Slow Change Seen in North Dakota’s Racial Make-up

The racial distribution in North Dakota continues to slowly change 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 slightly to 94 percent in 1999. This is the result of the continued growth in minority populations in the state. Between 1990 and 1999, the Black population within North Dakota (comprising less than 1 percent) rose 16 percent, Native Americans (comprising 4.8 percent of total population) rose 18.1 percent and the Asian population rose 49.2 percent. Persons of Hispanic origin (any race), comprising 1 percent of the total population, rose 56.5 percent between 1990 and 1999.

While representing the smallest numeric categories, elderly Black and Asian populations had the largest percentage gains in North Dakota between 1990 and 1999 (221.4 percent and 176.9 percent, respectively). This translates into an increase among elderly Blacks (65 years of age and older) from 28 in 1990 to 90 in 1999. Similarly, the jump among elderly Asians was from 65 to 180 during the same time period.

The greatest increases in minorities tended to be in the larger cities and reservation areas, and in the counties with military facilities. "African Americans are largely drawn to North Dakota by the military. Nearly 76 percent of the African Americans in North Dakota live in Grand Forks and Ward counties, location of our two Air Force Bases," said Richard Rathge, Director of the Center. Fargo and Grand Forks are major draws for the increasing Asian population. Finally, nearly 60 percent of the Native Americans in North Dakota live in the reservation counties of Sioux, Rolette, Benson, and Mountrail. An additional 20 percent of Native Americans reside in the counties with the state’s largest cities; Cass, Grand Forks, Burleigh, and Ward.

###

Source: Richard Rathge, (701) 231-8621, richard_rathge@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Click here for a GIF version of this graphic. (48KB b&w text, map and graph)

Click here for a GIF version of this graphic. (47KB b&w text, map and graph)

Click here for a pdf version of both pages of this graphic. (45KB b&w text, map and table)