Burke County, North Dakota
Burke County | |
|---|---|
 Union Bank of Portal | |
 Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota | |
 North Dakota's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 48°47′11″N 102°31′12″W / 48.786453°N 102.520087°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Dakota |
| Founded | July 12, 1910 (created) July 15, 1910 (organized) |
| Named after | John Burke |
| Seat | Bowbells |
| Largest city | Powers Lake |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,128.999 sq mi (2,924.09 km2) |
| • Land | 1,103.619 sq mi (2,858.36 km2) |
| • Water | 25.380 sq mi (65.73 km2) 2.25% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,201 |
• Estimate (2024) | 2,154  |
| • Density | 1.952/sq mi (0.754/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 701 |
| Congressional district | At-large |
| Website | burkecountynd.com |
Burke County is a county on the north edge of the U.S. state of North Dakota, adjacent to the south line of Canada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,201,[1] and was estimated to be 2,154 in 2024,[2] The county seat is Bowbells and the largest city is Powers Lake.[3] The county is named after John Burke, the tenth Governor of North Dakota.[4]
History
[edit]A vote was held on November 3, 1908, in which county voters authorized the partition of Burke County from what was then known as 'Imperial Ward County' (which consisted of what is now Burke, Mountrail, Renville, and Ward counties). Its name recognized the state governor at the time, John Burke. However, the vote was challenged in court, and appealed to the state supreme court. That court ruled on June 3, 1910, to uphold the election results,[5] so on July 12, Governor Burke issued a proclamation creating Burke County. Its organization was effected on July 15, with Bowbells as its county seat.[6][7]
The county is managed by a two-member Board of Commissioners: Richard Owings (Lignite) and Shannon Holter (Bowbells). As of 2025 the board chair is Jarret Van Berkom.[8]
Geography
[edit]Burke County lies on the north line of North Dakota. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of Canada. The Des Lacs River flows south-southeasterly through the east part of the county, and the White Earth River flows northeasterly through the lower part. The county terrain consists of semi-arid low hills in the northeast part of the county, with higher carved and eroded ridges on the southwestern portion of the county. The area is partly used for agriculture.[9] The terrain slopes to the north; its highest point is on the lower west boundary line, at 2,461 ft (750 m) ASL.[10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,128.999 square miles (2,924.09 km2), of which 1,103.619 square miles (2,858.36 km2) is land and 25.380 square miles (65.73 km2) (2.25%) is water.[11] It is the 33rd largest county in North Dakota by total area.[12]
Major highways
[edit]
Adjacent counties and rural municipalities
[edit]- Estevan No. 5, Saskatchewan – north
- Coalfields No. 4, Saskatchewan – north
- Enniskillen No. 3, Saskatchewan – north
- Renville County – east
- Ward County – southeast
- Mountrail County – south
- Williams County – southwest
- Divide County – west
Protected areas
[edit]Lakes
[edit]- Beaver Lake
- Enget Lake
- Iverson Slough
- Powers Lake (part)
- Shallow Lake
- Swensons Slouth
- Teal Slough
- Thompson Slough
- Upper Thompson Lake
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 9,064 | — | |
| 1920 | 9,511 | 4.9% | |
| 1930 | 9,998 | 5.1% | |
| 1940 | 7,653 | −23.5% | |
| 1950 | 6,621 | −13.5% | |
| 1960 | 5,886 | −11.1% | |
| 1970 | 4,739 | −19.5% | |
| 1980 | 3,822 | −19.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,002 | −21.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,242 | −25.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,968 | −12.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,201 | 11.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 2,154 | [13] | −2.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16] 1990–2000[17] 2010–2020[2] | |||
As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Burke County was $150,351.[18]
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 931 estimated households in Burke County with an average of 2.32 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $96,339. Approximately 9.0% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Burke County has an estimated 64.6% employment rate, with 23.5% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 92.7% 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 (95.9%), Spanish (1.5%), Indo-European (0.2%), Asian and Pacific Islander (2.4%), and Other (0.0%).
The median age in the county was 41.1 years.
Burke 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[19] | Pop. 1990[20] | Pop. 2000[21] | Pop. 2010[22] | Pop. 2020[23] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,794 (99.27%) |
2,970 (98.93%) |
2,220 (99.02%) |
1,891 (96.09%) |
2,049 (93.09%) |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3 (0.08%) |
1 (0.03%) |
3 (0.13%) |
4 (0.20%) |
12 (0.55%) |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 5 (0.13%) |
11 (0.37%) |
5 (0.22%) |
12 (0.61%) |
21 (0.95%) |
| Asian alone (NH) | 5 (0.13%) |
6 (0.20%) |
3 (0.13%) |
13 (0.66%) |
12 (0.55%) |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | — | — | 0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
0 (0.00%) |
5 (0.23%) |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | — | — | 3 (0.13%) |
11 (0.56%) |
43 (1.95%) |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15 (0.39%) |
14 (0.47%) |
8 (0.36%) |
37 (1.88%) |
59 (2.68%) |
| Total | 3,822 (100.00%) |
3,002 (100.00%) |
2,242 (100.00%) |
1,968 (100.00%) |
2,201 (100.00%) |
2024 estimate
[edit]As of the 2024 estimate, there were 2,154 people and 931 households residing in the county. There were 1,383 housing units at an average density of 1.25 per square mile (0.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.5% White (91.2% NH White), 0.8% African American, 1.6% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.6% of the population.[24]
2020 census
[edit]As of the 2020 census, there were 2,201 people, 954 households, and 576 families residing in the county.[25] The population density was 2.0 inhabitants per square mile (0.8/km2). There were 1,378 housing units at an average density of 1.25 per square mile (0.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.59% White, 0.59% African American, 1.14% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from some other races and 2.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.68% of the population.[26]
2010 census
[edit]As of the 2010 census, there were 1,968 people, 913 households, and 567 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.8 inhabitants per square mile (0.7/km2). There were 1,340 housing units at an average density of 1.21 per square mile (0.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.76% White, 0.20% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from some other races and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.88% of the population.
