Fort Ransom is a city in Ransom County,

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...

, United States. The population was 91 at the 2020 census. Fort Ransom was founded in 1880 with the first merchants arriving in 1878.

Geography

Fort Ransom is located at (46.521154, -97.929141). Fort Ransom is located in the

Sheyenne River The Sheyenne River is one of the major tributaries of the Red River of the North, meandering U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 8, 2011 across eastern North Dakota, Uni ...

valley. Fort Ransom State Park is located nearby. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , all land. The only waterfall in North Dakota is located between Fort Ransom and Lisbon, ND.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 77 people, 43 households, and 25 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 64 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 100.0%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 2.6% of the population. There were 43 households, of which 7.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 2.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.9% were non-families. 41.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.79 and the average family size was 2.32. The median age in the city was 59.8 years. 5.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 7.8% were from 25 to 44; 44.2% were from 45 to 64; and 39% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 70 people, 37 households, and 19 families residing in the city. The

was 233.1 people per square mile (90.1/km²). There were 44 housing units at an average density of 146.5 per square mile (56.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 100.00%

. There were 37 households, out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were

living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. 48.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 27.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.74. In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 37.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $19,375, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $28,750 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $14,242. There were 11.8% of families and 11.9% of the population living below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including no under eighteens and 17.4% of those over 64.

History

The Fort Ransom Military Post was established in 1867. It was built to protect settlers and railroad workers who were working on the Northern Pacific Railroad between Fargo and Bismarck. It was named for distinguished Civil War veteran Major General

Thomas E.G. Ransom Thomas Edwin Greenfield Ransom (November 29, 1834 – October 29, 1864) was a surveyor, civil engineer, real estate speculator, and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Biography Ransom was born in Norwich, Vermont, son o ...

. The fort was built on top of Grizzly Bear Hill, a site chosen by Brigadier General

Alfred H. Terry Alfred Howe Terry (November 10, 1827 – December 16, 1890) was a Union army, Union Major general (United States), general in the American Civil War and the military commander of the Dakota Territory from 1866 to 1869, and again from 1872 to 18 ...

. Fort Ransom was dismantled in 1872 and the materials were used to build Fort Seward at

Jamestown, North Dakota Jamestown is a city in Stutsman County, North Dakota, United States. It is the county seat of Stutsman County. The population was 15,849 at the 2020 census, making it the ninth largest city in North Dakota. Jamestown was founded in 1883 and i ...

in Stutsman County. The army had determined that protection of the Northern Pacific Railroad crew at the James River crossing was a higher priority than protecting the overland route. The final disposition of the military reservation took place on July 14, 1880, when it was turned over to the Department of Interior for survey and sale to homesteaders. The original site of the fort is located to the southwest of the town of Fort Ransom and 3 miles south of Fort Ransom State Park. Northern Plains Overland Trails 1866-1877 map on display at the Fort Totten Historic Site

Northern Plains Overland Trails 1866-1877 map on display at the Fort Totten Historic Site

Notable person

Carleton Opgaard Carleton Opgaard (February 18, 1929 – July 6, 2014) was an American college and university administrator and founding president of Vancouver Island University. Early life and education Carleton Myron Opgaard was born in Fort Ransom, North Dako ...

, founding president of

Vancouver Island University Vancouver Island University (abbreviated as VIU, formerly known as Malaspina University-College and earlier as Malaspina College) is a Canadian public university serving Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia. Malaspina College began in 196 ...

References

{{Authority control Cities in North Dakota Cities in Ransom County, North Dakota Populated places established in 1880 1880 establishments in Dakota Territory