Walsh County, North Dakota

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on May 2, 1881, with areas partitioned from Grand and Pembina counties. It was organized on August 30 of that same year, with Grafton as county seat.^[3][4] It was named for George H. Walsh (1845–1913), a newspaperman and politician in Grand Forks.

Walsh County lies on the eastern side of North Dakota. Its eastern boundary line abuts the western boundary line of the state of Minnesota (across the Red River). The Red River flows northward along the east side of the county on its way to Hudson Bay in Canada. The south branch of the Park River flows eastward through the county to discharge into the Red on the east side of the county.^[5] The terrain generally slopes to the north and east, but the highest point is its northwestern corner, at 1,647 ft (502 m) ASL.^[6] The county has a total area of 1,294 square miles (3,350 km²), of which 1,282 square miles (3,320 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (0.9%) is water.^[7]

As of the 2020 census, there were 10,563 people, 4,493 households, and 2,738 families in the county.^[13] The population density was 8.2 inhabitants per square mile (3.2/km²) There were 5,202 housing units.

As of the 2010 census, there were 11,119 people, 4,746 households, and 3,021 families in the county. The population density was 8.67 people per square mile (3.35 people/km²). There were 5,498 housing units at an average density of 4.29 units per square mile (1.66/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% white, 1.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 3.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were Norwegian, 21.6% were German, 11.0% were Polish, 9.4% were Irish, 9.3% were Czech, 5.8% were English, and 5.4% were American.

Of the 4,746 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 45.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,139 and the median income for a family was $58,429. Males had a median income of $36,934 versus $26,826 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,829. About 5.4% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

• Auburn
• Nash

Walsh County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Walsh County, North Dakota

• Walsh County – Official Website
• Walsh County maps, Sheet 1 (western), Sheet 2 (eastern), North Dakota DOT

48°22′N 97°43′W / 48.37°N 97.72°W / 48.37; -97.72