The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with Grand Rapids as the county seat. However, the county organization was not completed at that time, nor was the county attached to another county for administrative and judicial purposes. It was named for Judson LaMoure,[3] a member of the territorial/state legislature from 1872 to 1918.[4]
The county organization was effected on October 27, 1881. Its boundaries were altered in February 1881 and in March 1883. It has retained its present boundary since that time.[5] The present county seat, LaMoure, was founded in 1882, and the county seat was transferred to that community soon after.[6]
Outline map of LaMoure County, North Dakota, 1913
Geography
The James River flows southeasterly through the central portion of LaMoure County, and a tributary of the South Branch Maple River flows southerly from the center of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture.[7] The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on its upper west boundary line at 2,047 ft (624 m) ASL.[8] The county has a total area of 1,151 square miles (2,980 km2), of which 1,146 square miles (2,970 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (0.4%) is water.[9]
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 4,093 people.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,139 people, 1,825 households, and 1,182 families in the county. The population density was 3.61 people per square mile (1.39 people/km2). There were 2,238 housing units at an average density of 1.95 units per square mile (0.75/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.5% white, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 63.0% were German, 27.6% were Norwegian, 6.2% were Swedish, 6.1% were Russian, 6.0% were English, and 2.8% were American.
Of the 1,825 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.2% were non-families, and 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 49.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,098 and the median income for a family was $60,932. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $25,172 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,056. About 6.8% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
LaMoure County voters are traditionally Republican. In only one national election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
United States presidential election results for LaMoure County, North Dakota[15]
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