36% 4,008 6.79%
1996 24,238 48.02% 21,693 42.98% 4,540 9.00%
1992 25,312 47.65% 18,077 34.03% 9,727 18.31%
1988 26,699 54.34% 22,107 44.99% 331 0.67%
1984 29,221 61.35% 18,054 37.91% 354 0.74%
1980 23,886 54.76% 13,562 31.09% 6,172 14.15%
1976 22,583 54.53% 17,879 43.17% 949 2.29%
1972 21,770 59.96% 14,073 38.76% 463 1.28%
1968 15,240 55.88% 10,819 39.67% 1,212 4.44%
1964 12,972 45.25% 15,674 54.67% 23 0.08%
1960 17,498 58.89% 12,213 41.11% 0 0.00%
1956 16,932 63.25% 9,821 36.69% 17 0.06%
1952 18,094 66.17% 9,193 33.62% 57 0.21%
1948 11,430 52.34% 9,937 45.51% 469 2.15%
1944 10,661 50.37% 10,390 49.09% 116 0.55%
1940 12,567 51.11% 11,911 48.45% 108 0.44%
1936 7,632 35.22% 12,400 57.22% 1,638 7.56%
1932 8,937 43.82% 11,094 54.40% 363 1.78%
1928 12,480 66.18% 6,315 33.49% 63 0.33%
1924 9,906 65.86% 1,352 8.99% 3,783 25.15%
1920 10,735 77.02% 2,817 20.21% 386 2.77%
1916 3,093 46.68% 3,303 49.85% 230 3.47%
1912 1,316 26.22% 1,814 36.14% 1,889 37.64%
1908 3,681 62.53% 2,000 33.97% 206 3.50%
1904 3,788 80.41% 609 12.93% 314 6.67%
1900 3,485 65.68% 1,636 30.83% 185 3.49%
1896 3,050 58.80% 2,089 40.27% 48 0.93%
1892 2,022 53.98% 0 0.00% 1,724 46.02%

Communities
Cass County Courthouse

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships
  • Addison
  • Amenia
  • Arthur
  • Ayr
  • Barnes
  • Bell
  • Berlin
  • Buffalo
  • Casselton
  • Clifton
  • Cornell
  • Davenport
  • Dows
  • Durbin
  • Eldred
  • Empire
  • Erie
  • Everest
  • Fargo
  • Gardner
  • Gill
  • Gunkel
  • Harmony
  • Harwood
  • Highland
  • Hill
  • Howes
  • Hunter
  • Kinyon
  • Lake
  • Leonard
  • Maple River
  • Mapleton
  • Noble
  • Normanna
  • Page
  • Pleasant
  • Pontiac
  • Raymond
  • Reed
  • Rich
  • Rochester
  • Rush River
  • Stanley
  • Tower
  • Walburg
  • Warren
  • Watson
  • Wheatland
  • Wiser

Education

School districts include:[18]

K-12:

Elementary:

  • Mapleton Public School District 7

Former districts:

  • Page Public School District 80[18] - Consolidated with Hope district in 2020[19]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  2. Based on the 2020 Census: 184,525 / 779,094 (ND pop.) = 23.7%
  3. "Top 100 Counties by Growth, 2017". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the US. Govt. Print. Off. p. 71.
  6. "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 2, 2015.
  7. "County History". North Dakota.gov. The State of North Dakota. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  8. Cass County ND Google Maps (accessed February 16, 2019)
  9. ""Find an Altitude/Cass County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 16, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  14. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  15. "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 January 28, 2015.
  16. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  17. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,316 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 164 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 56 votes.
  18. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cass County, ND" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2022. - Text list - 2010 map and 2010 text list - Hope-Page formed in 2020, but both the 2010 and 2020 maps show Page as a separate district
  19. "Enrollment History Public School Districts 2009-2021". North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. Retrieved August 19, 2021. - Check the 2020-2021 spreadsheet, which lists a single "Hope Page" school district, and compare with all previous sheets which show them as two separate school districts.

46.93°N 97.25°W / 46.93; -97.25

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