Pembina County, North Dakota
Encyclopedia
Pembina County is a county located in the U.S. state
of North Dakota
. At the time of the 2010 Census its population was 7,413. The county seat
is Cavalier
.
The area along the Pembina and Red rivers
was long inhabited by various indigenous peoples
. At the time of European contact, the dominant tribe were the Assiniboine and the Lakota (or Sioux
, as the French colonists called them). Later the Ojibwe (or Chippewa) migrated into the area from the east and became the dominant tribe. The people had a long trading relationship with French colonists and supported them during the Seven Years War against Great Britain
. By the time of the War of 1812
, the Ojibwe were allied with the British against the United States, hoping to forestall or slow European-American settlers' encroaching on their territory. During the first half of the nineteenth century, continuing conflicts between the Lakota and Chippewa along the Red River slowed European-American settlement. The Chippewa pushed the Lakota to the west and became dominant in the area.
The county was created by the 1866–1867 Dakota territorial legislature
, and was organized on August 12, 1867. "Pembina" is derived from the Chippewa term for high-bush cranberry, which grew in abundance along the Pembina River
. The city of Pembina
, the oldest European-American settlement in the state, was the county seat from 1867 to 1911. The seat was relocated to Cavalier
.
Cavalier Air Force Station
and Icelandic State Park
are both located in Pembina County. The first Icelandic immigrant settlement in present-day North Dakota was in Pembina County in the late 1870s, when a colony of settlers from Iceland moved into the county from the New Iceland
homesteads near Lake Winnipeg
.
inhabited the area along the Pembina and Red rivers
. At the time of European contact in the 16th century, the dominant tribes were the Assiniboine
and the Lakota (or Sioux
, as the French colonists called them). The Ojibwe (or Chippewa, as they are known in the United States), a branch of the Anishinaabe
-speaking language group, gradually migrated west along both sides of the Great Lakes
. They developed a long trading relationship with French trappers and colonists. Throughout the Red River of the North
area, French trappers married Native American women, and their descendants continued to hunt and trap. A large mixed-race population developed, recognized as an ethnic First Nations
group in Canada called the Métis
. The Chippewa and Métis generally supported the French forces during the Seven Years War in the mid-eighteenth century against Great Britain
.
With the British defeat of France and takeover of its colonial territory, the Chippewa learned to deal with a new trading culture. Armed with guns by trading and having adopted the horse from the Mandan and Hidatsa
, by the end of the eighteenth century the Chippewa had migrated from woodlands to the Great Plains
and begun to push the Lakota west before them. By the time of the War of 1812
, the Ojibwe allied with the British against the United States, hoping to forestall European-American settlers' encroaching on their territory. With the settlement of the northern boundary with Canada, the Chippewa within the Dakota Territory were forced to deal with the United States. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the Chippewa had continued conflicts with the Lakota along the Red River, finally pushing them into present-day western North and South Dakota.
Father George Belcourt, a Catholic Jesuit missionary
who served them, described their territory in 1849 as the following:
The Chippewa used two-wheeled, ox-drawn carts to transport great quantities of furs to market along what were called the Red River Trails, between St. Paul, Minnesota and Winnipeg
, Canada. They also used the ox-carts to transport food and shelter during extended buffalo
hunts.
Over time, the Chippewa were persuaded to cede much of their land by treaty to the US, which in turn sold it to homesteaders. They moved to relatively small Indian reservations within their earlier territory. Pembina County was established as part of the Dakota Territory
January 9, 1867. At the time, it was much larger than it is today. In 1871, the county was expanded to include much of the territory in what is now eastern North Dakota from Canada
to the South Dakota
border.
Between 1873 and 1881, eleven new counties were created from Pembina, including Cass County
and Grand Forks County
. Pembina took its current form in 1887, when Cavalier County
was increased in size.
The first Icelandic settlements in what is now North Dakota were established in Pembina County in the late 1870s. Many of the immigrants came from New Iceland
near Lake Winnipeg
, along with other Icelanders
who moved into the area from colonies in Wisconsin
. The new settlers lived primarily in the so-called "Icelandic Townships" of Akra, Beaulieu, Gardar, and Thingwalla. The State Historical Society of North Dakota
reported fewer than 3 or 4 non-Icelandic families living there in the early 1900s. Evidence of this heritage is found in several township and city names with Icelandic origins. Akra was named after the town of Akranes
, near Reykjavik
; Gardar was named for Gardar Svavarsson
, who was reportedly the first Scandinavian to visit Iceland
; and Hallsson was named for an early settler, Johann P. Hallson.
