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Billings County, North Dakota

Coordinates: 47°00′25″N 103°21′50″W / 47.007044°N 103.364016°W / 47.007044; -103.364016
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Billings County
County
The Billings County Courthouse in Medora
The Billings County Courthouse in Medora
Map of North Dakota highlighting Billings 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: 47°00′25″N 103°21′50″W / 47.007044°N 103.364016°W / 47.007044; -103.364016
Country United States
State North Dakota
FoundedFebruary 10, 1879 (created)
May 4, 1886 (organized)
Named afterFrederick H. Billings
SeatMedora
Largest cityMedora
Area
 • Total
1,153.116 sq mi (2,986.56 km2)
 • Land1,148.488 sq mi (2,974.57 km2)
 • Water4.628 sq mi (11.99 km2)  0.40%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
945
 • Estimate 
(2024)
1,063 Increase
 • Density0.926/sq mi (0.358/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code701
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitebillingscountynd.gov

Billings County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 945,[1] and was estimated to be 1,063 in 2024,[2] making it the second-least populous county in North Dakota. The county seat and only incorporated place is Medora.[3]

The Territorial legislature authorized Billings County on February 10, 1879, naming it for Northern Pacific Railway president Frederick H. Billings. It was organized on May 4, 1886. The original county boundary was significantly altered since its creation, by actions in 1883, 1885, 1887, 1896, 1901 and 1904. Its most significant alterations came in 1907 (Bowman County partitioned off), 1912 (Golden Valley County partitioned off), and 1914 (Slope County partitioned off).[4][5]

Geography

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The Little Missouri River flows northward through the western portion of the county. Bullion Creek flows eastward into the southwestern corner of the county to discharge into the Little Missouri River.

Billings County terrain consists of rugged semi-arid hills in its western portion, giving way to more level ground in the east.[6] The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest terrain along its west boundary line, at 2,523 ft (769 m) ASL.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,153.116 square miles (2,986.56 km2), of which 1,148.488 square miles (2,974.57 km2) is land and 4.628 square miles (11.99 km2) (0.40%) is water.[8] It is the 28th largest county in North Dakota by total area.[9] The South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park lies in the central part of the county, just north of Medora.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18801,323—
1890170−87.2%
1900975473.5%
191010,186944.7%
19203,126−69.3%
19303,1400.4%
19402,531−19.4%
19501,777−29.8%
19601,513−14.9%
19701,198−20.8%
19801,138−5.0%
19901,108−2.6%
2000888−19.9%
2010783−11.8%
202094520.7%
2024 (est.)1,063[11]12.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[2]
[a]

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Billings County was $341,706.[16]

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 372 estimated households in Billings County with an average of 2.49 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $81,250. Approximately 10.5% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Billings County has an estimated 62.1% employment rate, with 32.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 94.6% holding a high school diploma.[2]

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (97.9%), Spanish (0.3%), Indo-European (1.8%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.0%), and Other (0.0%).

The median age in the county was 44.7 years.

Billings County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 1980[17] Pop. 1990[18] Pop. 2000[19] Pop. 2010[20] Pop. 2020[21]
White alone (NH) 1,132
(99.47%)		 1,105
(99.73%)		 874
(98.42%)		 771
(98.47%)		 902
(95.45%)
Black or African American alone (NH) 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)		 4
(0.42%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 4
(0.35%)		 3
(0.27%)		 1
(0.11%)		 3
(0.38%)		 3
(0.32%)
Asian alone (NH) 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)		 4
(0.51%)		 6
(0.63%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 1
(0.11%)		 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)
Other race alone (NH) 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)		 1
(0.11%)		 0
(0.00%)		 0
(0.00%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 8
(0.90%)		 1
(0.13%)		 8
(0.85%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2
(0.18%)		 0
(0.00%)		 3
(0.34%)		 4
(0.51%)		 22
(2.33%)
Total 1,138
(100.00%)		 1,108
(100.00%)		 888
(100.00%)		 783
(100.00%)		 945
(100.00%)

2023 estimate

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As of the 2023 estimate, there were 1,034 people and 372 households residing in the county. There were 609 housing units at an average density of 0.53 per square mile (0.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White (91.9% NH White), 1.4% African American, 0.9% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.8% of the population.[22]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, there were 945 people, 406 households, and 271 families residing in the county.[23] The population density was 0.8 inhabitants per square mile (0.3/km2). There were 567 housing units at an average density of 0.49 per square mile (0.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.40% White, 0.42% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from some other races and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.33% of the population.[24]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 783 people, 358 households, and 223 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.7 inhabitants per square mile (0.3/km2). There were 484 housing units at an average density of 0.42 per square mile (0.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.60% White, 0.26% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from some other races and 0.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.51% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 40.6% were German, 19.1% were Ukrainian, 17.7% were Norwegian, 9.3% were Irish, 7.4% were Russian, 5.0% were English, and 0.9% were American.

