McLean 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 9,771. 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 st ...

Washburn Washburn (alternatively Wasseburne, Wasseborne, Wasshebourne, Wassheborne, Washbourne, Washburne, Washborne, Washborn, Wasborn, Washbon) is a toponymic surname, probably of Old English origin, with likely Anglo-Norman and Norman-French influen ...

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 No ...

legislature created the county on March 8, 1883, with areas partitioned from Burleigh, Sheridan, and (now-extinct) Stevens counties. The county was named for John A. McLean, the first mayor of Bismarck. The county organization was completed on November 1 of that year. Its boundaries were altered in 1885, in 1892, and in 1908. It has retained its current configuration since November 3, 1908, when a portion of its previous territory was partitioned to recreate Sheridan County (Sheridan had been dissolved on November 8, 1892, with its territory annexed to McLean).

Geography

The county's western boundary is delineated by

Lake Sakakawea Lake Sakakawea is a large reservoir in the north central United States, impounded in 1953 by Garrison Dam, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam located in the Missouri River basin in central North Dakota. Named for the Shoshone-Hidatsa woman Saka ...

, created in 1956 by construction of

Garrison Dam Garrison Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam on the Missouri River in central North Dakota, U.S. Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1947 to 1953, at over in length, the dam is the fifth-largest earthen dam in the world. The re ...

at the county's southwestern edge. The southwestern boundary of the county is delineated by the Missouri River as it continues its southeastward flow from the lake. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds in its eastern portion. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.''McLean County ND'' Google Maps (accessed February 26, 2019)
/ref> The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point on the north boundary line near its NW corner, at 2,201' (671m) ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (9.3%) is water. It is the third-largest county in North Dakota by land area and second-largest by total area.

Major highways

* U.S. Highway 83 *

North Dakota Highway 28 North Dakota Highway 28 (ND 28) is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The southern segments southern terminus is at ND 37 south of Ryder and the northern terminus is at ND 23 north of Ryder. The nor ...

North Dakota Highway 37 North Dakota Highway 37 (ND 37) 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 Ca ...

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 41 *

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 ...

North Dakota Highway 1804 North Dakota Highway 1804 (ND 1804) is a state highway in the U.S. state of North Dakota. ND 1804 and ND 1806 were named to reflect the years of Lewis and Clark's travels through the area, and together constitute the portion of the Lewis and ...

Adjacent counties

* Ward County - north * McHenry County - northeast * Sheridan County - east *

Burleigh County Burleigh County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 98,458, making it the second-most populous county in North Dakota. Its county seat is Bismarck, the state capital. The county was named fo ...

- southeast * Oliver County - south * Mercer County - southwest * Dunn County - west * Mountrail County - northwest

Protected areas

* Audubon National Wildlife Refuge *

Camp Lake National Wildlife Refuge Camp Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The refuge is an Easement refuge that is entirely on privately owned land, but the landowners and U.S. Government work cooperatively to prot ...

* De Trobriand State Game Management Area * Douglas Creek Public Use Area * Hiddenwood National Wildlife Refuge *

Lake Nettie National Wildlife Refuge Lake Nettie National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the U.S. state of North Dakota. of the refuge are public while the remaining is an easement on privately owned land, but the landowners and U.S. Government work cooperat ...

Lake Otis National Wildlife Refuge Lake Otis National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The refuge is an Easement refuge that is entirely on privately owned land, but the landowners and U.S. Government work cooperatively to prot ...

* Lake Susie National Wildlife Refuge *

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

McLean National Wildlife Refuge McLean National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the U.S. state of North Dakota. A little less than half the acreage of McLean NWR is on public lands, while the rest is an easement refuge and is on privately owned land, but ...

