Editing Pembina County, North Dakota

{{Short description|County in North Dakota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county             = Pembina County
 | state              = North Dakota
 | ex image           = Pembina County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size      = 300px
 | ex image cap       = [[Pembina County Courthouse]] before 1920
 | type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | flag               = 
 | seal               = 
 | logo               = 
 | coordinates        = {{Coord|48.766896|-97.545405|region:US-ND_type:county|display=inline,title}}
 | founded            = January 9, 1867 (created)<br>August 12, 1867 (organized)
 | named for          = a Chippewa term
 | seat wl            = Cavalier
 | largest city wl    = Cavalier
 | area_total_sq_mi   = 1121.241
 | area_land_sq_mi    = 1118.535
 | area_water_sq_mi   = 2.706
 | area percentage    = 0.24%
 | population_as_of   = 2020
 | population_total   = 6844
 | pop_est_as_of      = 2024
 | population_est     = 6588 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi      = 5.889
 | time zone          = Central
 | area codes         = [[Area code 701|701]]
 | district           = At-large
 | website            = {{URL|https://www.pembinacountynd.gov/|pembinacountynd.gov}}
 | footnote           = 
}}

'''Pembina County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Dakota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 6,844,<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Pembina_County,_North_Dakota?g=050XX00US38067 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref> and was estimated to be 6,588 in 2024,<ref name="QF"/> The [[county seat]] and the largest city is [[Cavalier, North Dakota|Cavalier]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Find a County |url=https://ce.naco.org/?find=true |publisher=[[National Association of Counties]] |access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Dr. Charles Boarman Harris.jpg|thumb|Frontier doctor Dr. [[Charles Boarman Harris]], one of the original pioneers to settle in Pembina, was the first county physician. He delivered over 3,000 babies born in the region between 1882 and 1942.]]
For thousands of years, various [[indigenous peoples]] inhabited the area along the Pembina and [[Red River of the North|Red rivers]]. At the time of European contact in the 16th century, the dominant tribes were the [[Assiniboine people|Assiniboine]] and the [[Lakota people|Lakota]] (or [[Sioux]], as the French colonists called them). The [[Ojibwe]], also known as Chippewa, 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 in Canada|First Nations]] group in Canada called the ''[[Métis]]''. The Ojibwe and Métis generally supported the French forces during the [[Seven Years' War]] in the mid-eighteenth century against [[Kingdom of Great Britain|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
<blockquote>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 [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]], and the immense plains which feed innumerable herds of [[bison]] 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.<ref>[http://tmbci.net/wordpress/?page_id=254 About US: "Move to the Plains"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310140425/http://tmbci.net/wordpress/?page_id=254 |date=March 10, 2011}}, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, accessed June 27, 2011</ref></blockquote>

The Métis used two-wheeled ox-drawn carts to transport furs to market along the [[Red River Trails]], between what is now [[Winnipeg]], Canada and [[Mendota, Minnesota|Mendota]] or [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]], Minnesota. They also used ox-carts to transport food and shelter during extended [[American Bison|buffalo]] hunts.

Over time, the Ojibwe 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.

The precursor to Pembina County was a county of the same name in the [[Minnesota Territory]], extending from the Upper Mississippi River to the western boundary of the territory. When Minnesota became a state in 1858, its western boundary was set at the Red River, and the land to its west was unorganized. A new Pembina County was established as part of the [[Dakota Territory]] in 1867. At the time it was a large territory, and in 1871 it was expanded to include much of the territory in what is now eastern North Dakota from [[Canada]] to the [[South Dakota]] border.