Icelandic State Park
, located in Akra, was established to preserve evidence of this early pioneer heritage.
, the county has a total area of 1,122 square miles (2,905 km²), of which, 1,119 square miles (2,898 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.27%) is water. The lowest point in the state of North Dakota is located on the Red River of the North
in Pembina Township in Pembina County, where it flows out of North Dakota and into Manitoba
.
reported there were 8,585 people, 3,535 households, and 2,364 families residing in the county. On average, the population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²), with the bulk of the population centered in the cities. Housing density if even lower, with just 4 units per square mile (1/km²) with 4,115 housing units in the county. Racially, the county is predominately White
, at more than 95%. There is a small population (1.43%) of Native American
s (1.43%) in the county. African American
s and Asian
combined make up less than 1% of the total. 0.21% 1.27% are from other races
, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic
s or Latino
s made up a little more than 3% of the population. Early in the county's history, there was a large influx of settlers from Iceland
. By the 2000 the Census Bureau, Icelanders
made up just 7.9% of the population, falling third after Norwegian (25.0%) and German (24.0%), French
and English
and 6.6% ranked 4th and 5th, with 7.9% and 6.6% respectively.
There were 3,535 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.
Nearly 80% of the county was under the age of 65 at the 2000 Census, with children under the age of 18 taking up nearly a quarter (24.9%) of the population followed by 45 to 64 year olds (24.8%) and 25 to 44 year olds (24.6%). Those over the age of 65 were one-fifth the population (19.5%), with 18 to 24 year olds making up the smallest portion at 6.2%. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,430, and the median income for a family was $45,338. Males had a median income of $30,400 versus $21,340 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $18,692. About 7.4% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Note: all incorporated communities in North Dakota are called "cities" regardless of their size.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. At the time of the 2010 Census its population was 7,413. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Cavalier
Cavalier, North Dakota
Cavalier is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of Pembina County. The population was 1,302 at the 2010 census. Cavalier was founded in 1877 and became the county seat in 1911....
.
The area along the Pembina and Red rivers
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
was long inhabited by various indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
. At the time of European contact, the dominant tribe were the Assiniboine and the Lakota (or Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
, as the French colonists called them). Later the Ojibwe (or Chippewa) migrated into the area from the east and became the dominant tribe. The people had a long trading relationship with French colonists and supported them during the Seven Years War against Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. By the time of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, the Ojibwe were allied with the British against the United States, hoping to forestall or slow European-American settlers' encroaching on their territory. During the first half of the nineteenth century, continuing conflicts between the Lakota and Chippewa along the Red River slowed European-American settlement. The Chippewa pushed the Lakota to the west and became dominant in the area.
The county was created by the 1866–1867 Dakota territorial legislature
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
, and was organized on August 12, 1867. "Pembina" is derived from the Chippewa term for high-bush cranberry, which grew in abundance along the Pembina River
Pembina River
Pembina River can refer to:*Pembina River , a river in southern Manitoba, Canada and northern North Dakota, United States*Pembina River , a river in central Alberta, Canada...
. The city of Pembina
Pembina, North Dakota
Pembina is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 592 at the 2010 census.The area of Pembina was long inhabited by various indigenous peoples...
, the oldest European-American settlement in the state, was the county seat from 1867 to 1911. The seat was relocated to Cavalier
Cavalier, North Dakota
Cavalier is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of Pembina County. The population was 1,302 at the 2010 census. Cavalier was founded in 1877 and became the county seat in 1911....
.
Cavalier Air Force Station
Cavalier Air Force Station
Cavalier Air Force Station is a United States Air Force installation in Pembina County, North Dakota, home to the 10th Space Warning Squadron of the 21st Space Wing based at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.-Mission:...
and Icelandic State Park
Icelandic State Park
Icelandic State Park is a state park located in Akra Township, Pembina County, North Dakota. Located on Lake Renwick, the park consists of over of land, and includes the Pioneer Heritage Center and the Gunlogson Homestead and Nature Preserve. The park was established to preserve evidence of the...
are both located in Pembina County. The first Icelandic immigrant settlement in present-day North Dakota was in Pembina County in the late 1870s, when a colony of settlers from Iceland moved into the county from the New Iceland
New Iceland
New Iceland is the name of a region on Lake Winnipeg in the Canadian province Manitoba which was named for settlers from Iceland. It was settled in 1875.- Background :...
homesteads near Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large, lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, with its southern tip about north of the city of Winnipeg...
.
