Fort Ransom, North Dakota

Fort Ransom is a city in Ransom County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 77 at the 2010 census.[5] Fort Ransom was founded in 1880.

Fort Ransom, North Dakota
City
Fort Ransom Community Hall
Location of Fort Ransom, North Dakota
Coordinates: 46°31′16″N 97°55′45″W
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
County	Ransom
Area [1]
• Total	0.31 sq mi (0.80 km^2)
• Land	0.31 sq mi (0.80 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	1,135 ft (346 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	77
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	75
• Density	243.51/sq mi (94.09/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	58033
Area code(s)	701
FIPS code	38-27580
GNIS feature ID	1029016[4]

Geography

Fort Ransom is located at 46°31′16″N 97°55′45″W (46.521154, -97.929141).[6] Fort Ransom is located in the Sheyenne River valley. Fort Ransom State Park is located nearby.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.30 square miles (0.78 km²), all of it land.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1980	99		—
1990	111		12.1%
2000	70		−36.9%
2010	77		10.0%
Est. 2019	75	[3]	−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 2018 Estimate[9]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 77 people, 43 households, and 25 families residing in the city. The population density was 256.7 inhabitants per square mile (99.1/km²). There were 64 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile (82.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 43 households, of which 7.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 2.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.9% were non-families. 41.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.79 and the average family size was 2.32.

The median age in the city was 59.8 years. 5.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 7.8% were from 25 to 44; 44.2% were from 45 to 64; and 39% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 70 people, 37 households, and 19 families residing in the city. The population density was 233.1 people per square mile (90.1/km²). There were 44 housing units at an average density of 146.5 per square mile (56.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White.

There were 37 households, out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. 48.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 27.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 37.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,375, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,242. There were 11.8% of families and 11.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 17.4% of those over 64.

History

The Fort Ransom Military Post was established in 1867. It was built to protect settlers and railroad workers who were working on the Northern Pacific Railroad between Fargo and Bismarck. It was named for distinguished Civil War veteran Major General Thomas E.G. Ransom. The fort was built on top of Grizzly Bear Hill, a site chosen by Brigadier General Alfred H. Terry.

Fort Ransom was dismantled in 1872 and the materials were used to build Fort Seward at Jamestown, North Dakota in Stutsman County. The army had determined that protection of the Northern Pacific Railroad crew at the James River crossing was a higher priority than protecting the overland route. The final disposition of the military reservation took place on July 14, 1880, when it was turned over to the Department of Interior for survey and sale to homesteaders.[10]

The original site of the fort is located to the southwest of the town of Fort Ransom and 3 miles south of Fort Ransom State Park.

Notable people

• Carleton Opgaard, founding president of Vancouver Island University

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
8. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved January 30, 2014.
9. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-01-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)