McHenry 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 5,345. 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 Towner. McHenry County is part of the

Minot Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the ...

, ND Micropolitan Statistical Area.

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 territory annexed from Bottineau County. It was named for James McHenry, an early settler of

Vermillion Vermilion (sometimes vermillion) is a color, color family, and pigment most often made, since antiquity until the 19th century, from the powdered mineral cinnabar (a form of mercury sulfide, which is toxic) and its corresponding color. It is v ...

(in present

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a large po ...

). The county government was not organized at that time, nor was the county attached to another county for administrative and judicial purposes. The county organization was effected on October 15, 1884. The county boundaries were altered in 1885, 1887, 1891, and in 1892. It has retained its present boundaries since 1892. When the county was organized in 1884, Villard was named as county seat. In 1885 this designation was moved to Scriptown. In 1886 the designation was again moved, to Towner, which has remained the seat to the present time (the two former sites are now ghost towns).

Geography

The

Souris River The Souris River (; french: rivière Souris) or Mouse River (as it is alternatively known in the U.S., a calque of its French name) is a river in central North America. It is about in length and drains about . It rises in the Yellow Grass Mars ...

loops through the county before turning north to its eventual discharge into

Lake Winnipeg Lake Winnipeg (french: Lac Winnipeg, oj, ᐑᓂᐸᑲᒥᐠᓴᑯ˙ᑯᐣ, italics=no, Weenipagamiksaguygun) is a very large, relatively shallow lake in North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Its southern end is about north of ...

. The Wintering River drains the southern part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, partly devoted to agriculture (including limited use of

center pivot irrigation Center-pivot irrigation (sometimes called central pivot irrigation), also called water-wheel and circle irrigation, is a method of crop irrigation in which equipment rotates around a pivot and crops are watered with sprinklers. A circular area ...

).''McHenry County ND'' Google Maps (accessed February 23, 2019)
/ref> The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point on the west boundary line near the southwest corner, at 2,156' (657m) ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.0%) is water. In 2013, 131 plants were collected in the Lake George area.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 2 U.S. Route 2 or U.S. Highway 2 (US 2) is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada. Unlike some routes, wh ...

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 ...

North Dakota Highway 14 North Dakota Highway 14 (ND 14) is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of North Dakota. ND 14's southern terminus is at Interstate 94 (I-94) and U.S. Route 83 (US 83) west of Hague, and the northern terminus is a continuation as Mani ...

North Dakota Highway 19 North Dakota Highway 19 (ND 19) is an east–west route through central North Dakota. It runs from County Road 19 (CR 19) at the McHenry– Pierce county line to ND 20 in Devils Lake, a total of . It has one concurrency with ...

North Dakota Highway 41 North Dakota Highway 41 (ND 41) is an north–south state highway in the U.S. state of North Dakota. ND 41's southern terminus is at U.S. Route 83 U.S. Route 83 (US 83) is a major north–south United States Numbe ...

North Dakota Highway 53 North Dakota Highway 53 (ND 53) is a east–west state highway in the U.S. state of 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 C ...

North Dakota Highway 97 North Dakota Highway 97 (ND 97) is a east–west state highway in the U.S. state of North Dakota. ND 97's western terminus is at ND 41 south of Velva, and the eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 52 (US 52) west of Volta ...

Adjacent counties

* Bottineau County - north * Pierce County - east * Sheridan County - southeast * McLean County - southwest * Ward County - west * Renville County - northwest

National protected areas

* Cottonwood Lake National Wildlife Refuge * Denbigh Experimental Forest *

J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge is located along the Souris River in Bottineau and McHenry Counties in north-central North Dakota. The refuge of extends from the Manitoba border southward for approximately in an area which was once Gla ...