History
For thousands of years, various indigenous peoplesIndigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
inhabited the area along the Pembina and Red rivers
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
. At the time of European contact in the 16th century, the dominant tribes were the Assiniboine
Assiniboine
The Assiniboines or Assiniboins , also known as the Hohe and known by the endonym Nakota , are a Siouan Native American/First Nations people originally from the Northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada...
and the Lakota (or Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
, as the French colonists called them). The Ojibwe (or Chippewa, as they are known in the United States), a branch of the Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe or Anishinabe—or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek, which is the plural form of the word—is the autonym often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonquin peoples. They all speak closely related Anishinaabemowin/Anishinaabe languages, of the Algonquian language family.The meaning...
-speaking language group, gradually migrated west along both sides of the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. They developed a long trading relationship with French trappers and colonists. Throughout the Red River of the North
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
area, French trappers married Native American women, and their descendants continued to hunt and trap. A large mixed-race population developed, recognized as an ethnic First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
group in Canada called the Métis
Métis
A Métis is a person born to parents who belong to different groups defined by visible physical differences, regarded as racial, or the descendant of such persons. The term is of French origin, and also is a cognate of mestizo in Spanish, mestiço in Portuguese, and mestee in English...
. The Chippewa and Métis generally supported the French forces during the Seven Years War in the mid-eighteenth century against Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
With the British defeat of France and takeover of its colonial territory, the Chippewa learned to deal with a new trading culture. Armed with guns by trading and having adopted the horse from the Mandan and Hidatsa
Hidatsa
The Hidatsa are a Siouan people, a part of the Three Affiliated Tribes. The Hidatsa's autonym is Hiraacá. According to the tribal tradition, the word hiraacá derives from the word "willow"; however, the etymology is not transparent and the similarity to mirahací ‘willows’ inconclusive...
, by the end of the eighteenth century the Chippewa had migrated from woodlands to the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
and begun to push the Lakota west before them. By the time of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, the Ojibwe allied with the British against the United States, hoping to forestall European-American settlers' encroaching on their territory. With the settlement of the northern boundary with Canada, the Chippewa within the Dakota Territory were forced to deal with the United States. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the Chippewa had continued conflicts with the Lakota along the Red River, finally pushing them into present-day western North and South Dakota.
Father George Belcourt, a Catholic Jesuit missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
who served them, described their territory in 1849 as the following:
"We understand here, that the district or department called Pembina, comprises all of the country or basin which is irrigated or traversed by the tributaries of the Red River, south of the line of the 49th parallel of latitude. The prairies’ rivers and lakes which extend to the height of land of the MississippiMississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, and the immense plains which feed innumerable herds of bisonBisonMembers of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
to the westward and from which the Chippewa and half breeds [Métis] of this region obtain their subsistence, contains within their limits a country about 400 miles from north to south and more than five hundred miles from east to west."
The Chippewa used two-wheeled, ox-drawn carts to transport great quantities of furs to market along what were called the Red River Trails, between St. Paul, Minnesota and Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Canada. They also used the ox-carts to transport food and shelter during extended buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
hunts.
Over time, the Chippewa were persuaded to cede much of their land by treaty to the US, which in turn sold it to homesteaders. They moved to relatively small Indian reservations within their earlier territory. Pembina County was established as part of the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
January 9, 1867. At the time, it was much larger than it is today. In 1871, the county was expanded to include much of the territory in what is now eastern North Dakota from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to the South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
border.
Between 1873 and 1881, eleven new counties were created from Pembina, including Cass County
Cass County, North Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 123,138 people, 51,315 households, and 29,814 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 people per square mile . There were 53,790 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile...
and Grand Forks County
Grand Forks County, North Dakota
-National protected areas:*Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge*Little Goose National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 66,109 people, 25,435 households, and 15,617 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile . There were...
. Pembina took its current form in 1887, when Cavalier County
Cavalier County, North Dakota
-Major highways:* North Dakota Highway 1* North Dakota Highway 5* North Dakota Highway 20* North Dakota Highway 66-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,831 people, 2,017 households, and 1,361 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile...
was increased in size.
The first Icelandic settlements in what is now North Dakota were established in Pembina County in the late 1870s. Many of the immigrants came from New Iceland
New Iceland
New Iceland is the name of a region on Lake Winnipeg in the Canadian province Manitoba which was named for settlers from Iceland. It was settled in 1875.- Background :...
near Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large, lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, with its southern tip about north of the city of Winnipeg...
