Hillsboro, North Dakota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2010, there were 1,603 people, 679 households, and 414 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,460.6 people per square mile (564.0/km²). There were 727 housing units at an average density of 679.4 per square mile (262.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.82% White, 0.19% African American, 2.05% Native American, 2.11% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.93% of the population.
There were 679 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,516, and the median income for a family was $42,357. Males had a median income of $30,607 versus $19,769 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,976. About 6.6% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
. When local farmers have a bad harvest, the Hillsboro economy can also suffer. In turn, when the harvest is good, Hillsboro usually prospers. One of the more obvious effects the agricultural community has had on Hillsboro is found at the American Crystal Sugar sugar beet
plant directly north of town. The large plant, located on U.S. Highway 81, has been responsible for both an increase in population and a steady stream of available jobs during the last few decades that it has been open.
In recent years, Hillsboro has become a bedroom community for the Greater Grand Forks
and Fargo-Moorhead
metropolitan areas. This has led to an increase in both population and home construction. However, the local business community has, for the most part, not reaped the benefits of the growth. Many Hillsboro residents pass up Hillsboro stores and restaurants in favor of the better selections available in the Grand Forks
and Fargo
areas. The once bustling downtown area (centered at the intersection of Caledonia Avenue and Main Street) has become filled with empty storefronts.
Hillsboro High School's athletic teams are known as The Burros, which makes their mascot the donkey
. The high school does not offer Advanced Placement classes, but has a dual credit program through Lake Region State College
. These classes are worth college credit at most in-state colleges and universities.
In 2003, 40% of students met or exceeded grade-level standards in Math, and 76% of students met or exceeded grade-level standards in English, above-average when compared to the state average of 39% and 61%, respectively.
living in a penned in area of the park. The Goose River Golf Club sits directly north of town.
. The Banner has been published continuously since 1879, making it the oldest weekly newspaper in the state of North Dakota
. Hillsboro has no radio stations of its own. Nearby stations include KMAV 105.5 FM
and KMSR 1520 AM in nearby Mayville
and KRJB 106.3 FM in Ada, Minnesota
. Residents have access to radio stations and network affiliates from both Grand Forks
and Fargo
.
. The Interstate runs on the western edge of the community and there is an interchange (Caledonia Avenue) that connects the Interstate to Hillsboro. U.S. Highway 81 runs through the community and also connects Hillsboro to Grand Forks
and Fargo
.
Like so many towns in the American Midwest
, Hillsboro's streets are aligned in the grid pattern. In Hillsboro, routes that run north to south are called streets and routes that run east to west are called avenues.
The BNSF Railway
, eventual successor to the Great Northern, continues to maintain tracks in Hillsboro that see a variety of freight trains every day as well as Amtrak
's Empire Builder
, which passes through without stopping in the early morning hours.
The Hillsboro Municipal Airport
is a small airport south of town with a landing strip which provides an area for crop dusters or small private airplanes to stop. However, residents have to travel either to Grand Forks
or Fargo
in order to take regularly scheduled flights to major airports.
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 2010, there were 1,603 people, 679 households, and 414 families residing in the city. 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 1,460.6 people per square mile (564.0/km²). There were 727 housing units at an average density of 679.4 per square mile (262.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.82% White, 0.19% African American, 2.05% Native American, 2.11% 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 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.93% of the population.
There were 679 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% 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, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,516, and the median income for a family was $42,357. Males had a median income of $30,607 versus $19,769 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 city was $17,976. About 6.6% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The economy of Hillsboro, like so many other small, rural towns in North Dakota, is heavily dependent on agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. When local farmers have a bad harvest, the Hillsboro economy can also suffer. In turn, when the harvest is good, Hillsboro usually prospers. One of the more obvious effects the agricultural community has had on Hillsboro is found at the American Crystal Sugar sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
plant directly north of town. The large plant, located on U.S. Highway 81, has been responsible for both an increase in population and a steady stream of available jobs during the last few decades that it has been open.
In recent years, Hillsboro has become a bedroom community for the Greater Grand Forks
Greater Grand Forks
According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, the population of the Greater Grand Forks metro area was 97,260, of which 50.9% were male and 49.1% were female.-Age:* Under 5 years: 6.3%* 5–9 years: 5.5%* 10–14 years: 6.1%* 15–19 years: 9.6%...
and Fargo-Moorhead
Fargo-Moorhead
Fargo-Moorhead is a common name given to the metropolitan area comprising Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead, Minnesota, and the surrounding communities. These two cities lie on the North Dakota-Minnesota border, on opposite banks of the Red River of the North...
metropolitan areas. This has led to an increase in both population and home construction. However, the local business community has, for the most part, not reaped the benefits of the growth. Many Hillsboro residents pass up Hillsboro stores and restaurants in favor of the better selections available in the Grand Forks
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
and Fargo
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
areas. The once bustling downtown area (centered at the intersection of Caledonia Avenue and Main Street) has become filled with empty storefronts.