(part) * Wintering River National Wildlife Refuge

Lakes

* Bromley Lake * Buffalo Lodge Lake * Connia Slough * Erickson Lake * Heringen Lake * Horseshoe Lake (part) * Lake George * Lake Hester * Lauinger Lake * Martin Lake * North Lake * Potters Lake * Round Lake * Smoky Lake (part) * Stevens Slough * Stink Lake

Demographics

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 5,987 people, 2,526 households, and 1,699 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 3.19/sqmi (1.23/km²). There were 2,983 housing units at an average density of 1.59/sqmi (0.61/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.73%

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 ...

, 0.08%

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 ...

, 0.40% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 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 0.70% from two or more races. 0.40% 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. 45.4% 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 ...

and 34.0%

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 ...

ancestry. There were 2,526 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92. The county population contained 24.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males. The median income for a household in the county was $27,274, and the median income for a family was $35,676. Males had a median income of $25,740 versus $18,505 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 $15,140. About 12.0% of families and 15.8% 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 18.5% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,395 people, 2,377 households, and 1,527 families in the county. The population density was 2.88/sqmi (1.11/km²). There were 2,948 housing units at an average density of 1.57/sqmi (0.61/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.6% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 55.3% were of German, 39.5% Norwegian, 5.3% English, 3.6%

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 ...

, 3.5% American, 2.4% Russian and 1.7% Dutch ancestry. Of the 2,377 households, 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.8% were non-families, and 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 46.2 years. The median income for a household in the county was $36,944 and the median income for a family was $54,350. Males had a median income of $36,625 versus $26,205 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,911. About 6.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the

, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

* Anamoose * Balfour *

Bantry Bantry () is a town in the civil parish of Kilmocomoge in the barony of Bantry on the southwest coast of County Cork, Ireland. It lies in West Cork at the head of Bantry Bay, a deep-water gulf extending for to the west. The Beara Peninsula ...

Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, secon ...

* Deering *

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals * A male duck People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name * Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name ...

* Granville *

Karlsruhe Karlsruhe ( , , ; South Franconian: ''Kallsruh'') is the third-largest city of the German state (''Land'') of Baden-Württemberg after its capital of Stuttgart and Mannheim, and the 22nd-largest city in the nation, with 308,436 inhabitants. ...

* Kief * Towner (county seat) * Upham * Velva *

Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his '' nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his criticism of Christianity—e ...

Unincorporated communities

* Berwick * Cole Ford * Denbigh * Funston * Genoa * Guthrie * Kottkethal * Milroy * Newport * NorfolkGenealogy Trails: North Dakota (accessed February 23, 2019)
/ref> *

Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the Episcopal see, See of ...

* Rangeley * Riga * Rising * Rose Hill * Simcoe * Verendrye * Willowdale * Willow Vale * Willow Valley * Willow Creek

Townships

* Anamoose * Balfour * Bantry * Berwick * Bjornson * Brown * Cottonwood Lake * Deep River * Deering * Denbigh * Egg Creek * Falsen * Gilmore * Granville * Grilley * Hendrickson * Karlsruhe * Kottke Valley * Lake George * Lake Hester * Land * Layton * Lebanon * Little Deep * Meadow * Mouse River * Newport * Normal * North Prairie * Norwich * Odin * Olivia * Pratt * Riga * Rose Hill * Round Lake * Saline * Schiller * Spring Grove * Strege * Velva * Villard * Voltaire * Wagar * Willow Creek

Notable people

Sondre Norheim Sondre Norheim, born Sondre Auverson, (10 June 1825 – 9 March 1897) was a Norwegian skier and pioneer of modern skiing. Sondre Norheim is known as the father of Telemark skiing. Background Sondre Auverson was born at Øverbø, a little ...

, pioneer of modern skiing *

Cordell Volson Cordell Volson (born July 20, 1998) is an American football guard for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State. Early life and high school Volson grew up in Balfour, North Dak ...

, professional football player

Politics

McHenry County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

References

External links

McHenry County JDA
* McHenry County maps
Sheet 1
(northern) an
Sheet 2
(southern), ''North Dakota DOT'' {{Coord, 48.23, -100.64, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-ND_source:UScensus1990 Minot, North Dakota micropolitan area 1884 establishments in Dakota Territory Populated places established in 1884