, along with other Icelanders
Icelanders
Icelanders are a Scandinavian ethnic group and a nation, native to Iceland.On 17 June 1944, when an Icelandic republic was founded the Icelanders became independent from the Danish monarchy. The language spoken is Icelandic, a North Germanic language, and Lutheranism is the predominant religion...
who moved into the area from colonies in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The new settlers lived primarily in the so-called "Icelandic Townships" of Akra, Beaulieu, Gardar, and Thingwalla. The State Historical Society of North Dakota
State Historical Society of North Dakota
The State Historical Society of North Dakota is an agency that preserves and presents history through museums and historic sites in the state of North Dakota...
reported fewer than 3 or 4 non-Icelandic families living there in the early 1900s. Evidence of this heritage is found in several township and city names with Icelandic origins. Akra was named after the town of Akranes
Akranes
Akranes is a port town and municipality located on the west coast of Iceland.It is the ninth most populous town in Iceland after Mosfellsbær and Árborg with a population of 6,623 people...
, near Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
; Gardar was named for Gardar Svavarsson
Gardar Svavarsson
Garðarr Svavarsson was a Swedish man who is considered by many to be the first Scandinavian to live in Iceland, although only for one winter....
, who was reportedly the first Scandinavian to visit Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
; and Hallsson was named for an early settler, Johann P. Hallson.
Icelandic State Park
Icelandic State Park
Icelandic State Park is a state park located in Akra Township, Pembina County, North Dakota. Located on Lake Renwick, the park consists of over of land, and includes the Pioneer Heritage Center and the Gunlogson Homestead and Nature Preserve. The park was established to preserve evidence of the...
, located in Akra, was established to preserve evidence of this early pioneer heritage.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 1,122 square miles (2,905 km²), of which, 1,119 square miles (2,898 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.27%) is water. The lowest point in the state of North Dakota is located on the Red River of the North
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
in Pembina Township in Pembina County, where it flows out of North Dakota and into Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
Townships
|
|
Thingvalla Township, Pembina County, North Dakota Thingvalla Township is a township in Pembina County, North Dakota, United States. The 2000 Census reported a population of 121, and an estimated population of 103 as of 2009. President Ólafur Grímsson of Iceland visited area in 1999 to dedicate a monument to poet K. N... |
Major highways
|
 North Dakota Highway 32 North Dakota Highway 66 North Dakota Highway 89 |
U.S. Highway 81
Adjacent counties and rural municipalities
- Stanley, ManitobaStanley, ManitobaStanley is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. It is located in the southern part of the province, along its border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. The municipality had a 2006 Census population of 6,367, a 24.3% increase from the 5,122 reported...
(north) - Rhineland, ManitobaRhineland, ManitobaRhineland is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. It is located in the southern part of the province, along its border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. A population of 4,125 persons was reported in the 2006 Census, a slight decrease from the 4,183...
(north) - Town of Gretna, ManitobaGretna, ManitobaGretna is a town in south-central Manitoba, Canada. It is located just north of the Canada - United States border on PTH 30. As of 2006, the population of Gretna was 574. It is bordered on the west, north, and east by the Rural Municipality of Rhineland. On the south it is bordered by Pembina...
(north) - Montcalm, ManitobaMontcalm, ManitobaMontcalm is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. It is located in the southern part of the province, along its border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. The 2006 Census reported a population of 1,317 persons, a decrease from the 1,400 reported in the...
(north) - Town of Emerson, ManitobaEmerson, ManitobaEmerson is a town in south central Manitoba, Canada, with a population of 655. The town is named after writer Ralph Waldo Emerson.Emerson is located on the east bank of the Red River, just north of the border with the United States at the point where Manitoba, Minnesota, and North Dakota meet. ...
(north) - Kittson County, MinnesotaKittson County, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,285 people, 2,167 households, and 1,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 2,719 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
(east) - Walsh CountyWalsh County, North Dakota-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,389 people, 5,029 households, and 3,319 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 5,757 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
(south) - Cavalier CountyCavalier County, North Dakota-Major highways:* North Dakota Highway 1* North Dakota Highway 5* North Dakota Highway 20* North Dakota Highway 66-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,831 people, 2,017 households, and 1,361 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile...
