McLean County, North Dakota

McLean County, North Dakota
Location in the U.S. state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location in the U.S.
Founded	November 1, 1883
Seat	Washburn
Largest city	Garrison
Area
• Total	2,328 sq mi (6,029 km2)
• Land	2,111 sq mi (5,467 km2)
• Water	217 sq mi (562 km2), 9.3%
Population (est.)
• (2014)	9,578
• Density	4.2/sq mi (2/km²)
Congressional district	At-large
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.visitmcleancounty.com

McLean County (/məˈkleɪn/ mə-KLAYN) is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,962. Its county seat is Washburn. The county was created by the 1883 territorial legislature and organized on November 1, 1883. It was named for John A. McLean, a prominent citizen and the first mayor of Bismarck, North Dakota.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,328 square miles (6,030 km²), of which 2,111 square miles (5,470 km²) is land and 217 square miles (560 km²) (9.3%) is water. It is the third-largest county in North Dakota by land area and second-largest by total area.

Adjacent counties

• Ward County (north)
• McHenry County (northeast)
• Sheridan County (east)
• Burleigh County (southeast)
• Oliver County (south)
• Mercer County (southwest)
• Dunn County (west)
• Mountrail County (northwest)

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 83
• North Dakota Highway 28
• North Dakota Highway 37
• North Dakota Highway 53
• North Dakota Highway 41
• North Dakota Highway 200
• North Dakota Highway 1804

National protected areas

• Audubon National Wildlife Refuge
• Camp Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Hiddenwood National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Lake Nettie National Wildlife Refuge
• Lake Otis National Wildlife Refuge
• Lost Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• McLean National Wildlife Refuge

McLean County has more National Wildlife Refuges than any other county in the United States.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	860		—
1900	4,791		457.1%
1910	14,496		202.6%
1920	17,266		19.1%
1930	17,991		4.2%
1940	16,082		−10.6%
1950	18,824		17.1%
1960	14,030		−25.5%
1970	11,251		−19.8%
1980	12,383		10.1%
1990	10,457		−15.6%
2000	9,311		−11.0%
2010	8,962		−3.7%
Est. 2014	9,578		6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,311 people, 3,815 households, and 2,712 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 5,264 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.52% White, 0.02% Black or African American, 5.95% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 48.6% were of German and 22.1% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 3,815 households out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.30% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 5.10% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 27.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,337, and the median income for a family was $39,604. Males had a median income of $32,376 versus $18,224 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,220. About 10.40% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Benedict
• Butte
• Coleharbor
• Garrison
• Max
• Mercer
• Riverdale
• Ruso
• Turtle Lake
• Underwood
• Washburn (county seat)
• Wilton (partly in Burleigh County)

Townships

• Amundsville
• Andrews
• Aurena
• Blackwater
• Blue Hill
• Butte
• Byersville
• Cremerville
• Deepwater
• Dogden
• Douglas
• Gate
• Greatstone
• Horseshoe Valley
• Lake Williams
• Longfellow
• Loquemont
• Malcolm
• McGinnis
• Medicine Hill
• Mercer
• Otis
• Roseglen
• Rosemont
• Saint Mary
• Snow
• Turtle Lake
• Victoria
• Wise

Census-designated place

• White Shield

Unincorporated communities

• Emmet
• Falkirk
• Raub
• Roseglen

Communities flooded by Garrison Dam

• Elbowoods (Arikara: hiswíkat [hiswíkAt])
• Red Butte, Mandan community, (Arikara: ituhkánit [itUhkə́NIt] )
• Lucky Mound
• Nishu
• Beaver Creek
• Independence
• Shell Creek
• Charging Eagle

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in McLean County, North Dakota

Further reading

• Mary Ann Barnes Williams, Pioneer Days of Washburn, N. Dakota and Vicinity. Washburn, ND: Washburn Leader, 1936.
• McLean County Heritage. Washburn, ND: McLean County Historical Society, 1978.