Foster County, North Dakota

Foster County
County
Foster County Courthouse in Carrington, North Dakota.
Location within the U.S. state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°28′N 98°53′W / 47.46°N 98.89°W / 47.46; -98.89
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
Founded	January 4, 1873 (created) October 11, 1883 (organized)
Seat	Carrington
Largest city	Carrington
Area
• Total	647 sq mi (1,680 km2)
• Land	635 sq mi (1,640 km2)
• Water	11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,397
• Estimate  (2022)	3,378
• Density	5.3/sq mi (2.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.fostercounty.com

Foster County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,397.^[1] Its county seat is Carrington.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[4][5]

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.^[6] The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is at its southwestern corner, at 1,942 ft (592 m) ASL.^[7] The county has a total area of 647 square miles (1,680 km²), of which 635 square miles (1,640 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (1.8%) is water.^[8] It is the second-smallest county in North Dakota by area.

• Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Source:^[6]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	37		—
1890	1,210		3,170.3%
1900	3,770		211.6%
1910	5,313		40.9%
1920	6,108		15.0%
1930	6,353		4.0%
1940	5,824		−8.3%
1950	5,337		−8.4%
1960	5,361		0.4%
1970	4,832		−9.9%
1980	4,611		−4.6%
1990	3,983		−13.6%
2000	3,759		−5.6%
2010	3,343		−11.1%
2020	3,397		1.6%
2022 (est.)	3,378	[9]	−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census of 2020, there were 3,397 people.

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,343 people, 1,495 households, and 930 families in the county. The population density was 5.3 inhabitants per square mile (2.0/km²). There were 1,801 housing units at an average density of 2.8 units per square mile (1.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.4% white, 0.6% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 54.2% were German, 35.9% were Norwegian, 9.8% were Irish, 5.8% were American, and 5.1% were Swedish.

Of the 1,495 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.8% were non-families, and 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 46.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,066 and the median income for a family was $55,278. Males had a median income of $40,076 versus $29,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,945. About 3.4% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

The county is divided into 18 townships for certain aspects of governance.

Foster County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only two national elections since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for Foster County, North Dakota^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,326	77.86%	335	19.67%	42	2.47%
2020	1,362	76.60%	373	20.98%	43	2.42%
2016	1,241	72.19%	347	20.19%	131	7.62%
2012	1,030	61.24%	607	36.09%	45	2.68%
2008	914	55.36%	687	41.61%	50	3.03%
2004	1,219	69.03%	518	29.33%	29	1.64%
2000	1,172	67.24%	474	27.19%	97	5.57%
1996	801	45.93%	664	38.07%	279	16.00%
1992	803	41.39%	565	29.12%	572	29.48%
1988	1,218	58.84%	837	40.43%	15	0.72%
1984	1,422	64.23%	765	34.55%	27	1.22%
1980	1,534	66.61%	586	25.45%	183	7.95%
1976	1,120	48.59%	1,147	49.76%	38	1.65%
1972	1,352	60.28%	861	38.39%	30	1.34%
1968	1,119	52.31%	897	41.94%	123	5.75%
1964	927	41.31%	1,315	58.60%	2	0.09%
1960	1,351	53.34%	1,182	46.66%	0	0.00%
1956	1,234	53.51%	1,062	46.05%	10	0.43%
1952	1,558	64.17%	862	35.50%	8	0.33%
1948	938	44.82%	1,089	52.03%	66	3.15%
1944	891	44.39%	1,102	54.91%	14	0.70%
1940	1,109	43.20%	1,446	56.33%	12	0.47%
1936	685	24.83%	1,894	68.65%	180	6.52%
1932	609	24.65%	1,838	74.38%	24	0.97%
1928	1,137	48.99%	1,178	50.75%	6	0.26%
1924	922	45.13%	287	14.05%	834	40.82%
1920	1,583	78.99%	371	18.51%	50	2.50%
1916	549	44.45%	662	53.60%	24	1.94%
1912	285	29.97%	403	42.38%	263	27.66%
1908	569	56.00%	434	42.72%	13	1.28%
1904	618	71.69%	223	25.87%	21	2.44%
1900	415	61.48%	241	35.70%	19	2.81%

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

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

47°28′N 98°53′W / 47.46°N 98.89°W / 47.46; -98.89