Burke County, North Dakota

Burke County
Union Bank of Portal
Union Bank of Portal
Map of North Dakota highlighting Burke County
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
Map of the United States highlighting North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°47′N 102°31′W / 48.79°N 102.52°W / 48.79; -102.52
Country United States
State North Dakota
Founded1910
Named forJohn Burke
SeatBowbells
Largest cityPowers Lake
Area
 • Total1,129 sq mi (2,920 km2)
 • Land1,104 sq mi (2,860 km2)
 • Water25 sq mi (60 km2)  2.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,201
 • Estimate 
(2022)
2,155 Decrease
 • Density1.9/sq mi (0.75/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.burkecountynd.com

Burke County is a county on the north edge of the U.S. state of North Dakota, adjacent to the south line of Canada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,201.[1] The county seat is Bowbells. The county is named after John Burke, the tenth Governor of North Dakota.[2]

History[edit]

A vote was held on November 3, 1908, in which county voters authorized the partition of Burke County from what was then known as 'Imperial Ward County' (which consisted of what is now Burke, Mountrail, Renville, and Ward counties). Its name recognized the state governor at the time, John Burke. However, the vote was challenged in court, and appealed to the state supreme court. That court ruled on June 3, 1910, to uphold the election results,[3] so on July 12, Governor Burke issued a proclamation creating Burke County. Its organization was effected on July 15, with Bowbells as its county seat.[4][5] The county is managed by a three-member Board of Commissioners. As of 2018 the board chair is Debbie Kuryn.[6]

Geography[edit]

Burke County lies on the north line of North Dakota. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of Canada. The Des Lacs River flows south-southeasterly through the east part of the county, and the White Earth River flows northeasterly through the lower part. The county terrain consists of semi-arid low hills in the northeast part of the county, with higher carved and eroded ridges on the southwestern portion of the county. The area is partly used for agriculture.[7] The terrain slopes to the north; its highest point is on the lower west boundary line, at 2,461 ft (750 m) ASL.[8] The county has a total area of 1,129 square miles (2,920 km2), of which 1,104 square miles (2,860 km2) is land and 25 square miles (65 km2) (2.2%) is water.[9]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties and rural municipalities[edit]

Protected areas[edit]

[7]

Lakes[edit]

  • Beaver Lake
  • Enget Lake
  • Iverson Slough
  • Powers Lake (part)
  • Shallow Lake
  • Swensons Slouth
  • Teal Slough
  • Thompson Slough
  • Upper Thompson Lake

[7]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19109,064
19209,5114.9%
19309,9985.1%
19407,653−23.5%
19506,621−13.5%
19605,886−11.1%
19704,739−19.5%
19803,822−19.4%
19903,002−21.5%
20002,242−25.3%
20101,968−12.2%
20202,20111.8%
2022 (est.)2,155[10]−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census[edit]

As of the census of 2020, there were 2,201 people.

2010 census[edit]

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,968 people, 913 households, and 567 families in the county. The population density was 1.8 inhabitants per square mile (0.69 inhabitants/km2). There were 1,340 housing units at an average density of 1.2 units per square mile (0.46 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.0% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 45.2% were of Norwegian, 34.9% German, 13% Swedish, and 10% Danish ancestry.

Of the 913 households, 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.9% were non-families, and 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 48.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,800 and the median income for a family was $62,283. Males had a median income of $49,958 versus $27,206 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,347. About 3.3% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Population by decade[edit]

Economy[edit]

The main industries in Burke County are farming and oil extraction. Burke County is one of several western North Dakota counties with significant exposure to the Bakken Formation in the Williston Basin.

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Census-designated place[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

  • Atcoal
  • Battleview
  • Coteau
  • Kincaid
  • Northgate
  • Perella
  • Rival
  • Stampede
  • Woburn

[7]

Townships[edit]

  • Battleview
  • Bowbells
  • Carter
  • Clayton
  • Cleary
  • Colville
  • Dale
  • Dimond
  • Fay
  • Foothills
  • Forthun
  • Garness
  • Harmonious
  • Kandiyohi
  • Keller
  • Lakeview
  • Leaf Mountain
  • Lucy
  • Minnesota
  • North Star
  • Portal
  • Richland
  • Roseland
  • Short Creek
  • Soo
  • Thorson
  • Vale
  • Vanville
  • Ward

Politics[edit]

Burke County voters have been reliably Republican for several decades. In no national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020). In 1912, it was one of only four counties nationwide to vote for Socialist nominee Eugene Debs.

United States presidential election results for Burke County, North Dakota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 994 86.06% 137 11.86% 24 2.08%
2016 895 85.08% 119 11.31% 38 3.61%
2012 769 75.17% 230 22.48% 24 2.35%
2008 640 67.87% 286 30.33% 17 1.80%
2004 808 69.36% 336 28.84% 21 1.80%
2000 698 67.18% 296 28.49% 45 4.33%
1996 483 44.35% 416 38.20% 190 17.45%
1992 551 36.15% 458 30.05% 515 33.79%
1988 971 57.46% 693 41.01% 26 1.54%
1984 1,298 69.45% 543 29.05% 28 1.50%
1980 1,442 73.27% 418 21.24% 108 5.49%
1976 1,087 52.03% 899 43.03% 103 4.93%
1972 1,446 66.36% 651 29.88% 82 3.76%
1968 1,239 56.83% 808 37.06% 133 6.10%
1964 974 40.02% 1,454 59.74% 6 0.25%
1960 1,609 59.88% 1,076 40.04% 2 0.07%
1956 1,415 59.98% 936 39.68% 8 0.34%
1952 1,986 69.90% 811 28.55% 44 1.55%
1948 1,212 50.95% 972 40.86% 195 8.20%
1944 1,540 54.47% 1,226 43.37% 61 2.16%
1940 1,951 57.53% 1,342 39.58% 98 2.89%
1936 684 18.33% 1,821 48.81% 1,226 32.86%
1932 906 25.21% 2,473 68.81% 215 5.98%
1928 2,002 58.38% 1,336 38.96% 91 2.65%
1924 996 39.62% 135 5.37% 1,383 55.01%
1920 1,911 70.94% 456 16.93% 327 12.14%
1916 518 31.37% 922 55.84% 211 12.78%
1912 264 23.57% 308 27.50% 548 48.93%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Burke County". ND-Direct. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  3. ^ Fitzmaurice v. Willis, 127 N.W. 95 (N.D. 1910).
  4. ^ "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2006. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  5. ^ "County History". North Dakota.gov. The State of North Dakota. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  6. ^ "Burke County, ND". Burke County North Dakota. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Burke County ND Google Maps (accessed February 15, 2019)
  8. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Burke County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 15, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  13. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 12, 2018.

48°47′N 102°31′W / 48.79°N 102.52°W / 48.79; -102.52