Nelson County, North Dakota

2024 results by precinct

2 precincts · 1,761 votes cast

Trump · R+32

Harris +50

Trump +50

Real precinct boundaries. Hover for vote totals.

38 presidential elections

Year	Won	Margin	Democratic	Republican	Total
2024	R	−31.9%	580	1,141	1,761
2020	R	−31.2%	586	1,141	1,777
2016	R	−28.5%	536	1,025	1,717
2012	R	−5.8%	767	865	1,678
2008	D	+6.1%	907	800	1,752
2004	R	−17.1%	778	1,107	1,922
2000	R	−18.7%	687	1,031	1,840
1996	D	+4.6%	827	745	1,799
1992	R	−1.0%	841	864	2,206
1988	D	+3.3%	1,151	1,078	2,243
1984	R	−16.7%	1,026	1,445	2,513
1980	R	−34.1%	726	1,611	2,595
1976	D	+9.1%	1,610	1,336	3,015
1972	R	−8.8%	1,358	1,625	3,028
1968	R	−1.5%	1,477	1,526	3,162
1964	D	+33.0%	2,186	1,101	3,287
1960	R	−4.1%	1,783	1,934	3,719
1956	R	−0.7%	1,794	1,821	3,617
1952	R	−26.4%	1,418	2,443	3,880
1948	R	−1.2%	1,629	1,672	3,538
1944	D	+12.2%	1,925	1,506	3,441
1940	D	+13.3%	2,435	1,859	4,316
1936	D	+43.5%	2,954	1,002	4,491
1932	D	+53.7%	3,176	956	4,132
1928	R	−20.9%	1,542	2,364	3,928
1924	R	−44.1%	175	1,697	3,449
1920	R	−71.0%	501	3,127	3,701
1916	R	−7.6%	861	1,013	1,987
1912	D	+4.6%	526	448	1,701
1908	R	−31.7%	616	1,225	1,920
1904	R	−54.9%	340	1,284	1,721
1900	R	−25.8%	576	994	1,623
1896	R	−1.1%	603	616	1,221
1892	R	−46.1%	0	460	998
1888	—	No data	—	—	—
1884	—	No data	—	—	—
1880	—	No data	—	—	—
1876	—	No data	—	—	—

Demographics

Race, ethnicity, and ancestry

Click any group to see the ancestries typically reported within it.

American

100.0%

Sample size too small to break out by ancestry reliably.

Multiple ancestry combinations reported; no single grouping above 1%.

Sample size too small to break out by ancestry reliably.

American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander combined.

Source · American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2024 release. Ancestry is a self-reported, multiple-response item; ancestry percentages do not sum to the parent race percentage.

Age distribution by sex

Median age: 50.1 in this county, 39.1 nationally

Male

Age

Female

1.5%

85+

4.0%

4.4%

75–84

3.2%

8.2%

65–74

7.0%

9.2%

55–64

8.1%

4.7%

45–54

4.7%

5.4%

35–44

4.4%

6.1%

25–34

3.8%

1.5%

18–24

3.1%

7.5%

5–17

8.6%

2.2%

2.5%

Source · American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2024 release.

Median household income

2024 inflation-adjusted dollars

$67,193

Nelson County ranks near the middle of US counties.

Nelson County$67,193

North Dakota$76,657

United States$80,734

Source · American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2024 release.

Poverty rate

All persons below federal poverty line

7.2%

Children face moderate poverty.

Children under 1818.0%

Working age (18–64)100.0%

Seniors (65+)18.0%

Source · American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2024 release.

Language at home

Population aged 5 and older

0.0%

speak English only

Source · ACS 5-year estimates, 2024.

Religious adherents

Adherents per capita by tradition

Mainline Protestant

71.4%

Catholic & Orthodox

20.7%

Other Christian

2.7%

Source · 2020 US Religion Census. Remaining 5.2% of residents not counted as adherents by any reporting body.

Nelson County's population has declined steadily for decades, leaving fewer than four residents per square mile across its rolling farmland. That rural depopulation pattern tracks closely with its consistent, wide Republican presidential margins.

The Republican margin in Nelson County reached its widest at seventy-one points in 1920. The margin in 2024 was thirty-two points, in line with the county's deep historical pattern.

Nelson County's loyalty is rooted in its place. Median household income of $67,193, a 93% non-Hispanic-white share, and a population of 3,016 together describe a community whose political habits are deeply settled. The county's voting pattern over the last decade is most similar to that of Polk County and Washington County.

Most similar counties

Nelson County has voted Republican for as long as anyone can remember.