Mountain is a city in Thingvalla Township, Pembina 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 80 at the 2020 census. Mountain was founded in 1884. The community was the destination of many Icelandic immigrants who began arriving in 1879.

Geir Haarde Geir Hilmar Haarde (; born 8 April 1951) is an Icelandic politician, who served as prime minister of Iceland from 15 June 2006 to 1 February 2009 and as president of the Nordic Council in 1995. Geir was chairman of the Icelandic Independence Par ...

, a former prime minister of

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...

, attended the Annual 2nd of August Celebration in 2007. During his visit, city officials told Haarde about a goal to raise $1.3 million for a new community center. The government of Iceland has since donated $75,000 towards the center. The center was completed in 2016.

History

In the spring of 1878, a small group of Icelanders came from Canada to explore Dakota Territory. Pastor Pall Thorlaksson is known as the Father of the Icelandic Settlement in Dakota which is centered around the city of Mountain, first known by the name, VIK, which means cove. Mountain was officially laid out in 1884. The city was named on account of its lofty elevation. A post office called Mountain has been in operation since 1881. The Vikur Lutheran Church at Mountain was built in 1884.

Geography

Mountain is located at 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.

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 92 people, 30 households, and 14 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 42 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.8%

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 ...

, 1.1% Native American, and 1.1% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

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 1.1% of the population. There were 30 households, of which 13.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.0% 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, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 53.3% were non-families. 46.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.73 and the average family size was 2.43. The median age in the city was 65.5 years. 6.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 13% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 51.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.6% male and 55.4% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 133 people, 43 households, and 26 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 55 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 99.25%

and 0.75% Native American. There were 43 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were

living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 27.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.81. In the city, the population was spread out, with 16.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 12.8% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 47.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 64 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $31,875. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $25,625 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 $12,237. There were 17.9% of families and 19.8% 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 47.1% of under eighteens and 14.3% of those over 64.

Notable people

Vilhjálmur Stefanson Vilhjálmur or Vilhjalmur is an Icelandic masculine given name and may refer to: *Vilhjálmur Árnason (born 1953), professor of philosophy at the University of Iceland *Vilhjálmur Þórmundur Vilhjálmsson (born 1946), mayor of Reykjavík 2006 ...

(1879–1962) the noted Arctic explorer and ethnologist grew up on a farm on Cart Creek just southwest of Mountain. *

Einar Jonasson Einar Sigurjon Jonasson (17 June 1887 – 8 July 1935) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1932 to 1935, as a member of the Manitoba Liberal Party. Jonasson was born in Mountain, Nort ...

(1887-1935), politician in

Manitoba Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...

, was born in the area but moved with his family to Canada in 1888.