The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with areas partitioned from Pembina County. The county was named for Alexander Ramsey, a U.S. Senator from Minnesota and the first Minnesota Territorial Governor.[3] The county government was not completed at that time, and the county was not attached to another county for administrative or judicial purposes. This situation continued until January 25, 1883, when the county government was effected.
The county's boundaries were altered twice in March 1883, twice more in 1885, and again in 1890. Its present boundaries have remained unchanged since 1890.[4]
Outline map of Ramsey County, North Dakota, 1909
Geography
The southwest boundary of Ramsey County is defined by Devils Lake. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the lake, with its highest point at the NE county corner, at 1,631 ft (497 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 1,301 square miles (3,370 km2), of which 1,187 square miles (3,070 km2) is land and 114 square miles (300 km2) (8.8%) is water.[7]
Ramsey County is beautiful “pothole country” In the center of a migratory bird flyway.
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 11,605 people, 4,947 households, and 2,883 families in the county.[13] The population density was 9.8 inhabitants per square mile (3.8/km2) There were 5,843 housing units.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 11,451 people, 4,955 households, and 3,008 families in the county. The population density was 9.65 people per square mile (3.73 people/km2). There were 5,615 housing units at an average density of 4.73 units per square mile (1.83/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.7% white, 8.7% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 41.9% were German, 37.7% were Norwegian, 7.0% were Irish, 5.7% were Swedish, 5.2% were English, and 2.9% were American.
Of the 4,955 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.3% were non-families, and 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 43.0 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,792 and the median income for a family was $56,632. Males had a median income of $41,274 versus $25,171 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,130. About 8.7% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Ramsey County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only two national elections since 1944 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
United States presidential election results for Ramsey County, North Dakota[14]
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