The [[Dakota Territory]] legislature created Pembina County on January 9, 1867, from previously unorganized territory. Its government was organized on August 12 of that same year. It was named for a [[Chippewa]] term for stab or stabbing.<ref>[https://file.io/lmeKy4 Ojibwe People's Dictionary]{{Dead link|date=December 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}, University of Minnesota</ref> [[Pembina, North Dakota|Pembina]], the oldest European-American settlement in the future state, was the county seat. In 1911 the seat was relocated to [[Cavalier, North Dakota|Cavalier]].<ref name=wick>{{cite book|author=Wick, Douglas A.|title=North Dakota Place Names|year=1988|publisher=Hedemarken Collectibles|location=Bismarck ND|isbn=0-9620968-0-6|oclc=191277027}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=County History |url=https://www.nd.gov/government/state-government/county-history |website=www.nd.gov |publisher=State of North Dakota |access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref>

The county boundaries were altered in 1871, 1873, 1881, and 1887. It has retained its present boundaries since 1887. Between 1873 and 1881, eleven new counties were created from Pembina, including [[Cass County, North Dakota|Cass County]] and [[Grand Forks County, North Dakota|Grand Forks County]]. Pembina took its current form in 1887, when [[Cavalier County, North Dakota|Cavalier County]] was increased in size.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies |url=https://publications.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/DAKs_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |website=publications.newberry.org |publisher=The [[Newberry Library]] |date=2006 |access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref>

[[Icelandic State Park]] is 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]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Sveinbjorn|editor=Libby, Orin Grant|title=The Icelandic Settlement of Pembina County|series=Collections of the State Historical Society of North Dakota|publisher=Tribune, State Printers and Binders|year=1906|location=Bismarck ND| volume=1|pages=89–130|oclc=01773487}}</ref>

[[File:Map of Pembina County, N.D., 1909.jpg|thumb|Outline map of Pembina County, North Dakota, 1909]]

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 Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|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 [[Reykjavík]]; Gardar was named for [[Gardar Svavarsson]], who was reportedly the first Scandinavian to visit [[Iceland]]; and [[Hallsson, North Dakota|Hallsson]] was named for an early settler, Johann P. Hallson.<ref name=barnes>{{cite book|last=Williams|first=Mary Ann (Barnes)|title=Origins of North Dakota Place Names|publisher=Bismarck Tribune, 1966|location=Bismarck ND|year=1966|oclc=431626}}</ref>

Icelandic State Park was established to preserve evidence of this early pioneer heritage.<ref>{{cite book|last=North Dakota Secretary of State |title=North Dakota Centennial Blue Book |publisher=North Dakota Legislative Assembly |year=1989 |location=Bismarck, ND |pages=539 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HZKEOgAACAAJ}}</ref>

==Geography==
Pembina County lies at the northeastern corner of North Dakota. Its northern boundary line abuts the southern boundary line of [[Canada]] and its eastern boundary line abuts the western boundary line of the state of [[Minnesota]] (across the [[Red River of the North|Red River]], which flows northward along the county's eastern boundary line). The [[Pembina River (Manitoba – North Dakota)|Pembina River]] flows eastward through the upper portion of the county, discharging into the Red River near the northeastern county corner. The [[Tongue River (North Dakota)|Tongue River]] flows northeastward through the upper portion of the county, discharging into the Pembina shortly before the Pembina joins the Red River. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, etched by river drainages. The area is devoted to agriculture.<ref name=PCND>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pembina+County,+ND/@48.7715494,-97.8013719,98326m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x52c3eeb4edb50267:0x196f72bd700c1db1!8m2!3d48.7199939!4d-97.4487964 ''Pembina County ND''  Google Maps (accessed February 26, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and north; its highest point is on the lower western boundary line, at {{convert|1302|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Pembina County ND" Google Maps (accessed February 26, 2019) |access-date=February 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1121.241|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1118.535|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.706|sqmi}} (0.24%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 County Gazetteer Files – North Dakota|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_counties_38.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref> It is the 32nd largest county in North Dakota by total area.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pembina County, North Dakota |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/geo/chart/pembinacountynorthdakota/LND110220 |website=www.census.gov |access-date=May 9, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The [[List of U.S. states by elevation|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 the [[Canada–United States border|Canada–US border]] of [[Manitoba]].