* Riverdale State Game Management Area * Totten Trail Park * Wilton Mine State Game Management Area (part)

Lakes

* Blackwater Lake * Blue Lake * Brumwell Slough * Camp Lake * Cherry Lake (part) * Cottonwood Lake * Crooked Lake * Lake Audubon * Lake Brekken * Lake Holmes * Lake Margaret * Lake Nettie * Lake Ordway * Lake Williams * Lost Lake * Minehan Slough * Nelson Lake * Otis Lake * Painted Woods Lake * Pelican Lake * Peterson Lake * Postel Lake (part) * Strawberry Lake * Turtle Lake * Wildwood Lake * Yanktonal Lake

Demographics

2000 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 9,311 people, 3,815 households, and 2,712 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 4.41/sqmi (1.70/km²). There were 5,264 housing units at an average density of 2.49/sqmi (0.96/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.52%

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 ...

, 0.02%

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 have o ...

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 ...

, 5.95% Native American, 0.12%

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 ...

, 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 0.19% 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 1.18% from two or more races. 0.87% 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. 48.6% 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 22.1%

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 3,815 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.30% 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, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88. The county population contained 23.80% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 27.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males. The median income for a household in the county was $32,337, and the median income for a family was $39,604. Males had a median income of $32,376 versus $18,224 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 $16,220. About 10.40% of families and 13.50% 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 17.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 8,962 people, 3,897 households, and 2,600 families residing in the county. The population density was 4.25/sqmi (1.64/km²). There were 5,590 housing units at an average density of 2.65/sqmi (1.02/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% white, 7.0% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.4% were

, 24.6% were

, 6.5% were

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

, 5.6% were

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 ...

, 5.1% were

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 3.6% 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 ...

. Of the 3,897 households, 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.3% were non-families, and 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 49.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $52,922 and the median income for a family was $62,686. Males had a median income of $48,906 versus $29,431 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,029. About 6.5% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the

, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Benedict Benedict may refer to: People Names *Benedict (given name), including a list of people with the given name *Benedict (surname), including a list of people with the surname Religious figures * Pope Benedict I (died 579), head of the Catholic Chu ...

Butte __NOTOC__ In geomorphology, a butte () is an isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; buttes are smaller landforms than mesas, plateaus, and tablelands. The word ''butte'' comes from a French word mea ...

* Coleharbor *

Garrison A garrison (from the French ''garnison'', itself from the verb ''garnir'', "to equip") is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a mil ...

* Max *

Mercer Mercer may refer to: Business * Mercer (car), a defunct American automobile manufacturer (1909–1925) * Mercer (consulting firm), a large human resources consulting firm headquartered in New York City * Mercer (occupation), a merchant or trader, ...

* Riverdale * Ruso * Turtle Lake *

Underwood Underwood may refer to: People *Underwood (surname), people with the surname Places United States * Underwood, Shelby County, Alabama * Underwood, Indiana * Underwood, Iowa * Underwood, Minnesota * Underwood, New York * Underwood, North Dakota * ...

(county seat) * Wilton (partly in

)

Census-designated place

* White Shield

Unincorporated communities

* Falkirk * Merida * Raub * Roseglen

Townships

* Amundsville * Andrews * Aurena * Blackwater * Blue Hill * Butte * Byersville * Cremerville * Deepwater * Dogden * Douglas * Gate * Greatstone * Horseshoe Valley * Lake Williams * Longfellow * Loquemont * Malcolm * McGinnis * Medicine Hill * Mercer * Otis * Roseglen * Rosemont * Saint Mary * Snow * Turtle Lake * Victoria * Wise

Communities flooded by Garrison Dam

* Beaver Creek * Charging Eagle * Elbowoods * Independence * Lucky Mound * Nishu * Red Butte (

Mandan The Mandan are a Native American tribe of the Great Plains who have lived for centuries primarily in what is now North Dakota. They are enrolled in the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation. About half of the Mandan still res ...

community) * Shell Creek

Politics

McLean County voters have voted Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

References

External links

* McLean County maps
Sheet 1
(western)
Sheet 2
(northeast), an
Sheet 3
(southeast), ''North Dakota DOT'' {{Coord, 47.61, -101.32, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-ND_source:UScensus1990 North Dakota counties on the Missouri River 1883 establishments in Dakota Territory Populated places established in 1883