(west)
Demographics
The 2000 CensusUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
reported there were 8,585 people, 3,535 households, and 2,364 families residing in the county. On average, the population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²), with the bulk of the population centered in the cities. Housing density if even lower, with just 4 units per square mile (1/km²) with 4,115 housing units in the county. Racially, the county is predominately White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, at more than 95%. There is a small population (1.43%) of Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
s (1.43%) in the county. African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
s and Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
combined make up less than 1% of the total. 0.21% 1.27% are from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
s or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
s made up a little more than 3% of the population. Early in the county's history, there was a large influx of settlers from Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. By the 2000 the Census Bureau, Icelanders
Icelanders
Icelanders are a Scandinavian ethnic group and a nation, native to Iceland.On 17 June 1944, when an Icelandic republic was founded the Icelanders became independent from the Danish monarchy. The language spoken is Icelandic, a North Germanic language, and Lutheranism is the predominant religion...
made up just 7.9% of the population, falling third after Norwegian (25.0%) and German (24.0%), French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
and English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 6.6% ranked 4th and 5th, with 7.9% and 6.6% respectively.
There were 3,535 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.
Nearly 80% of the county was under the age of 65 at the 2000 Census, with children under the age of 18 taking up nearly a quarter (24.9%) of the population followed by 45 to 64 year olds (24.8%) and 25 to 44 year olds (24.6%). Those over the age of 65 were one-fifth the population (19.5%), with 18 to 24 year olds making up the smallest portion at 6.2%. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,430, and the median income for a family was $45,338. Males had a median income of $30,400 versus $21,340 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $18,692. About 7.4% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Cities
- BathgateBathgate, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 66 people, 25 households, and 18 families residing in the city. The population density was 206.2 people per square mile . There were 28 housing units at an average density of 87.5 per square mile...
- Canton CityCanton City, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 42 people, 22 households, and 13 families residing in the city. The population density was 288.1 people per square mile . There were 29 housing units at an average density of 198.9 per square mile...
- CavalierCavalier, North DakotaCavalier is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of Pembina County. The population was 1,302 at the 2010 census. Cavalier was founded in 1877 and became the county seat in 1911....
- CrystalCrystal, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 167 people, 76 households, and 45 families residing in the city. The population density was 256.0 people per square mile . There were 92 housing units at an average density of 141.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 93.41% White, 6.59% from...
- DraytonDrayton, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 913 people, 401 households, and 249 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,548.9 people per square mile . There were 440 housing units at an average density of 746.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.81% White, 0.22%...
- HamiltonHamilton, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 73 people, 34 households, and 21 families residing in the city. The population density was 224.4 people per square mile . There were 40 housing units at an average density of 122.9 per square mile...
- MountainMountain, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 133 people, 43 households, and 26 families residing in the city. The population density was 978.4 people per square mile . There were 55 housing units at an average density of 404.6 per square mile...
- NecheNeche, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 437 people, 169 households, and 114 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,248.0 people per square mile . There were 188 housing units at an average density of 536.9 per square mile...
- PembinaPembina, North DakotaPembina is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 592 at the 2010 census.The area of Pembina was long inhabited by various indigenous peoples...
- St. ThomasSt. Thomas, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 447 people, 174 households, and 123 families residing in the city. The population density was 421.7 people per square mile . There were 201 housing units at an average density of 189.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 94.18% White, 4.25% from...
- WalhallaWalhalla, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,057 people, 452 households, and 271 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,004.4 people per square mile . There were 556 housing units at an average density of 528.3 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 89.78% White, 5.96%...
Note: all incorporated communities in North Dakota are called "cities" regardless of their size.
Unincorporated communities
- BackooBackoo, North DakotaBackoo is an unincorporated community in Advance Township in North Dakota's Pembina County located roughly 5 miles northwest of Cavalier. It was established in 1887 as a townsite along the Great Northern Railroad.-History:...
- GlasstonGlasston, North DakotaGlasston is a small farming town located in Saint Thomas Township in North Dakota's Pembina County. It consists of a post office, a general store, and a handful of houses. It was established in 1886 as a station along the Great Northern Railroad. Originally called Baltimore, the site was later...
- JolietteJoliette, North DakotaJoliette is an unincorporated community located along Interstate 29 in Joliette Township in Pembina County in the U.S. State of North Dakota. It was established in 1879 as a rural post office. It was settled by French Canadians and named for Joliette, Quebec, the hometown of the town's first settler...
- Pittsburgh
American Indian reservations
- Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa IndiansTurtle Mountain Band of Chippewa IndiansThe Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians is a Native American tribe of Ojibwa and Métis peoples, based on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota. The tribe has 30,000 enrolled members...
- Pembina Band of Chippewa IndiansPembina Band of Chippewa IndiansPembina Band of Chippewa Indians are a historical band of Chippewa , originally living along the Red River of the North and its tributaries....
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Pembina County, North Dakota
External links
- Pembina County, ND official website
- Icelandic State Park