Foster County is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers 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 sove ...

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,397.{{{cite web , title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Foster County, North Dakota , url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fostercountynorthdakota/PST045221 , website=www.census.gov , publisher=United States Census Bureau , access-date=March 27, 2022 , language=en Its

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 ...

is Carrington.

History

The

Dakota Territory The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of N ...

legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with lands partitioned from Pembina County. It was named for George I. Foster, a pioneer and member of the Territorial legislature. Its governing structure was not completed at that time, and it was not attached to another county for administrative purposes. Its boundaries were altered in 1881, two times in 1883, and finally in 1885 its boundary was set at the present configuration. Its county organization was effected on October 11, 1883.

Geography

The

James River The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 to Chesap ...

flows south-southeastward through the central part of Foster County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture, its eastern portion dotted with lakes and ponds.''Foster County ND'' Google Maps (accessed February 18, 2019)
/ref> The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is at its southwestern corner, at 1,942' (592m) ASL. The county has a total area of {{convert, 647, sqmi, of which {{convert, 635, sqmi is land and {{convert, 11, sqmi (1.8%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in North Dakota by area.

Major highways

{{div col, colwidth=25em *

U.S. Highway 52 U.S. Route 52 (US 52) is a major United States highway in the central United States that extends from the northern to southeastern region of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S. Highways, US 52 primarily follows ...

* U.S. Highway 281 * North Dakota Highway 9 *

North Dakota Highway 20 North Dakota Highway 20 (ND 20) is a north–south highway in North Dakota. It runs from U.S. Route 52 (US 52) and US 281 in Jamestown to the Canada–United States border near Sarles. The highway continues into Manitoba as ...

North Dakota Highway 200 North Dakota Highway 200 (ND 200) is a major east–west state highway in North Dakota, United States. It runs from Minnesota State Highway 200 at the Minnesota border near Halstad, Minnesota to Montana Highway 200 near Fairview, Montana. A ...

{{div col end

Adjacent counties

{{div col, colwidth=25em * Eddy County - north *

Griggs County Griggs County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,306. Its county seat is Cooperstown. History The county was created by the Dakota Territory legislature on February 18, 1881, with territ ...

- east *

Stutsman County Stutsman County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,593. Its county seat is Jamestown. The Jamestown, North Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Stutsman County. Hist ...

- south * Wells County - west {{div col end

National protected area

Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge is located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. Arrowwood NWR is a part of the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge parallels 16 miles ( ...

(part)

Lakes

{{div col * Blue Cloud Lake * Jack Lake * Juanita Lake * Lake Bonita * Lake George * Russell Lake {{div col end

Demographics

{{US Census population , 1880= 37 , 1890= 1210 , 1900= 3770 , 1910= 5313 , 1920= 6108 , 1930= 6353 , 1940= 5824 , 1950= 5337 , 1960= 5361 , 1970= 4832 , 1980= 4611 , 1990= 3983 , 2000= 3759 , 2010= 3343 , 2020= 3397 , estyear=2021 , estimate=3364 , align-fn=center , footnote=U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 3,759 people, 1,540 households, and 1,031 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 RosenberPopu ...

was 2/km² (6/sq mi). There were 1,793 housing units at an average density of 1/km² (3/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 99.02%

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 ...

, 0.13%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.43% Native American, 0.05% 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 ...

, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.19% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, 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 viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race. 43.1% 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 **Ge ...

, 31.0%

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 ...

and 5.4% Irish ancestry. There were 1,540 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% 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 ...

living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 30.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99. The county population contained 26.20% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 21.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males. The median income for a household in the county was $32,019, and the median income for a family was $40,469. Males had a median income of $31,442 versus $19,750 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 county was $17,928. About 7.60% of families and 9.30% 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 ...

, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 12.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,343 people, 1,495 households, and 930 families in the county.{{cite web, url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US38031, title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data, access-date=March 14, 2016, publisher=United States Census Bureau, archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034008/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US38031, archive-date=February 13, 2020, url-status=dead The population density was {{convert, 5.3, PD/sqmi. There were 1,801 housing units at an average density of {{convert, 2.8, /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 98.4% white, 0.6% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.2% were

, 35.9% were

, 9.8% were Irish, 5.8% were

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 ...

, and 5.1% were Swedish. Of the 1,495 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.8% were non-families, and 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 46.7 years. The median income for a household in the county was $41,066 and the median income for a family was $55,278. Males had a median income of $40,076 versus $29,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,945. About 3.4% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the

, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

{{div col * Carrington (county seat) * Glenfield * Grace City * McHenry {{div col end

Unincorporated communities

{{div col * Barlow * Bordulac * Guptill * Juanita * Melville {{div col end

Townships

{{div col, colwidth=18em * Birtsell * Bordulac * Bucephalia * Carrington * Eastman * Estabrook * Florance * Glenfield * Haven * Larrabee * Longview * McHenry * McKinnon * Melville * Nordmore * Rolling Prairie * Rose Hill * Wyard {{div col end

Politics

Foster County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only two national elections since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2016). {{PresHead, place=Foster County, North Dakota, whig=no, source1={{cite web, url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS, title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections, last=Leip, first=David, website=uselectionatlas.org, access-date=April 12, 2018 {{PresRow, 2020, Republican, 1,362, 373, 43, North Dakota {{PresRow, 2016, Republican, 1,241, 347, 131, North Dakota {{PresRow, 2012, Republican, 1,030, 607, 45, North Dakota {{PresRow, 2008, Republican, 914, 687, 50, North Dakota {{PresRow, 2004, Republican, 1,219, 518, 29, North Dakota {{PresRow, 2000, Republican, 1,172, 474, 97, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1996, Republican, 801, 664, 279, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1992, Republican, 803, 565, 572, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1988, Republican, 1,218, 837, 15, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1984, Republican, 1,422, 765, 27, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1980, Republican, 1,534, 586, 183, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1976, Democratic, 1,120, 1,147, 38, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1972, Republican, 1,352, 861, 30, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1968, Republican, 1,119, 897, 123, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1964, Democratic, 927, 1,315, 2, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1960, Republican, 1,351, 1,182, 0, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1956, Republican, 1,234, 1,062, 10, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1952, Republican, 1,558, 862, 8, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1948, Democratic, 938, 1,089, 66, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1944, Democratic, 891, 1,102, 14, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1940, Democratic, 1,109, 1,446, 12, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1936, Democratic, 685, 1,894, 180, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1932, Democratic, 609, 1,838, 24, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1928, Democratic, 1,137, 1,178, 6, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1924, Republican, 922, 287, 834, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1920, Republican, 1,583, 371, 50, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1916, Democratic, 549, 662, 24, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1912, Democratic, 285, 403, 263, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1908, Republican, 569, 434, 13, North Dakota {{PresRow, 1904, Republican, 618, 223, 21, North Dakota {{PresFoot, 1900, Republican, 415, 241, 19, North Dakota

References

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

{{Wikivoyage, Foster County (North Dakota)
ND DOT county map of Foster County (PDF)

Foster County official website
{{Geographic Location , Centre = Foster County, North Dakota , North = Eddy County , East =

, South =

, West = Wells County {{Foster County, North Dakota {{North Dakota {{Authority control {{Coord, 47.46, -98.89, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-ND_source:UScensus1990 1883 establishments in Dakota Territory Populated places established in 1883