North Dakota is the third most sparsely populated state in the US, with an average of just under 11 people per square mile. This means that if you were to take the state’s population of just over 700,000 people and spread them evenly across the state’s 70,000 square miles, you would only have 10 people per square mile.
In comparison, the most densely populated state is New Jersey, with an average of over 1,200 people per square mile. This means that if you took the state’s population of just over 8 million people and spread them evenly across the state’s 8,700 square miles, you would have over 950 people per square mile.
So, why is North Dakota so sparsely populated? There are a few reasons. First, the state is located in the upper Midwest, which is generally less populous than the rest of the country. Second, the state has a relatively small land area compared to other states, so there are fewer people to spread out across the state. Finally, the state’s economy is largely based on agriculture and natural resources, which don’t tend to attract as many people as other industries.
Despite its low population density, North Dakota is home to some of the country’s most iconic landmarks, including the Badlands, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and the Maah Daah Hey Trail. So, even though you might not run into too many people while exploring the state, you’re sure to run into some amazing scenery.
We all know that North Dakota is pretty rural. But just how rural is it, exactly?
Well, according to the most recent census data, North Dakota is the 4th least densely populated state in the country, with just 9.7 people per square mile.
To put that into perspective, the average density of the United States is 87.4 people per square mile. So, in North Dakota, you’re looking at about 1/9th of the average density.
What does that mean in terms of actual numbers?
Well, if you were to take the population of North Dakota (755,393 according to the 2010 census) and divide it by the number of square miles in the state (70,698), you’d get an average density of 10.7 people per square mile.
However, that number is a bit misleading, because it doesn’t take into account the fact that the population is not evenly distributed across the state.
For example, the city of Fargo has a population density of 2,138 people per square mile. But, if you take a look at the rest of the state, the average density drops to just 7.8 people per square mile.
In fact, if you take out the five largest cities in North Dakota (Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and West Fargo), the average density of the state plummets to just 6.4 people per square mile.
So, what does all of this mean?
Well, it means that North Dakota is a very rural state. In fact, it’s one of the most rural states in the country.
If you’re looking for a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, North Dakota is definitely the place for you.