NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
March 5, 1998
The racial distribution in North Dakota is slowly changing, according to the latest "Population Bulletin" released from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University. In 1990 whites comprised roughly 95.0 percent of total population. That proportion dropped ever so slightly to 94.0 percent in 1996.
This is the result of the continued growth in minority populations in the state, according to Richard Rathge, director of the State Data Center. Between 1990 and 1996, the black population in North Dakotacomprising less than 1 percent of total populationincreased 16 percent, while the Native American populationcomprising 4.1 percent of the totalrose 13.7 percent, and the Asian population rose 47 percent.
In 1996 there were 4,111 blacks, 5,192 Asians and 29,392 native Americans living in North Dakota.
"The greatest increases in minorities tend to be in the larger cities and reservation areas," said Rathge. "For example, the air bases at Grand Forks and Minot account for a significant proportion of the growing black population in the state, while Fargo and Grand Forks are major draws for the increasing Asian population."
[EDITORS: TO LOCALIZE WITH YOUR COUNTY STATISTICS, SEE BLUE PUBLICATION FOLLOWING THIS STORY, "POPULATION ESTIMATES BY RACE FOR NORTH DAKOTA, 1990-1996." THIS PUBLICATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE DATA CENTER, BOX 5636, NDSU, FARGO, ND 58105.]
###
Source: Richard Rathge (701) 231-8621
Editor: Barry Brissman (701) 231-7866
Click here for a pdf version of this graphic.
Click here for a pdf version of this graphic.