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Image:I-29.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 29 in North Dakota|Interstate 29]]
* [[Image:US 81.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 81 in North Dakota|U.S. Highway 81]]
* [[Image:ND-5 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 5]]
* [[Image:ND-18 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 18]]
* [[Image:ND-32 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 32]]
* [[Image:ND-44 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 44]]
* [[Image:ND-66 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 66]]
* [[Image:ND-89 (2015).svg|25px]] [[North Dakota Highway 89]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties and rural municipalities===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Rural Municipality of Stanley]], Manitoba, Canada - northwest
* [[Municipality of Rhineland]], Manitoba, Canada - north
* [[Rural Municipality of Montcalm]], Manitoba, Canada - northeast
* [[Kittson County, Minnesota]] - east
* [[Marshall County, Minnesota]] - southeast
* [[Walsh County, North Dakota|Walsh County]] - south
* [[Cavalier County, North Dakota|Cavalier County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
Source:<ref name=PCND/>
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Frost Fire Ski and Snow Board Area]]
* Houghton National Wildlife Management Area
* [[Icelandic State Park]]
* Juhl National Wildlife Management Area
* McDonald National Wildlife Management Area
* [[Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area]]
* Pembina Prairie National Wildlife Management Area
* Tetrault State Forest (part)
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 1213
|1880= 4862
|1890= 14334
|1900= 17869
|1910= 14749
|1920= 15177
|1930= 14757
|1940= 15671
|1950= 13990
|1960= 12946
|1970= 10728
|1980= 10399
|1990= 9238
|2000= 8585
|2010= 7413
|2020= 6844
|estyear=2024
|estimate=6588
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=May 7, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014}}</ref><br>1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |publisher=University of Virginia Library |url-status=live |date=2007 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212224028/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|last=Forstall |first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nd190090.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=live |date=April 20, 1995 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219135447/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nd190090.txt |archive-date=February 19, 1999}}</ref><br>1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Pembina County was $123,544.<ref>{{Cite web|title=County Median Home Price|url=https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/county-median-home-prices-and-monthly-mortgage-payment|publisher=[[National Association of Realtors]]|access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref>

As of the 2023 [[American Community Survey]], there are 2,959 estimated households in Pembina County with an average of 2.23 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $66,884. Approximately 8.9% of the county's population lives at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]]. Pembina County has an estimated 58.5% employment rate, with 22.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 91.9% holding a high school diploma.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pembina County, North Dakota |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pembinacountynorthdakota/PST045224 |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The median age in the county was 45.5 years.

'''Pembina County, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 1980<ref name=1980CensusScope>{{Cite web|title=Pembina County, North Dakota — Population by Race |url=https://censusscope.org/us/s38/c67/chart_race.html |publisher=CensusScope |access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref> !! Pop. 1990<ref name="Census 1990">{{cite web|title=1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics North Dakota |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/ch-1/ch-1-36.pdf |website=www.census.gov |date=October 6, 2022 |page=20 |access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref> !! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Pembina County, North Dakota |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=050XX00US38067 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref> !! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pembina County, North Dakota |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US38067&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref> !! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pembina County, North Dakota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US38067&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 9, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 10,188<br>(97.97%) || 8,978<br>(97.19%) || 8,058<br>(93.86%) || 6,947<br>(93.71%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |6,096<br>(89.07%)
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 5<br>(0.05%) || 14<br>(0.15%) || 12<br>(0.14%) || 21<br>(0.28%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |27<br>(0.39%)
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 50<br>(0.48%) || 146<br>(1.58%) || 121<br>(1.41%) || 143<br>(1.93%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |133<br>(1.94%)
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 23<br>(0.22%) || 12<br>(0.13%) || 18<br>(0.21%) || 11<br>(0.15%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |27<br>(0.39%)
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| — || — || 0<br>(0.00%) || 2<br>(0.03%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |0<br>(0.00%)
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 7<br>(0.07%) || 1<br>(0.01%) || 4<br>(0.05%) || 3<br>(0.04%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |22<br>(0.32%)
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| — || — || 108<br>(1.26%) || 96<br>(1.30%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |296<br>(4.32%)
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 126<br>(1.21%) || 87<br>(0.94%) || 264<br>(3.08%) || 190<br>(2.56%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |243<br>(3.55%)
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''10,399<br>(100.00%)''' || '''9,238<br>(100.00%)''' || '''8,585<br>(100.00%)''' || '''7,413<br>(100.00%)''' || style='background: #ffffe6; |'''6,844<br>(100.00%)'''
|}

===2023 estimate===
As of the 2023 estimate, there were 6,661 people and 2,959 households residing in the county. There were 3,496 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3.13|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% White ''(88.7% NH White)'', 1.0% African American, 2.7% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.9% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-detail.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |website=www.census.gov |access-date=May 9, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 6,844 people, 3,003 households, and 1,872 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Pembina%20County,%20North%20Dakota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=May 7, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|6.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,499 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3.13|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 90.20% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.42% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.97% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.39% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.00% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.11% from some other races and 5.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 3.55% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Pembina County, North Dakota |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/pembina-county-north-dakota/050-38067/ |access-date=May 9, 2025 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 7,413 people, 3,257 households, and 2,069 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|6.62|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,859 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3.45|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.47% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.28% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.94% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.78% from some other races and 1.35% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 2.56% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 33.8% were [[Germans|German]], 21.3% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 10.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 9.5% were [[English people|English]], 8.0% were [[Americans|American]], and 5.5% were [[Swedes|Swedish]].

There were 3,257 households, 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.5% were non-families, and 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 46.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,502 and the median income for a family was $61,804. Males had a median income of $40,334 versus $29,662 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,019. About 4.0% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

===Population by decade===
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  bar:2010 from: 0 till:7413
  bar:2020 from: 0 till:6844
  bar:2024 from: 0 till:6588 color:darkblue

PlotData=

  bar:1870 at:1213 fontsize:M text:1,213 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1880 at:4862 fontsize:M text:4,862 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1890 at:14334 fontsize:M text:14,334 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1900 at:17869 fontsize:L text:17,869 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1910 at:14749 fontsize:M text:14,749 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1920 at:15177 fontsize:M text:15,177 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1930 at:14757 fontsize:M text:14,757 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1940 at:15671 fontsize:M text:15,671 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1950 at:13990 fontsize:M text:13,990 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1960 at:12946 fontsize:M text:12,946 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1970 at:10728 fontsize:M text:10,728 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1980 at:10399 fontsize:M text:10,399 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:1990 at:9238 fontsize:M text:9,238 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:2000 at:8585 fontsize:M text:8,585 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:2010 at:7413 fontsize:M text:7,413 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:2020 at:6844 fontsize:M text:6,844 shift:(-16,5)
  bar:2024 at:6588 fontsize:L text:6,588 shift:(-16,5)

TextData=
  fontsize:S pos:(20,20)
  text:Data from U.S. Census Bureau
</timeline>

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Bathgate, North Dakota|Bathgate]]
* [[Canton City, North Dakota|Canton City]]
* [[Cavalier, North Dakota|Cavalier]] (county seat)
* [[Crystal, North Dakota|Crystal]]
* [[Drayton, North Dakota|Drayton]]
* [[Hamilton, North Dakota|Hamilton]]
* [[Mountain, North Dakota|Mountain]]
* [[Neche, North Dakota|Neche]]
* [[Pembina, North Dakota|Pembina]]
* [[St. Thomas, North Dakota|St. Thomas]]
* [[Walhalla, North Dakota|Walhalla]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Backoo, North Dakota|Backoo]]
* [[Gardar, North Dakota|Gardar]]
* [[Glasston, North Dakota|Glasston]]
* [[Hallson, North Dakota|Hallson]]
* [[Joliette, North Dakota|Joliette]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=16em}}
* [[Advance Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Advance]]
* [[Akra Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Akra]]
* [[Bathgate Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Bathgate]]
* [[Beaulieu Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Beaulieu]]
* [[Carlisle Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Carlisle]]
* [[Cavalier Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Cavalier]]
* [[Crystal Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Crystal]]
* [[Drayton Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Drayton]]
* [[Elora Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Elora]]
* [[Felson Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Felson]]
* [[Gardar Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Gardar]]
* [[Hamilton Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Hamilton]]
* [[Joliette Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Joliette]]
* [[La Moure Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|La Moure]]
* [[Lincoln Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Lincoln]]
* [[Lodema Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Lodema]]
* [[Midland Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Midland]]
* [[Neche Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Neche]]
* [[Park Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Park]]
* [[Pembina Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Pembina]]
* [[Saint Joseph Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|St. Joseph]]
* [[Saint Thomas Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|St. Thomas]]
* [[Thingvalla Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Thingvalla]]
* [[Walhalla Township, Pembina County, North Dakota|Walhalla]]
{{div col end}}

===American Indian reservations===
* [[Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians]]
* [[Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians]]

===Ghost Town===
* [[Bowesmont, North Dakota|Bowesmont]]
* [[Concrete, North Dakota|Concrete]]

==Politics==
Pembina County voters have traditionally backed the Republican Party. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
{{PresHead|place=Pembina County, North Dakota|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,350|704|58|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,460|786|85|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,208|681|264|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,899|1,253|103|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,722|1,494|91|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,466|1,321|69|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,430|1,093|256|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,678|1,191|425|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,917|1,186|1,024|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,471|1,616|62|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,895|1,367|125|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,101|1,239|378|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,810|2,274|125|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,317|1,801|85|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,574|1,686|336|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,961|3,198|8|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,348|2,460|2|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,077|1,887|13|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,012|1,891|41|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,406|2,666|83|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,410|2,903|48|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,924|3,711|20|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,040|4,139|302|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,911|3,636|43|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,324|2,141|7|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,783|588|1,344|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,925|1,405|29|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,469|1,400|28|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|615|975|895|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,389|1,185|69|North Dakota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,870|743|58|North Dakota}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Republican|1,732|1,321|77|North Dakota}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Pembina County, North Dakota]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.pembinacountynd.gov/ Pembina County official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100614051344/http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/parks/isp.htm Icelandic State Park]
* [http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16921coll1/id/1644 Pembina County, North Dakota in the World War (1919)] from the [http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/ Digital Horizons website]
* [http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16921coll1/id/1175 Homestead maps of Pembina County] from the [http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/ Digital Horizons website]
* [http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16921coll1/id/1725/rec/28 Pembina's pride-? : our rambling court house : new county buildings--where? (1910)] from the [http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/ Digital Horizons website]
* Pembina County maps, [https://www.dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/pembina_sheet1.pdf Sheet 1] (northern) and [https://www.dot.nd.gov/docs/maps/base-maps/counties/pembina_sheet2.pdf Sheet 2] (southern), ''North Dakota DOT''

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Pembina County, North Dakota
|Northwest = [[Rural Municipality of Stanley]], [[Manitoba]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|North     = [[Municipality of Rhineland]], [[Manitoba]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|Northeast = [[Rural Municipality of Montcalm]] / [[Municipality of Emerson – Franklin]], [[Manitoba]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|East      = [[Kittson County, Minnesota]]
|Southeast = [[Marshall County, Minnesota]]
|South     = [[Walsh County, North Dakota|Walsh County]]
|West      = [[Cavalier County, North Dakota|Cavalier County]]
}}

{{Pembina County, North Dakota}}
{{North Dakota}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pembina County, North Dakota| ]]
[[Category:North Dakota placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Icelandic-American culture in North Dakota]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in Dakota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1867]]