Ransom County, North Dakota

Ransom County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,703.[1] Its county seat is Lisbon.[2]

Ransom County
County
Ransom County Courthouse
Ransom County Courthouse
Map of North Dakota highlighting Ransom 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°28′N 97°40′W
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedJanuary 4, 1873 (created)
April 4, 1881 (organized)
Named forFort Ransom
SeatLisbon
Largest cityLisbon
Area
 • Total864 sq mi (2,240 km2)
 • Land862 sq mi (2,230 km2)
 • Water1.4 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,703
 • Estimate 
(2022)
5,640 Decrease
 • Density6.6/sq mi (2.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websiteransomcountynd.net

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created Ransom County on January 4, 1873. It was so named due to its military fort, which had been named Fort Ransom for Civil War veteran Major General Thomas E.G. Ransom. The fort had operated between 1867 and 1872. The county was not organized at that time, nor was it attached to another county for administrative or judicial purposes. Its proposed boundaries were altered two times during 1881. On April 4, 1881, the county government was effected. The county's area was again reduced in 1883 when Sargent County was created. Ransom County has retained its present configuration since that time.[3][4]

Outline map of Ransom County, North Dakota, 1910

Geography

The Sheyenne River meanders through Ransom County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds in its western part. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest point is on the north boundary line near its northwestern corner, at 1,421 ft (433 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 864 square miles (2,240 km2), of which 862 square miles (2,230 km2) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) (0.2%) is water.[7]

Soils of Ransom County

Major highways
  • North Dakota Route 27
  • North Dakota Route 32
  • North Dakota Route 46

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Lakes[5]
  • Lone Tree Lake

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880537—
18905,393904.3%
19006,91928.3%
191010,34549.5%
192011,61812.3%
193010,983−5.5%
194010,061−8.4%
19508,876−11.8%
19608,078−9.0%
19707,102−12.1%
19806,698−5.7%
19905,921−11.6%
20005,890−0.5%
20105,457−7.4%
20205,7034.5%
2022 (est.)5,640[9]−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 5,704 people.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,457 people, 2,310 households, and 1,466 families in the county. The population density was 6.33 people per square mile (2.44 people/km2). There were 2,656 housing units at an average density of 3.08 units per square mile (1.19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.2% were German, 36.6% were Norwegian, 9.0% were Irish, 6.9% were Swedish, 5.1% were English, and 1.6% were American.

Of the 2,310 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.5% were non-families, and 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 45.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,044 and the median income for a family was $59,973. Males had a median income of $42,380 versus $28,209 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,995. About 7.5% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Townships
  • Aliceton
  • Alleghany
  • Bale
  • Big Bend
  • Casey
  • Coburn
  • Elliott
  • Fort Ransom
  • Greene
  • Hanson
  • Island Park
  • Isley
  • Liberty
  • McLeod
  • Moore
  • Northland
  • Owego
  • Preston
  • Rosemeade
  • Sandoun
  • Scoville
  • Shenford
  • Springer
  • Sydna
  • Tuller

Politics

Ransom County is a swing county in presidential elections, having voted for both parties an equal number of times between 1976 and 2020. It voted for the Democrat in the 2000 and 2012 gubernatorial elections, and for the Republican in 2004, 2008, and 2016. It is also a bellwether county at the presidential level, having voted for the winner in every presidential election between the 1964 and 1984 and again from 1992 to 2016. The county broke its bellwether streak in 1988 and 2020, voting for the Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis in 1988 and Republican nominee Donald Trump in 2020, who both would lose the general election.

Ransom County is one of the most Democratic counties in North Dakota. In the 2018 election for U.S. Senate, it gave Heidi Heitkamp her 4th-highest total (60.6%), behind only Sioux, Rolette, and Benson counties.

United States presidential election results for Ransom County, North Dakota[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,418 57.78% 945 38.51% 91 3.71%
2016 1,210 51.29% 838 35.52% 311 13.18%
2012 1,009 41.61% 1,343 55.38% 73 3.01%
2008 998 41.02% 1,371 56.35% 64 2.63%
2004 1,352 51.96% 1,199 46.08% 51 1.96%
2000 1,488 54.73% 1,080 39.72% 151 5.55%
1996 920 37.78% 1,199 49.24% 316 12.98%
1992 1,102 37.96% 1,166 40.17% 635 21.87%
1988 1,362 47.66% 1,459 51.05% 37 1.29%
1984 1,706 57.38% 1,222 41.10% 45 1.51%
1980 1,883 59.93% 974 31.00% 285 9.07%
1976 1,696 49.07% 1,715 49.62% 45 1.30%
1972 2,056 59.85% 1,355 39.45% 24 0.70%
1968 1,943 57.43% 1,286 38.01% 154 4.55%
1964 1,647 44.31% 2,063 55.50% 7 0.19%
1960 2,324 56.26% 1,806 43.72% 1 0.02%
1956 2,361 56.56% 1,808 43.32% 5 0.12%
1952 3,051 70.19% 1,265 29.10% 31 0.71%
1948 1,772 50.85% 1,595 45.77% 118 3.39%
1944 2,044 55.06% 1,639 44.15% 29 0.78%
1940 2,579 56.20% 1,986 43.28% 24 0.52%
1936 1,303 30.32% 2,385 55.49% 610 14.19%
1932 1,445 31.67% 3,025 66.29% 93 2.04%
1928 2,613 63.04% 1,505 36.31% 27 0.65%
1924 1,862 45.59% 303 7.42% 1,919 46.99%
1920 3,010 77.30% 802 20.60% 82 2.11%
1916 1,093 47.81% 1,121 49.04% 72 3.15%
1912 495 31.21% 490 30.90% 601 37.89%
1908 1,308 67.53% 581 29.99% 48 2.48%
1904 1,257 79.66% 253 16.03% 68 4.31%
1900 924 62.77% 499 33.90% 49 3.33%

Education

School districts include:

  • Enderlin Area Public School District 24
  • Fort Ransom Public School District 6
  • Kindred Public School District 2
  • LaMoure Public School District 8
  • Litchville-Marion Public School District 46
  • Lisbon Public School District 19
  • Milnor Public School District 2
  • North Sargent Public School District 3
  • Oakes Public School District 41
  • Wyndmere Public School District 42

In 1905 it had 22 school districts, with 16 not having a bond. Circa 1905 the county had 2,431 students in its three high schools, five grade schools, and 75 schoolhouses.[15]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  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 4, 2015.
  4. "County History". North Dakota.gov. The State of North Dakota. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  5. Ransom County ND Google Maps (accessed February 25, 2019)
  6. ""Find an Altitude/Ransom County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 25, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 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. What to do
  9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 4, 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. "Ransom County, N. Dakota Its Educational Advantages". The Minneapolis Journal. Minneapolis, Minnesota. March 18, 1905. p. 3. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.

46.46°N 97.66°W / 46.46; -97.66

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