In terms of ancestry, 45.2% were of Norwegian, 34.9% German, 13% Swedish, and 10% Danish.
There were 913 households, 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.9% were non-families, and 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 48.1 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,800 and the median income for a family was $62,283. Males had a median income of $49,958 versus $27,206 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,347. About 3.3% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
Population by decade
[edit]
Economy
[edit]The main industries in Burke County are farming and oil extraction. Burke County is one of several western North Dakota counties with significant exposure to the Bakken Formation in the Williston Basin.
Communities
[edit]Cities
[edit]Census-designated place
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]- Atcoal
- Battleview
- Coteau
- Kincaid
- Northgate
- Perella
- Rival
- Stampede
- Woburn
Townships
[edit]- Battleview
- Bowbells
- Carter
- Clayton
- Cleary
- Colville
- Dale
- Dimond
- Fay
- Foothills
- Forthun
- Garness
- Harmonious
- Kandiyohi
- Keller
- Lakeview
- Leaf Mountain
- Lucy
- Minnesota
- North Star
- Portal
- Richland
- Roseland
- Short Creek
- Soo
- Thorson
- Vale
- Vanville
- Ward
Politics
[edit]Burke County voters have been reliably Republican for several decades. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024). In 1912, it was one of only four counties nationwide to vote for Socialist nominee Eugene Debs.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 909 | 86.08% | 130 | 12.31% | 17 | 1.61% |
| 2020 | 994 | 86.06% | 137 | 11.86% | 24 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | 895 | 85.08% | 119 | 11.31% | 38 | 3.61% |
| 2012 | 769 | 75.17% | 230 | 22.48% | 24 | 2.35% |
| 2008 | 640 | 67.87% | 286 | 30.33% | 17 | 1.80% |
| 2004 | 808 | 69.36% | 336 | 28.84% | 21 | 1.80% |
| 2000 | 698 | 67.18% | 296 | 28.49% | 45 | 4.33% |
| 1996 | 483 | 44.35% | 416 | 38.20% | 190 | 17.45% |
| 1992 | 551 | 36.15% | 458 | 30.05% | 515 | 33.79% |
| 1988 | 971 | 57.46% | 693 | 41.01% | 26 | 1.54% |
| 1984 | 1,298 | 69.45% | 543 | 29.05% | 28 | 1.50% |
| 1980 | 1,442 | 73.27% | 418 | 21.24% | 108 | 5.49% |
| 1976 | 1,087 | 52.03% | 899 | 43.03% | 103 | 4.93% |
| 1972 | 1,446 | 66.36% | 651 | 29.88% | 82 | 3.76% |
| 1968 | 1,239 | 56.83% | 808 | 37.06% | 133 | 6.10% |
| 1964 | 974 | 40.02% | 1,454 | 59.74% | 6 | 0.25% |
| 1960 | 1,609 | 59.88% | 1,076 | 40.04% | 2 | 0.07% |
| 1956 | 1,415 | 59.98% | 936 | 39.68% | 8 | 0.34% |
| 1952 | 1,986 | 69.90% | 811 | 28.55% | 44 | 1.55% |
| 1948 | 1,212 | 50.95% | 972 | 40.86% | 195 | 8.20% |
| 1944 | 1,540 | 54.47% | 1,226 | 43.37% | 61 | 2.16% |
| 1940 | 1,951 | 57.53% | 1,342 | 39.58% | 98 | 2.89% |
| 1936 | 684 | 18.33% | 1,821 | 48.81% | 1,226 | 32.86% |
| 1932 | 906 | 25.21% | 2,473 | 68.81% | 215 | 5.98% |
| 1928 | 2,002 | 58.38% | 1,336 | 38.96% | 91 | 2.65% |
| 1924 | 996 | 39.62% | 135 | 5.37% | 1,383 | 55.01% |
| 1920 | 1,911 | 70.94% | 456 | 16.93% | 327 | 12.14% |
| 1916 | 518 | 31.37% | 922 | 55.84% | 211 | 12.78% |
| 1912 | 264 | 23.57% | 308 | 27.50% | 548 | 48.93% |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Burke County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Burke County". www.nd-direct.com. ND-Direct. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ^ Fitzmaurice v. Willis, 127 N.W. 95 (N.D. 1910).
- ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "County History". www.nd.gov. State of North Dakota. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Search results". www.ndaco.org. North Dakota Association of Counties. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Burke County ND Google Maps (accessed February 15, 2019)
- ^ ""Find an Altitude/Burke County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 15, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
- ^ "2024 County Gazetteer Files – North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Burke County, North Dakota". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Burke County, North Dakota — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics North Dakota" (PDF). www.census.gov. October 6, 2022. p. 20. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Burke County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Burke County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Burke County, North Dakota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "How many people live in Burke County, North Dakota". USA Today. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
Places adjacent to Burke County, North Dakota | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities of Burke County, North Dakota, United States | ||
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| Unorganized territory | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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