SARGENT County, ND

Sargent County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,862. Its county seat is Forman.

History

The Dakota Territory created the county on April 9, 1883, with areas partitioned from Ransom County, from previously unorganized areas and from non-county areas in the Wahpeton and Sisseton Indian Reserve. It was named for H. E. Sargent, a railroad executive. Its governing structure was not completed at that time, so it was attached to Richland for judicial purposes and to Ransom for administrative purposes. This arrangement only lasted until October 8, when the county government was effected, with Milnor as the county seat. However, in 1884, in the county's first election, Forman was chosen as the county seat.

The Northern Pacific Railway laid a line into the county in 1883, reaching Milnor. By 1900 it had been extended across the county. The county's population rapidly increased, reaching a peak in the 1920 United States census (9,655).

In 1997 the Brampton Lutheran Church (originally built in 1908) was moved to Sletta near Radøy in Norway and reconstructed there. It is now called Emigrantkirka (Emigrant Church).

The Sargent County Courthouse, a Beaux Arts-style building built in 1910, is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Sargent County lies on the south line of North Dakota. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the State of South Dakota.

The Wild Rice River rises as an intermittent stream in Brampton Township in southeastern Sargent County, approximately 6 miles (10 km) south of Cogswell. It flows generally easterly through the southern part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, punctuated with ponds and lakes, with isolated higher areas. The area is largely devoted to agriculture.

The terrain generally slopes to the south and east, with its highest point on its western boundary line at 1,365' (416m) ASL, although a northwest–southeast rise on the eastern portion of its south boundary line rises to 1,729' (527m) ASL.

The county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Lakes

Demographics

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 4,366 people, 1,786 households and 1,243 families in the county. The population density was 5.08/sqmi (1.96/km²). There were 2,016 housing units at an average density of 2.35/sqmi (0.91/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.24% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.5% were of German and 35.4% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 1,786 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 3.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 26.50% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 110.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,213, and the median income for a family was $44,063. Males had a median income of $34,222 versus $19,844 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,689. About 6.00% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.90% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,829 people, 1,675 households and 1,113 families in the county. The population density was 4.46/sqmi (1.72/km²). There were 2,004 housing units at an average density of 2.33/sqmi (0.90/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.5% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.1% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 51.3% were German, 35.9% were Norwegian, 11.8% were Swedish, 8.4% were Irish, and 3.0% were American.

Of the 1,675 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.6% were non-families, and 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.79. The median age was 45.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,318 and the median income for a family was $59,531. Males had a median income of $43,594 versus $30,152 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,553. About 5.7% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Politics

Sargent County is a swing county in presidential elections, having voted for both parties an equal number of times since 1980. From 1948 on, it has backed the national winner in every presidential election except for 1988, when a majority of the county's votes went to Democrat Michael Dukakis, and 2020, when a majority of the county's residents voted for Republican Donald Trump in his bid for reelection.