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 5,102 people, 2,215 households, and 1,453 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 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,643 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.12% 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...

, 0.14% 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...

 or 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...

, 0.24% 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...

, 0.24% 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...

, 0.02% 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 0.25% from two or more races. 0.29% 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. 59.5% were of German and 24.1% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,215 households out of which 25.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% 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, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 32.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 26.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,894, and the median income for a family was $39,284. Males had a median income of $27,277 versus $16,810 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 $17,932. About 10.30% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

• Bowdon
  Bowdon, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 139 people, 83 households, and 43 families residing in the city. The population density was 544.4 people per square mile . There were 104 housing units at an average density of 407.3 per square mile...
  
  
• Cathay
  Cathay, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 56 people, 21 households, and 14 families residing in the city. The population density was 305.9 people per square mile . There were 37 housing units at an average density of 202.1 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.21% White, and 1.79% from...
  
  
• Fessenden
  Fessenden, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 625 people, 279 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,378.4 people per square mile . There were 306 housing units at an average density of 674.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.20% White, 0.32%...
  
  
• Hamberg
  Hamberg, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 28 people, 13 households, and 6 families residing in the city. The population density was 72.3 people per square mile . There were 15 housing units at an average density of 38.7 per square mile...
  
  
• Harvey
  Harvey, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 1,989 people, 926 households, and 529 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,031.8 people per square mile . There were 1,056 housing units at an average density of 547.8 per square mile...
  
  
• Hurdsfield
  Hurdsfield, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 91 people, 43 households, and 27 families residing in the city. The population density was 318.5 people per square mile . There were 65 housing units at an average density of 227.5 per square mile...
  
  
• Sykeston
  Sykeston, North Dakota
  As of the census of 2000, there were 153 people, 74 households, and 40 families residing in the city. The population density was 407.8 people per square mile . There were 95 housing units at an average density of 253.2 per square mile...
  
  

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

Unincorporated communities

• Bremen
  Bremen, North Dakota
  Bremen is an unincorporated community in northeastern Wells County, North Dakota, United States. It lies northeast of the city of Fessenden, the county seat of Wells County. Its elevation is 1,549 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 58319....
  
  
• Chaseley
  Chaseley, North Dakota
  Chaseley is an unincorporated community in southwestern Wells County, North Dakota, United States. It lies along North Dakota Highway 200 southwest of the city of Fessenden, the county seat of Wells County. Its elevation is 1,867 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office,...
  
  
• Heaton

See also

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

External links

• Wells County official website