Education
The Hillsboro Public Schools system provides residents with an elementary school and a high school.Hillsboro High School's athletic teams are known as The Burros, which makes their mascot the donkey
Donkey
The donkey or ass, Equus africanus asinus, is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African Wild Ass, E...
. The high school does not offer Advanced Placement classes, but has a dual credit program through Lake Region State College
Lake Region State College
Lake Region State College is a 2-year public college in Devils Lake, North Dakota. It was founded in 1941 as an extension of the public school system and first known as Devils Lake Junior College and Business School. Several name changes have occurred over the years ranging from Lake Region...
. These classes are worth college credit at most in-state colleges and universities.
In 2003, 40% of students met or exceeded grade-level standards in Math, and 76% of students met or exceeded grade-level standards in English, above-average when compared to the state average of 39% and 61%, respectively.
High school championships
- State Class 'B' boys basketball: 1973, 1974, 1977, 1981
- State Class 'B' girls basketball: 1984
- State Class 'B' volleyball: 2000, 2006
- State Class 'B' boys baseball: 1967, 1968
- State Class 'B' girls gymnastics: 1977, 1981
- State 9-man football: 2008
Culture
Recreation
The city of Hillsboro operates a large park on the north side of town. Woodland City Park sits on the banks of the Goose River. It offers a public swimming pool and scenic views of a dam on the river. For many years, there has also been a group of deerDeer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
living in a penned in area of the park. The Goose River Golf Club sits directly north of town.
Media
The local paper is the weekly Hillsboro BannerHillsboro Banner
The Hillsboro Banner is a weekly newspaper published in Hillsboro, North Dakota in the United States. The Banner is the oldest weekly newspaper in the state of North Dakota. It was first published in 1879 and became the official newspaper of Hillsboro in 1894. The current circulation is around...
. The Banner has been published continuously since 1879, making it the oldest weekly newspaper in the state 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....
. Hillsboro has no radio stations of its own. Nearby stations include KMAV 105.5 FM
KMAV-FM
KMAV-FM is a radio station in Mayville, North Dakota, serving the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota with a country music format...
and KMSR 1520 AM in nearby Mayville
Mayville, North Dakota
Mayville is a city in Traill County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 1,858 at the 2010 census, which makes Mayville the largest community in Traill County. Mayville was founded in 1881....
and KRJB 106.3 FM in Ada, Minnesota
Ada, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,657 people, 749 households, and 432 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,234.4 people per square mile . There were 835 housing units at an average density of 622.1 per square mile...
. Residents have access to radio stations and network affiliates from both Grand Forks
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
and Fargo
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
.
Sites of interest
- The Plummer House - a historic 1897 mansion that has been converted to a museum and restored to its turn of the century elegance
- Pioneer Museum - museum complex featuring:
- Centennial Building - military, school, and pioneerSettlerA settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
collections - Pioneer Building - agriculture collection
- St. Olaf Chapel - newly constructed church that resembles small, rural Churches that typify the Red River Valley
- Log Cabin - a log cabinLog cabinA log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
built on the banks of the Red River of the NorthRed River of the NorthThe 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 the 1870s
Transportation
Residents of Hillsboro have easy access to major population centers via Interstate 29Interstate 29
Interstate 29 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. I-29 runs from Kansas City, Missouri, at a junction with Interstate 35 and Interstate 70 to the Canadian border near Pembina, North Dakota, where it connects with Manitoba Highway 75 via the short Manitoba Highway 29.-Route...
. The Interstate runs on the western edge of the community and there is an interchange (Caledonia Avenue) that connects the Interstate to Hillsboro. U.S. Highway 81 runs through the community and also connects Hillsboro to Grand Forks
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
and Fargo
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
.
Like so many towns in the American Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
, Hillsboro's streets are aligned in the grid pattern. In Hillsboro, routes that run north to south are called streets and routes that run east to west are called avenues.
The BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
, eventual successor to the Great Northern, continues to maintain tracks in Hillsboro that see a variety of freight trains every day as well as Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
, which passes through without stopping in the early morning hours.
The Hillsboro Municipal Airport
Hillsboro Municipal Airport (North Dakota)
Hillsboro Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Hillsboro, a city in Traill County, North Dakota, United States...
is a small airport south of town with a landing strip which provides an area for crop dusters or small private airplanes to stop. However, residents have to travel either to Grand Forks
Grand Forks International Airport
Grand Forks International Airport is a public airport located five miles northwest of the central business district of Grand Forks, a city in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States...
or Fargo
Hector International Airport
Hector International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Fargo, a city in Cass County, North Dakota, United States. It is owned by the City of Fargo Municipal Airport Authority.The airport was named after Martin...
in order to take regularly scheduled flights to major airports.
Notable people
- Elmore Y. SarlesElmore Y. SarlesElmore Yocum Sarles was an American politician who was the ninth Governor of North Dakota from 1905 to 1907. Born in Wonewoc, Wisconsin, Sarles arrived in Hillsboro, North Dakota in 1881 where he founded a bank and a lumberyard and became the mayor of Hillsboro. Sarles served one term as mayor and...
, 9th Governor of North Dakota.