Slope County is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

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 ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 706, making it the least populous county in North Dakota and the 20th-least populous county in the United States. The

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

is Amidon.

History

The vote to create Slope County, by partitioning the lower portion of

Billings Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of the 2020 census. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Yellowstone County and the principal city of the Billings Metrop ...

, was held on November 3, 1914. This was the final (as of 2019) alteration to that once-large Dakota county, as Bowman had been partitioned off in 1883, and Golden Valley was split off in 1910. The unorganized Slope County was not attached to another county for administrative or judicial purposes during the

interregnum An interregnum (plural interregna or interregnums) is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order. Archetypally, it was the period of time between the reign of one monarch and the next (coming from Latin '' ...

; on January 14, 1915, the county organization was effected. The name refers to the Missouri Slope, a geographical feature that is also a popular designation for western North Dakota, particularly the area west of the Missouri River.

Geography

Slope County lies on the lower west side of North Dakota. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...

. The Little Missouri River enters the county's north boundary line at its midpoint, and flows southwestward through Three V Crossing, and then southward through the county's western portion. Cedar Creek drains the southeastern portion of the county, flowing southerly into Bowman County. Slope County terrain consists of semi-arid rough hills and gullies interspersed with lower hills, part of which is dedicated to agriculture.''Slope County ND'' Google Maps (accessed February 21, 2019)
/ref> The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest area (except for isolated prominences, such as White Butte) is its northwestern corner, at 3,104' (945m) ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water.

White Butte White Butte is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of North Dakota. At an elevation of 3,506 ft (1,069 m), it is a prominent butte in Slope County, in the Badlands of the southwestern part of the state. It is located east of U.S. ...

, the highest natural point in North Dakota at an elevation of 3506 ft (1062 m), is in southeast Slope County.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 12 U.S. Route 12 (US 12) is an east–west United States highway, running from Aberdeen, Washington, to Detroit, Michigan, for almost . The highway has mostly been superseded by Interstate 90 (I-90) and I-94, but unlike most U.S. routes that ...

U.S. Highway 85 U.S. Route 85 (US 85) is a north–south United States Highway that travels in the Mountain and Northern Plains states of the United States. The southern terminus of the highway is at the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas, connecting wi ...

National protected areas

Little Missouri National Grassland Little Missouri National Grassland is a National Grassland located in western North Dakota, USA. At , it is the largest grassland in the country. Enclaved within its borders is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is managed by the National Par ...

(part) *

Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the U.S. state of North Dakota. Almost of Stewart Lake NWR is an easement refuge and is on privately owned land, but the landowners and U.S. Government work cooperativel ...

White Lake National Wildlife Refuge White Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the U.S. state of North Dakota. White Lake NWR is entirely on public land and in a very remote region. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees White Lake NWR from thei ...

Adjacent counties

* Billings County - north * Stark County - northeast *

Hettinger County Hettinger County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,489. Its county seat is Mott. The city of Hettinger, North Dakota, is in nearby Adams County. History The Dakota Territory legisl ...

- east * Adams County - southeast * Bowman County - south *

Fallon County, Montana Fallon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,049. Its county seat is Baker. The county was created in 1913 from a portion of Custer County. It is named for Benjamin O'Fallon, a nep ...

- west *

Golden Valley County Golden Valley County is the name of two counties in the United States: *Golden Valley County, Montana *Golden Valley County, North Dakota Golden Valley County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population ...

- northwest

Lakes

* Cedar Lake * White Lake

Demographics

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 767 people, 313 households, and 222 families in the county. 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 0.63 people per square mile (0.14/km²). There were 451 housing units at an average density of 0.37 per square mile (0.24/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.84%

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 ...

, 0.08% Native American, and 0.13% from two or more races. 0.08% of the population were

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. Slope County has the highest percentage white population of any U.S. county. 46.9% were of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, 15.2%

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe *Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway *Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including the ...

, 8.1%

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

, 7.4%

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and 7.2%

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

ancestry. There were 313 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% 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, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96. The county population contained 25.3% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 116.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.0 males. The median income for a household in the county was $24,667, and the median income for a family was $26,058. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $12,115 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 county was $14,513. About 15.40% of families and 16.90% 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 16.30% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 727 people, 326 households, and 224 families in the county. The population density was 0.60/sqmi (0.23/km²). There were 436 housing units at an average density of 0.36/sqmi (0.14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 2.2% American Indian, 0.0% from other races, and 0.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 53.9% were of German, 30.7% Norwegian, 9.9% English, 7.4% Swedish, 5.5%

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...

and 2.8% American ancestry. Of the 326 households, 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.3% were non-families, and 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 49.2 years. The median income for a household in the county was $43,625 and the median income for a family was $55,833. Males had a median income of $36,458 versus $31,172 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,824. About 6.8% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the

, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

* Amidon (county seat) * Marmarth

Unincorporated communities

* De Sart * Mound * Pierce

Politics

Slope County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2016). In 2020 Donald Trump received 89% of the vote in Slope County.

Education

School districts include:
Text list
- The map reflects the state before July 1, 2010, when the Central Elementary Public School District 32 dissolved
2010 map

2010 text list
/ref> *

Bowman County Public School District 1 Bowman County School District 1 is a school district headquartered in Bowman, North Dakota. It serves Bowman and Rhame in Bowman County. It also serves a section of Slope County. the district had 300 elementary school students. History Bowman ...

* New England Public School District 9 * Scranton Public School District 33 * Marmarth Public School District 12 (elementary only) Former school districts: *

Central Elementary Public School District 32 Central Elementary Public School District 32 was a school district headquartered in Amidon, North Dakota. Within Slope County, it operated Amidon Elementary School, a one room schoolhouse. See copy at''Grand Forks Herald'' In 2005 it had four st ...

(Amidon Elementary School
See copy at
''

Grand Forks Herald The ''Grand Forks Herald'' is a daily broadsheet newspaper, established in 1879, published in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States. It is the primary daily paper for northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Its average daily circulat ...

'') - Scheduled to dissolve on July 1, 2020. It was divided between Bowman County School District No. 1 and New England School District No. 9. * Sheets Public School District 14
Clipping
from

Newspapers.com Ancestry.com LLC is an American genealogy company based in Lehi, Utah. The largest for-profit genealogy company in the world, it operates a network of genealogical, historical records, and related genetic genealogy websites. In November 2018, ...

Text view AText view B
an
Text view C
/ref> (Cottage School) The Amidon and Cottage schools were the final two schools remaining in the county.

Gallery

File:Little Missouri River Marmarth ND.jpg, US Highway 12 bridge over the Little Missouri River File:Three V Crossing, North Dakota.jpg, Three V Crossing across the Little Missouri River File:Old-house.jpg - panoramio.jpg, Old house File:Pierce, Woodberry Township, Slope County, North Dakota.jpg, Pierce Congregational Cemetery in Woodberry Township

References

;Specific ;General * "Slope Saga", Slope Saga Committee, 1976, Pioneer Print, Bowman County Pioneer

External links

{{Coord, 46.45, -103.46, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-ND_source:UScensus1990 1915 establishments in North Dakota Populated places established in 1915