| Wells County, North Dakota | |
Location in the state of North Dakota |
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North Dakota's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1873 |
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| Seat | Fessenden |
| Largest city | Harvey |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,291 sq mi (3,344 km²) 1,271 sq mi (3,292 km²) 19 sq mi (49 km²), 1.50% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
4,207 5/sq mi (2/km²) |
| Website | www.wellscountynd.com |
Wells County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of 2010, the population was 4,207.[1] Its county seat is Fessenden.[2] The center of population of North Dakota is located in the extreme southeastern corner of Wells County, about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Sykeston.[3]
Wells County was created by the 1872-73 territorial legislature and named after Edward Payson Wells, a Jamestown banker, early promoter of the James River Valley, and member of the legislature in 1881. The county government was organized on August 28, 1884. The county seat was Sykeston from 1884 to 1894, after which time Fessenden was given the title.[4]
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,291 square miles (3,340 km2), of which, 1,271 square miles (3,290 km2) of it is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) of it (1.50%) is water.
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| Pierce County | Benson County | |||
| Sheridan County | Eddy County and Foster County | |||
| Wells County, North Dakota | ||||
| Kidder County | Stutsman County |
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,212 |
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| 1900 | 8,310 | 585.6% | |
| 1910 | 11,814 | 42.2% | |
| 1920 | 12,957 | 9.7% | |
| 1930 | 13,285 | 2.5% | |
| 1940 | 11,198 | −15.7% | |
| 1950 | 10,417 | −7.0% | |
| 1960 | 9,237 | −11.3% | |
| 1970 | 7,847 | −15.0% | |
| 1980 | 6,979 | −11.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,864 | −16.0% | |
| 2000 | 5,102 | −13.0% | |
| 2010 | 4,207 | −17.5% | |
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As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 5,102 people, 2,215 households, and 1,453 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,643 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.12% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.25% from two or more races. 0.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 59.5% were of German and 24.1% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 2,215 households out of which 25.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 32.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 26.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,894, and the median income for a family was $39,284. Males had a median income of $27,277 versus $16,810 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,932. About 10.30% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.
Note: all incorporated communities in North Dakota are called "cities" regardless of their size.
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