Nelson County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,015, and was estimated to be 3,007 in 2024. The county seat and largest city is Lakota.
The Dakota Territory legislature created Nelson County on March 2, 1883, with areas annexed from Foster, Grand Forks and Ramsey counties, and with some previously unorganized area. It was not organized at that time, but was attached to Grand Forks County for administrative and judicial purposes. Its proposed boundary was enlarged on March 9, 1883, and on June 9, 1883, the county organization was effected and the administrative attachment to Grand Forks County was terminated.
The county terrain consists of rolling hills dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is largely devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the midpoint of its north boundary line, at ASL.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.68%) is water. It is the 41st largest county in North Dakota by total area.
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As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Nelson County was $121,319.
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 1,295 estimated households in Nelson County with an average of 2.25 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $68,051. Approximately 9.8% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Nelson County has an estimated 55.7% employment rate, with 28.2% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.3% holding a high school diploma.
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 (94.5%), Spanish (1.1%), Indo-European (2.9%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.8%), and Other (0.6%).
The median age in the county was 50.4 years.
Nelson County, North Dakota â racial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>
As of the 2024 estimate, there were 3,007 people and 1,295 households residing in the county. There were 1,781 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.1% White (90.8% NH White), 0.9% African American, 2.6% Native American, 1.4% 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 3.2% of the population.
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,015, 1,386 households, and 829 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 1,791 housing units at an average density of , of which 22.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.8% were owner-occupied and 19.2% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 23.9%.
Of the residents, 18.0% were under the age of 18 and 31.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 53.8 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.7 males.
There were 1,386 households in the county, of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.8% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.3% of the population.
As of the 2010 census, there were 3,126 people, 1,474 households, and 905 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 1,927 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.15% White, 0.26% African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from some other races and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.06% of the population.
In terms of ancestry, 52.3% were Norwegian, 34.1% were German, 8.2% were Irish, and 3.9% were American.
There were 1,474 households, 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.6% were non-families, and 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.66. The median age was 51.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,071 and the median income for a family was $51,731. Males had a median income of $33,629 versus $28,672 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,838. About 4.0% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
Nelson County voters have slightly favored Republicans for the past several decades. Since 1964 the county selected the Republican Party candidate in 64% of national elections.
School districts include: