Sioux County, North Dakota
Sioux County is a county located along the southern border of the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,898, and was estimated to be 3,713 in 2024. Its eastern border is the Missouri River and the county seat is Fort Yates.
History
The county was created by proclamation of Governor Louis B. Hanna on September 3, 1914. It was named for the Native American Lakota, whose historic territory included this area. The county government organization was completed on September 12 of that year. The county lies entirely within the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, forming the northernmost 30 percent of the reservation; the balance of the reservation is in South Dakota. It is the only county in North Dakota that is entirely within an Indian reservation. From 2013 to 2018, Sioux County was included in the Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area.Geography
Sioux County lies on the south line of North Dakota. Its south boundary line abuts the north boundary line of the state of South Dakota. Its north boundary line is formed by the east-northeastward-flowing Cedar Creek, which discharges into the Missouri River at the county's northeast corner, and its east boundary line is formed by the south-southeast-flowing Missouri River, which also forms Lake Oahe along the county boundary line. Porcupine Creek flows southeastward into the Missouri River, draining the northeastern part of the county. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills etched with gullies and drainages; the area is mostly devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest point is on the west line, near the southwestern corner of the county, at ASL.According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the 34th largest county in North Dakota by total area.
The southwest corner counties of North Dakota observe Mountain Time. The counties of McKenzie, Dunn, and Sioux are split, observing Mountain Time in their western portions.
Major highways
- North Dakota Highway 6
- North Dakota Highway 24
- North Dakota Highway 31
- North Dakota Highway 49
- North Dakota Highway 1806
Adjacent counties
- Morton County - north
- Emmons County - east
- Corson County, South Dakota - south
- Adams County - west
- Grant County - northwest
Protected areas
Source:- Cedar River National Grassland
- Froelich Dam State Game Management Area
Demographics
Recent estimates
As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Sioux County was $92,605.As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 1,067 estimated households in Sioux County with an average of 3.50 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $41,676. Approximately 34.9% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Sioux County has an estimated 50.9% employment rate, with 11.2% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 86.9% holding a high school diploma.
The top five reported ancestries were English, Spanish, Indo-European, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Other.
Race and ethnicity
Sioux County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition| Race / ethnicity | Pop. 1980 | Pop. 1990 | Pop. 2000 | Pop. 2010 | |
| White alone | 1,265 | 905 | 577 | 517 | 401 |
| Black or African American alone | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone | 2,329 | 2,812 | 3,365 | 3,433 | 3,281 |
| Asian alone | 5 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Pacific Islander alone | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Other race alone | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mixed race or multiracial | — | — | 33 | 111 | 148 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21 | 29 | 65 | 82 | 63 |
| Total | 3,620 | 3,761 | 4,044 | 4,153 | 3,898 |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 3,898 people, 1,103 households, and 791 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 1,277 housing units at an average density of.Of the residents, 34.7% were under the age of 18 and 9.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females there were 102.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.6 males.
The racial makeup of the county was 10.3% White, 0.1% [African Americans|American (U.S. census)|African American], 85.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.
There were 1,103 households in the county, of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 35.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Of the 1,277 housing units, 13.6% were vacant; of the occupied units, 46.7% were owner-occupied and 53.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 4,153 people, 1,158 households, and 900 families in the county. The population density was. There were 1,311 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 12.64% White, 0.17% African American, '[Native American (U.S. Census)|]', 0.10% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from some other races and 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.61% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 13.5% were German, and 0.3% were American.Of the 1,158 households, 54.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% were married couples living together, 31.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 22.3% were non-families, and 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.55 and the average family size was 3.89. The median age was 26.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,990 and the median income for a family was $31,098. Males had a median income of $31,894 versus $26,619 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,542. About 39.0% of families and 47.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 58.4% of those under age 18 and 36.1% of those age 65 or over.
Population by decade
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Communities
Cities
Census-designated places
Township
- Menz