Major highways

• U.S. Highway 2
• U.S. Highway 281
• North Dakota Highway 19
• North Dakota Highway 20
  North Dakota Highway 20
  North Dakota Highway 20 is a north–south highway in North Dakota. It runs from U.S. Route 281/U.S. Route 52 in Jamestown to the Canadian border near Sarles. The highway continues into Manitoba as PTH 34....
  
  
• North Dakota Highway 57
  North Dakota Highway 57
  North Dakota Highway 57 is an east–west highway in North Dakota. It runs from U.S. Route 281 near Fort Totten to North Dakota Highway 20 near Camp Grafton. 57 was rebuilt Between Fort Totten and North Dakota Highway 20 to accommodate flooding close to the roadway. Porton between Fort Totten...
  
  

National protected area

Protected area

Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...

s

• Pleasant Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  Pleasant Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  Pleasant Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in Benson County, North Dakota. It is managed under Devils Lake Wetland Management District.-References:*...
  
  
• Silver Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  Silver Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  Silver Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in Benson and Ramsey counties in North Dakota. It is managed under Devils Lake Wetland Management District.-References:*...
  
   (part)
• Sullys Hill National Game Preserve
  Sullys Hill National Game Preserve
  Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is a National Wildlife Refuge located on the shore of Devil's Lake in Benson County, North Dakota, within the lands of the Spirit Lake Tribe...
  
  
• Wood Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  Wood Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  Wood Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in Benson County, North Dakota. It is managed under Devils Lake Wetland Management District.-References:*...
  
  

Demographics

As of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 6,964 people, 2,328 households, and 1,701 families residing in the county. The population density

Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,932 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was mostly 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...

 (50.85%) and 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...

 (48.05%). In addition, 0.10% are Black

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...

/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...

, 0.01% are 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...

, 0.01% are Pacific Islander

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...

, 0.16% 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 0.82% are from two or more races. 0.79% of the population were 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...

 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...

 of any race. 25.2% were of Norwegian and 14.8% German ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,328 households out of which 38.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.50% 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, 16.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.48.

In the county the population was spread out with 36.10% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 102.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,688, and the median income for a family was $31,558. Males had a median income of $23,056 versus $17,862 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 $11,509. About 24.40% of families and 29.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.90% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

• Brinsmade
  Brinsmade, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 29 people, 14 households, and 9 families residing in the city. The population density was 129.4 people per square mile . There were 24 housing units at an average density of 107.1 per square mile...
  
  
• Esmond
  Esmond, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 159 people, 78 households, and 42 families residing in the city. The population density was 352.8 people per square mile . There were 114 housing units at an average density of 253.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 94.97% White, 3.14% Native...
  
  
• Knox
  Knox, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 59 people, 22 households, and 13 families residing in the city. The population density was 118.6 people per square mile . There were 28 housing units at an average density of 56.3 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 96.61% White, 1.69% African...
  
  
• Leeds
  Leeds, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 464 people, 212 households, and 129 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,018.8 people per square mile . There were 282 housing units at an average density of 619.2 per square mile...
  
  
• Maddock
  Maddock, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 498 people, 238 households, and 127 families residing in the city. The population density was 564.7 people per square mile . There were 276 housing units at an average density of 313.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.60% White, 0.20%...
  
  
• Minnewaukan
  Minnewaukan, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 318 people, 148 households, and 87 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,157.0 people per square mile . There were 199 housing units at an average density of 724.1 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 86.16% White, 9.75%...
  
  
• Oberon
  Oberon, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 81 people, 38 households, and 21 families residing in the city. The population density was 240.9 people per square mile . There were 46 housing units at an average density of 136.8 per square mile...
  
  
• Warwick
  Warwick, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 75 people, 34 households, and 21 families residing in the city. The population density was 113.2 people per square mile . There were 47 housing units at an average density of 71.0 per square mile...
  
  
• York
  York, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 26 people, 11 households, and 7 families residing in the city. The population density was 114.1 people per square mile . There were 32 housing units at an average density of 140.4 per square mile...
  
  

Note: all incorporated communities in North Dakota are called "cities" regardless of their size.

See also

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