Ray is a city in Williams 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 740 at the 2020 census.

History

Ray was founded in 1902. The city was named in honor of Al G. Ray, a railroad official. A post office has been in operation at Ray since 1902.

Geography

Ray is located at (48.344875, -103.166292). 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 , of which is land and is water.

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 592 people, 276 households, and 163 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 301 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.9%

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 ...

, 2.5% Native American, 0.3%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, and 1.2% from two or more races.

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 1.0% of the population. There were 276 households, of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% 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, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.78. The median age in the city was 46.1 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 35% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.2% male and 46.8% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 534 people, 232 households, and 154 families residing in the city. The

was 531.5 people per square mile (206.2/km). There were 296 housing units at an average density of 294.6 per square mile (114.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 99.06%

, 0.56% Native American, and 0.37% from two or more races.

of any race were 0.56% of the population. There were 232 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were

living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,563, and the median income for a family was $41,771. Males had a median income of $34,063 versus $18,125 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 $16,064. About 2.6% of families and 3.7% of the population were 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 none of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

It is within the

Nesson School District Nesson Public School District 2 is a school district headquartered in Ray, North Dakota, consisting of Ray Public School. Within Williams County it serves Ray, Epping, Springbrook, and Wildrose. A small section is in Divide County. Prior to th ...

(Ray Public School).

Notable people

* Delbert F. Anderson, farmer and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, was born in Ray. *

Mary Sherman Morgan Mary Sherman Morgan (November 4, 1921 – August 4, 2004) was a U.S. rocket fuel scientist credited with the invention of the liquid fuel Hydyne in 1957, which powered the Jupiter-C rocket that boosted the United States' first satellite, Explore ...

, inventor of

Hydyne Hydyne is a mixture of 60% unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and 40% diethylenetriamine (DETA), developed in 1957 at Rocketdyne for use in liquid-fuel rockets.Morgan, George. It was created by Mary Sherman MorganAmerica's First Lady of Rocketr ...

, which was combined with liquid oxygen to propel the first US rocket into orbit (1958), was born in Ray. *

Claudia Meier Volk Claudia Meier Volk (born Claudia Meier; November 6, 1947) is an American politician and nurse. After serving in multiple executive positions in government, politics, and public health in the U.S. state of Minnesota, Meier was elected to the Minn ...

, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, lived in Ray.

References

{{authority control Cities in Williams County, North Dakota Cities in North Dakota Populated places established in 1902 1902 establishments in North Dakota