Slope County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 706, and was estimated to be 628 in 2025,

History

The vote to create Slope County, by partitioning the lower portion of Billings, was held on November 3, 1914. This was the final (as of 2019) alteration to that once-large Dakota county, as Bowman had been partitioned off in 1883, and Golden Valley was split off in 1910. The unorganized Slope County was not attached to another county for administrative or judicial purposes during the interregnum; on January 14, 1915, the county organization was effected. The name refers to the Missouri Slope, a geographical feature that is also a popular designation for western North Dakota, particularly the area west of the Missouri River.

Geography

thumb|[[White Butte (North Dakota)|White Butte in Slope County]]

Slope County lies on the lower west side of North Dakota. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Montana. The Little Missouri River enters the county's south boundary line from Bowman County near the Montana border and flows north until it loops very briefly into Golden Valley County. Then it flows east to near the midpoint of the north boundary of Slope County and then turns north into Billings County. Cedar Creek drains the southeastern portion of the county, flowing south into Bowman County.

The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest area (except for isolated prominences, such as White Butte) is its northwestern corner, at ASL.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.35%) is water. It is the 25th largest county in North Dakota by total area.

White Butte, the highest natural point in North Dakota at an elevation of , is in southeast Slope County.

Major highways

  • 25px U.S. Highway 12
  • 25px U.S. Highway 85
  • 25px North Dakota Highway 21
  • 25px North Dakota Highway 67

National protected areas

  • Little Missouri National Grassland (part)
  • Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  • White Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Adjacent counties

  • Billings County - north
  • Stark County - northeast
  • Hettinger County - east
  • Adams County - southeast
  • Bowman County - south
  • Fallon County, Montana - west
  • Golden Valley County - northwest

Demographics

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Education

School districts include: - The map reflects the state before July 1, 2010, when the Central Elementary Public School District 32 dissolved.

  • Bowman County School District 1
  • New England Public School District 9
  • Scranton Public School District 33
  • Marmarth Public School District 12 (elementary only)

Former school districts:

  • Central Elementary Public School District 32 (Amidon Elementary School) - Scheduled to dissolve on July 1, 2020. It was divided between Bowman County School District 1 and New England School District 9.
  • Sheets Public School District 14 (Cottage School)

The Amidon and Cottage schools were the final two schools remaining in the county.