Foster County, North Dakota

Foster County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,397, and was estimated to be 3,212 in 2025.

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with lands partitioned from Pembina County. It was named for George I. Foster, a pioneer and member of the Territorial legislature. Its governing structure was not completed at that time, and it was not attached to another county for administrative purposes. Its boundaries were altered in 1881, two times in 1883, and finally in 1885 its boundary was set at the present configuration. Its county organization was effected on October 11, 1883.

Geography

The James River flows south-southeastward through the central part of Foster County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture, its eastern portion dotted with lakes and ponds. The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is at its southwestern corner, at ASL.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.98%) is water. It is the 52nd largest county and the second-smallest county in North Dakota by total area.

Major highways

25px U.S. Highway 52
25px U.S. Highway 281
25px North Dakota Highway 9
25px North Dakota Highway 20
25px North Dakota Highway 200

Adjacent counties

Eddy County - north
Griggs County - east
Stutsman County - south
Wells County - west

National protected area

Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Lakes

Source:

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|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 1,515 estimated households in Foster County with an average of 2.16 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $83,412. Approximately 11.4% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Foster County has an estimated 67.5% employment rate, with 27.2% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.2% holding a high school diploma.

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (97.9%), Spanish (0.3%), Indo-European (1.8%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.0%), and Other (0.0%).

The median age in the county was 43.3 years.

Foster County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 95%;"

! Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)

! Pop. 1980 !! Pop. 1990 !! Pop. 2000 !! Pop. 2010 !!

| White alone (NH)

| 4,572 (99.15%) || 3,949 (99.15%) || 3,717 (98.88%) || 3,272 (97.88%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |3,199 (94.17%)

| Black or African American alone (NH)

| 1 (0.02%) || 0 (0.00%) || 5 (0.13%) || 3 (0.09%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |7 (0.21%)

| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

| 18 (0.39%) || 22 (0.55%) || 16 (0.43%) || 20 (0.6%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |18 (0.53%)

| Asian alone (NH)

| 5 (0.11%) || 2 (0.05%) || 0 (0.00%) || 3 (0.09%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |13 (0.38%)

| Pacific Islander alone (NH)

| — || — || 0 (0.00%) || 0 (0.00%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |0 (0.00%)

| Other race alone (NH)

| 4 (0.09%) || 0 (0.00%) || 1 (0.03%) || 0 (0.00%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |6 (0.18%)

| Mixed race or multiracial (NH)

| — || — || 13 (0.35%) || 16 (0.48%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |88 (2.59%)

| Hispanic or Latino (any race)

| 11 (0.24%) || 10 (0.25%) || 7 (0.19%) || 29 (0.87%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |66 (1.94%)

| Total

| 4,611 (100.00%) || 3,983 (100.00%) || 3,759 (100.00%) || 3,343 (100.00%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |3,397 (100.00%)

2024 estimate

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 3,323 people and 1,515 households residing in the county. There were 1,790 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White (91.8% NH White), 1.0% African American, 1.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.1% of the population.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,397 people, 1,458 households, and 924 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 1,773 housing units at an average density of .

Of the residents, 22.7% were under the age of 18 and 21.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.2 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 94.6% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.9% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.

Of the 1,458 households in the county, 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Education

School districts include:

Midkota Public School District 7
New Rockford-Sheyenne Public School District 2
Carrington Public School District 10
Kensal Public School District 19

References

External links

Foster County – official website
ND DOT county map of Foster County (PDF)