Richland County, North Dakota

Richland County is a county in the far southeast corner of the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,529, and was estimated to be 16,731 in 2025. The county seat and the largest city is Wahpeton.

Richland County is part of the Wahpeton, ND–MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN Combined Statistical Area.

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873, with area partitioned from Pembina County. It was named for Morgan T. Rich, who settled on the site of the future Wahpeton in 1869. The county organization was completed on November 25 of that same year. Its boundaries were altered in 1883 and 1885. It has maintained its present configuration since 1885.

In 2022, strong winds known as a derecho, more than 70 mph, produced 34 tornadoes, including one that passed through Richland County near LeMars.

thumb|Outline map of Richland County, North Dakota, 1897

Geography

Richland County lies at the southeastern corner of North Dakota. Its eastern boundary line abuts the western boundary line of the state of Minnesota (across the Red River), and its southern boundary line abuts the northern boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The Red River flows northerly along its eastern boundary line on its way to the Hudson Bay. The Wild Rice River flows easterly and then northerly through the county, discharging into the Red River north of Richland County, in Cass County. The Sheyenne River flows northeasterly through the NW corner of the county, also discharging into the Red in Cass County.

The Richland County terrain is primarily flat, with rolling hills in the southwest and northwest. It is largely devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point near its SW corner, at ASL.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.67%) is water. It is the 18th largest county in North Dakota by total area.

Major highways

25px Interstate 29
25px US 81
25px North Dakota Highway 11
25px North Dakota Highway 13
25px North Dakota Highway 18
25px North Dakota Highway 27
25px North Dakota Highway 46
25px North Dakota Highway 127
25px North Dakota Highway 210

Adjacent counties

Cass County - north
Clay County, Minnesota - northeast
Wilkin County, Minnesota - east
Traverse County, Minnesota - southeast
Roberts County, South Dakota - south
Marshall County, South Dakota - southwest
Sargent County - west
Ransom County - northwest

National protected area

Sheyenne National Grassland (part)

Lakes

Source:

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

American Community Survey

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 6,764 estimated households in Richland County with an average of 2.24 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $72,524. Approximately 10.9% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Richland County has an estimated 65.3% employment rate, with 25.0% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 94.9% holding a high school diploma. !! Pop. 1990 !! Pop. 2000 !! Pop. 2010 !!

| White alone (NH)

| 18,832 (98.05%) || 17,595 (96.95%) || 17,337 (96.33%) || 15,351 (94.06%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |14,703 (88.95%)

| Black or African American alone (NH)

| 9 (0.05%) || 21 (0.12%) || 62 (0.34%) || 110 (0.67%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |155 (0.94%)

| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

| 249 (1.30%) || 400 (2.20%) || 297 (1.65%) || 302 (1.85%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |433 (2.62%)

| Asian alone (NH)

| 21 (0.11%) || 82 (0.45%) || 44 (0.24%) || 88 (0.54%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |123 (0.74%)

| Pacific Islander alone (NH)

| — || — || 6 (0.03%) || 7 (0.04%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |19 (0.11%)

| Other race alone (NH)

| 28 (0.15%) || 4 (0.02%) || 3 (0.02%) || 10 (0.06%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |23 (0.14%)

| Mixed race or multiracial (NH)

| — || — || 126 (0.70%) || 182 (1.12%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |499 (3.02%)

| Hispanic or Latino (any race)

| 68 (0.35%) || 46 (0.25%) || 123 (0.68%) || 271 (1.66%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |574 (3.47%)

| Total

| 19,207 (100.00%) || 18,148 (100.00%) || 17,998 (100.00%) || 16,321 (100.00%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |16,529 (100.00%)

2024 estimate

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 16,658 people and 6,764 households residing in the county. There were 7,620 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% White (90.0% NH White), 1.3% African American, 3.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.7% of the population.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,529. Of the residents, 22.4% were under the age of 18 and 18.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females there were 106.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.2 males.

There were 6,710 households and 4,174 families residing in the county.

The population density was . There were 7,501 housing units at an average density of , of which 10.5% were vacant; among occupied housing units, 71.7% were owner-occupied and 28.3% were renter-occupied, with a 1.4% homeowner vacancy rate and a 13.4% rental vacancy rate.

Education

School districts include:

Fairmount Public School District 18
Hankinson Public School District 8
Kindred Public School District 2
Lidgerwood Public School District 28
Richland Public School District 44
Wahpeton Public School District 37
Wyndmere Public School District 42

Circle of Nations Wahpeton Indian School is a tribally controlled school affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).

References

External links

Richland County – official website
A history of Richland County and the city of Wahpeton ND (1938?) from the Digital Horizons website
Richland County maps, Sheet 1 (northern) and Sheet 2 (southern), North Dakota DOT