NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
April 2, 1998
Between 1990 and 1997, 45 of North Dakota's 53 counties lost population, and the population of the state as a whole grew by only 0.3 percent. That's the third lowest growth rate among all states in the nation.
North Dakota's Cass, Burleigh and Rolette counties enjoyed the greatest growth rate, about 11 percent, according to the most recent "Population Bulletin" from the State Data Center at North Dakota State University.
The biggest losses occurred in Burke county, where population fell about 22 percent, and in Sheridan County, where it dropped 17 percent.
Other counties that gained population: Billings, Morton, Richland, Sioux and Ward.
"Population in North Dakota continues to centralize," said Richard Rathge, director of the State Data Center. "Five counties—Cass, Grand Forks, Burleigh, Ward and Morton—contain more than half of the state's total population."
North Dakota's population declined by 4,640 between 1990 and 1991, then grew by roughly 2,000 every year through 1996. In 1997 it dropped by 1,750 .
"Last year's decline, said Rathge, "reflects, in part, the loss of residents due to the spring flooding, plus continued losses of farm families. Grand Forks County alone lost 2 percent of its population, mainly because of flooding."
Nationwide, Connecticut and Rhode Island lost population during the seven-year period. The fastest growing states were Nevada, where population was up about 40 percent, Arizona, up 24 percent, and Idaho, up 20 percent.
[EDITORS: TO LOCALIZE, SEE COUNTY STATISTICS AND STATE COMPARISONS IN BLUE PUBLICATION FOLLOWING THIS STORY, "POPULATION ESTIMATES FOR NORTH DAKOTA BY COUNTY, 1997."THIS PUBLICATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE DATA CENTER, BOX 5636, NDSU, FARGO, ND 58105.]
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Source: Richard Rathge (701) 231-8621
Editor: Barry Brissman (701) 231-7866
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Click here for a pdf version of this graphic.