There were 358 households, 19.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 1.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 48.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,923 and the median income for a family was $61,250. Males had a median income of $46,806 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,666. About 6.8% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade

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Politics

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Billings County voters have been traditionally Republican. In each of the last seven elections (as of 2024) the Republican candidate has received over seventy percent of the county's vote.[25] However, it has some third party or independent interest. Billings county gave Ross Perot over twenty percent of the vote in his 1992 and 1996 campaigns.[26][27] It gave Pat Buchanan approximately six percent when he ran as the Reform Party's candidate in 2000.[28]

United States presidential election results for Billings County, North Dakota[29] [b]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 543 83.93% 93 14.37% 11 1.70%
2020 541 85.20% 72 11.34% 22 3.46%
2016 495 81.82% 59 9.75% 51 8.43%
2012 472 81.66% 89 15.40% 17 2.94%
2008 375 75.15% 114 22.85% 10 2.00%
2004 449 79.61% 99 17.55% 16 2.84%
2000 394 75.05% 82 15.62% 49 9.33%
1996 281 55.42% 116 22.88% 110 21.70%
1992 279 41.15% 123 18.14% 276 40.71%
1988 437 66.31% 211 32.02% 11 1.67%
1984 505 77.34% 133 20.37% 15 2.30%
1980 524 76.05% 122 17.71% 43 6.24%
1976 351 51.32% 285 41.67% 48 7.02%
1972 509 69.82% 192 26.34% 28 3.84%
1968 395 61.91% 174 27.27% 69 10.82%
1964 340 49.42% 348 50.58% 0 0.00%
1960 368 47.92% 400 52.08% 0 0.00%
1956 437 63.43% 248 35.99% 4 0.58%
1952 674 82.00% 143 17.40% 5 0.61%
1948 372 50.54% 311 42.26% 53 7.20%
1944 354 62.54% 209 36.93% 3 0.53%
1940 663 62.08% 404 37.83% 1 0.09%
1936 329 26.70% 729 59.17% 174 14.12%
1932 295 27.34% 760 70.44% 24 2.22%
1928 458 52.22% 412 46.98% 7 0.80%
1924 421 48.34% 32 3.67% 418 47.99%
1920 787 91.51% 61 7.09% 12 1.40%
1916 306 49.12% 276 44.30% 41 6.58%
1912 671 35.33% 547 28.80% 681 35.86%
1908 768 73.70% 236 22.65% 38 3.65%
1904 256 85.05% 37 12.29% 8 2.66%
1900 158 74.18% 51 23.94% 4 1.88%

Recreation

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The Bully Pulpit Golf Course is located three miles south of Medora and the Maah Daah Hey Trail single track non-motorized trail starts 30 miles south of Medora.

Communities

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City

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Unorganized Territories

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There are no townships in Billings County, but the United States Census Bureau divides the county into two unorganized territories:

  • North Billings, which consists of all of the county north of I-94, had a population of 566 at the 2020 census.[30]
  • South Billings, which consists of all of the county south of I-94 outside Medora, had a population of 258 at the 2020 Census.[31]

Unincorporated communities

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The total for 1910 includes populations (8,009) of townships taken to form Golden Valley in 1912, and Slope Counties in 1915.
  2. ^ In 1912, the leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 495 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 161 votes and Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 25 votes.

References

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  1. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Billings County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  4. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2006. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  5. ^ "County History". www.nd.gov. State of North Dakota. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  6. ^ Billings County ND Google Maps (accessed February 14, 2019)
  7. ^ ""Find an Altitude" Billings County ND - Google Maps (accessed February 14, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  8. ^ "2024 County Gazetteer Files – North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Billings County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  10. ^ Natl Park Srvc/TRNP/South Unit Map (accessed February 14, 2019)
  11. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  14. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  16. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  17. ^ "Billings County, North Dakota — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  18. ^ "1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics North Dakota" (PDF). www.census.gov. October 6, 2022. p. 20. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  19. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Billings County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  20. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Billings County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Billings County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  22. ^ "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  23. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  24. ^ "How many people live in Billings County, North Dakota". USA Today. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  25. ^ "President Map - Election Results 2008". The New York Times. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  26. ^ David Leip's Presidential Election Atlas - 1992 statistics
  27. ^ David Leip's Presidential Election Atlas - 1996 statistics
  28. ^ David Leip's Presidential Election Atlas - 2000 statistics
  29. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  30. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  31. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
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