Burleigh County, North Dakota

Burleigh County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 98,458,[1] making it the second most populous county in North Dakota. Its county seat is Bismarck, the state capital.[2] The county was named for Dakota Territory political figure Walter A. Burleigh.

Burleigh County
Burleigh County Courthouse
Official seal of Burleigh County
Map of North Dakota highlighting Burleigh 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°59′N 100°28′W / 46.98°N 100.47°W / 46.98; -100.47
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedJanuary 4, 1873
Named forWalter A. Burleigh
SeatBismarck
Largest cityBismarck
Area
 • Total1,668 sq mi (4,320 km2)
 • Land1,633 sq mi (4,230 km2)
 • Water36 sq mi (90 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total98,458
 • Estimate 
(2023)
100,012 Increase
 • Density59/sq mi (23/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.burleighco.com

History

The territorial legislature created Burleigh County on January 4, 1873, annexing territory from Buffalo County. Burleigh was not organized at that time, but the organization was effected on July 16, 1873. Its boundaries were altered in 1879, 1881, 1883, and twice in 1885.[3][4]

Burleigh County is included in the Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area, commonly called "Bismarck–Mandan".

Geography

The Missouri River flows south-southeasterly along the lower west boundary line of Burleigh County. The central part of the county is drained by south-flowing creeks. The county terrain consists of semi-arid low rolling hills, partially devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the south, and its western portion also slopes to the river valley. The terrain's highest point is on the upper portion of the east boundary line, at 2,060 ft (630 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 1,668 square miles (4,320 km2), of which 1,633 square miles (4,230 km2) is land and 36 square miles (93 km2) (2.1%) is water.[7]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Lakes

  • Bunce Lake
  • Bunker Lake
  • Clear Lake
  • Florence Lake
  • Grass Lake
  • Harriet Lake
  • Horseshoe Lake
  • Lonetree Lake
  • Long Lake
  • Mitchell Lake
  • New Johns Lake (part)
  • O'Brien Lake
  • Pelican Lake
  • Rice Lake

[5]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18803,246
18904,24730.8%
19006,08143.2%
191013,087115.2%
192015,57819.0%
193019,76926.9%
194022,73615.0%
195025,67312.9%
196034,01632.5%
197040,71419.7%
198054,81134.6%
199060,1319.7%
200069,41615.4%
201081,30817.1%
202098,45821.1%
2023 (est.)100,012[8]1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 98,458 people, 39,927 households, and 24,822 families in the county.[13] The population density was 60.3 inhabitants per square mile (23.3/km2) There were 42,692 housing units.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 81,308 people, 33,976 households, and 21,213 families in the county. The population density was 49.8 inhabitants per square mile (19.2/km2). There were 35,754 housing units at an average density of 21.9 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% white, 4.2% American Indian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 61.0% were German, 21.1% were Norwegian, 8.1% were Russian, 6.8% were Irish, and 2.6% were American.

Of the 33,976 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.6% were non-families, and 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 37.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,465 and the median income for a family was $71,103. Males had a median income of $44,944 versus $31,943 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,784. About 6.3% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

  • Apple Creek
  • Boyd
  • Burnt Creek
  • Canfield
  • Christiania
  • Clear Lake
  • Crofte
  • Cromwell
  • Driscoll
  • Ecklund
  • Estherville
  • Florence Lake
  • Francis
  • Ghylin
  • Gibbs
  • Glenview
  • Grass Lake
  • Harriet-Lien
  • Hay Creek
  • Hazel Grove
  • Logan
  • Long Lake
  • McKenzie
  • Menoken
  • Missouri
  • Morton
  • Naughton
  • Painted Woods
  • Richmond
  • Rock Hill
  • Schrunk
  • Sibley Butte
  • Steiber
  • Sterling
  • Taft
  • Telfer
  • Thelma
  • Trygg
  • Wild Rose
  • Wilson
  • Wing

Politics

Burleigh County voters have voted Republican for several decades. With the exception of 1964, no Democratic Party candidate has received even 40 percent of the county's vote after 1940.

United States presidential election results for Burleigh County, North Dakota[14]
YearRepublicanDemocraticThird party
No. %No. %No. %
202034,74468.46%14,34828.27%1,6613.27%
201632,53267.80%10,88122.68%4,5669.52%
201227,95164.42%14,12232.55%1,3143.03%
200825,44360.58%15,60037.14%9562.28%
200426,57768.47%11,62129.94%6161.59%
200022,46765.16%9,84228.54%2,1736.30%
199615,46451.74%10,67935.73%3,74712.54%
199216,48450.90%8,94027.61%6,96021.49%
198818,00061.89%10,76037.00%3241.11%
198419,91368.25%8,78130.10%4821.65%
198018,43767.94%6,12922.59%2,5719.47%
197613,68058.09%9,18839.02%6812.89%
197213,90967.38%5,84128.29%8944.33%
196810,66164.03%5,13930.87%8495.10%
19647,23946.95%8,12052.66%600.39%
19609,49262.13%5,76137.71%250.16%
19569,19973.79%3,23125.92%370.30%
19529,52679.55%2,40020.04%490.41%
19485,04959.45%3,11736.70%3273.85%
19444,61659.95%3,06139.75%230.30%
19405,85857.06%4,35042.37%580.56%
19362,44725.17%6,31464.94%9629.89%
19322,68731.84%5,62166.61%1311.55%
19283,95555.59%3,07643.23%841.18%
19243,15253.17%3796.39%2,39740.44%
19204,30077.28%94316.95%3215.77%
19161,18245.46%1,26748.73%1515.81%
191272036.20%60930.62%66033.18%
19081,37565.82%66031.59%542.58%
19041,34083.23%23714.72%332.05%
190067966.44%33933.17%40.39%

Education

School districts include:[15]

K-12:

Elementary:

  • Apple Creek Public School District 39
  • Manning Public School District 45
  • Menoken Public School District 33
  • Naughton Public School District 25
  • Sterling Public School District 35

Former districts:

  • Montefiore Public School District 1[16]

See also

References

46°59′N 100°28′W / 46.98°N 100.47°W / 46.98; -100.47