The territory of Grant County was part of Morton County until 1916. On November 7 the county voters determined that the SW portion of the county would be partitioned off to form a new county, to be named after Ulysses S. Grant, the US President from 1869 to 1877. Accordingly, the county government was organized on November 28, with Carson as the seat. The county's boundaries have remained unchanged since its creation.
Geography
The Heart River flows eastward through the upper part of Grant County, and Cedar Creek flows east-northeastward along the county's southern boundary line. The county terrain consists of isolated hills among rolling hills, carved by drainages. The semi-arid ground is partially devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east and south; its highest point is a rise near its SW corner, at 2,680' ASL. The county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. Lake Tschida, a Bureau of Reclamationreservoir and recreation area on the Heart River, is the county's largest body of water. The SW corner of North Dakota observes Mountain Time. The counties of McKenzie, Dunn, and Sioux counties are split, with the western portions observing Mountain Time.
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 2,841 people, 1,195 households, and 800 families in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile. There were 1,722 housing units at an average density of 1.04 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 96.90% White, 1.72% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 73.7% were of German, 7.9% Norwegian and 5.2% American ancestry. There were 1,195 households out of which 25.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 3.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90. The county population contained 23.40% under the age of 18, 4.30% from 18 to 24, 20.50% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 24.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 104.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males. The median income for a household in the county was $23,165, and the median income for a family was $30,625. Males had a median income of $21,537 versus $17,949 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,616. About 14.70% of families and 20.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 20.90% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 2,394 people, 1,128 households, and 694 families in the county. The population density was. There were 1,690 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 97.2% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 66.6% were German, 14.0% were Norwegian, 12.5% were Russian, 5.9% were Irish, 5.5% were English, and 2.2% were American. Of the 1,128 households, 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.5% were non-families, and 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 51.7 years. The median income for a household in the county was $39,500 and the median income for a family was $53,542. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $27,303 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,840. About 7.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
