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Dickinson, North Dakota
Downtown Dickinson (2008)
Dickinson State Normal School Campus District
Elks Club and Store Building–Dickinson Lodge No. 1137
Official logo of Dickinson, North Dakota
Nickname(s): 
Queen City
Location of Dickinson, North Dakota
Location of Dickinson, North Dakota
Country United States
State North Dakota
County Stark
Founded 1881
Incorporated May 30, 1883
Government
 • Type City Commission
Area
 • City 13.267 sq mi (34.361 km2)
 • Land 13.200 sq mi (34.188 km2)
 • Water 0.067 sq mi (0.174 km2)
Elevation
2,461 ft (750 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 25,679
 • Estimate 
(2022)
24,979
 • Density 1,892/sq mi (730.6/km2)
 • Urban
25,674
 • Urban density 2,095/sq mi (808.7/km2)
 • Metro
38,054
 • Metro density 8.47/sq mi (3.271/km2)
Time zone UTC–7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC–6 (MDT)
ZIP Codes
58601, 58602
Area code(s) 701
FIPS code 38-19620
GNIS feature ID 1035991
Sales tax 6.5%
Highways I-94, I-94 Bus., ND 22

Dickinson is a city in and the county seat of Stark County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 25,679 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 24,979 in 2022, making it the 7th most populous city in North Dakota. Dickinson is home to the Ukrainian Cultural Institute, which has a museum and holds events year round for the local Ukrainian community. Western North Dakota has a high concentration of people of Ukrainian descent.

Since the North Dakota oil boom the city has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. According to the 2020 census, the city is estimated to have a population of 25,679, however, other sources have estimates of the population at 33,646 or possibly exceeding 35,000. The rapid growth of the city has led to an increase in crime and homelessness within the city limits.

Dickinson is the principal city of the Dickinson Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Billings and Stark counties and had a combined population of 34,591 at the 2020 census.

History

Dickinson was founded in 1881. Dickinson was named for its founder, W. S. Dickinson, a native of Malone, New York.

In 1924, Dickinson was the site of a tornado that killed nine people, making it the fourth deadliest tornado in North Dakota's recorded history. Dickinson was the site of an EF3 tornado in 2009 that damaged more than 450 homes and businesses, with 100 beyond repair, but with no injuries or casualties.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.267 square miles (34.36 km2), of which 13.200 square miles (34.19 km2) is land and 0.067 square miles (0.17 km2) is water. Dickinson's municipal water supplies come from Southwest Water Authority which, in turn, gets their water from Lake Sakakawea through a transmission pipeline.

Climate

Nearly all of Stark County has a humid continental climate of warm summer (Köppen: Dfb), but due to low precipitation and marginality between climate with monsoon-influenced dry winter (Dwb) and semi-arid climate (BSk), Dickinson can be said to be prone to periods of drought, even though it is defined as wet all year round. Its climate is similar to Bismarck's, though a bit less extreme. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 16.3 °F (−8.7 °C) in January to 69.2 °F (20.7 °C) in July; on average, temperatures reach 100 °F (38 °C) on 2.2 days, 90 °F (32 °C) on 22 days, and 0 °F (−18 °C) on 32 days annually. The average window for freezing temperatures is September 22 thru May 16 and for measurable (≥0.1 inches or 0.25 centimetres) snow, October 26 thru April 19. Due to the relative aridity, there are only 2.8 days where 24-hour snowfall exceeds 3 inches (7.6 cm). With a period of record dating only to 1893, extreme temperatures range from −47 °F (−44 °C) as recently as January 12, 2011 to 114 °F (46 °C) on July 6, 1936.

Climate data for Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, North Dakota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 63
(17)
68
(20)
80
(27)
94
(34)
99
(37)
104
(40)
109
(43)
108
(42)
104
(40)
95
(35)
80
(27)
67
(19)
109
(43)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 49.0
(9.4)
51.8
(11.0)
66.7
(19.3)
78.3
(25.7)
84.9
(29.4)
91.2
(32.9)
97.1
(36.2)
97.9
(36.6)
94.0
(34.4)
81.2
(27.3)
65.3
(18.5)
52.3
(11.3)
100.1
(37.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 26.6
(−3.0)
30.2
(−1.0)
42.1
(5.6)
54.7
(12.6)
66.1
(18.9)
75.6
(24.2)
83.9
(28.8)
83.7
(28.7)
73.0
(22.8)
56.4
(13.6)
41.3
(5.2)
30.1
(−1.1)
55.3
(12.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 16.4
(−8.7)
19.6
(−6.9)
30.3
(−0.9)
41.6
(5.3)
52.9
(11.6)
62.5
(16.9)
69.4
(20.8)
68.5
(20.3)
58.5
(14.7)
43.8
(6.6)
30.3
(−0.9)
19.9
(−6.7)
42.8
(6.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 6.2
(−14.3)
9.0
(−12.8)
18.6
(−7.4)
28.4
(−2.0)
39.7
(4.3)
49.4
(9.7)
55.0
(12.8)
53.2
(11.8)
44.0
(6.7)
31.2
(−0.4)
19.3
(−7.1)
9.7
(−12.4)
30.3
(−0.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −19.4
(−28.6)
−13.7
(−25.4)
−3.9
(−19.9)
11.5
(−11.4)
25.2
(−3.8)
37.7
(3.2)
45.1
(7.3)
41.6
(5.3)
29.6
(−1.3)
13.2
(−10.4)
−0.8
(−18.2)
−14.3
(−25.7)
−24.2
(−31.2)
Record low °F (°C) −35
(−37)
−35
(−37)
−28
(−33)
−10
(−23)
4
(−16)
30
(−1)
35
(2)
32
(0)
17
(−8)
−7
(−22)
−18
(−28)
−34
(−37)
−35
(−37)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.25
(6.4)
0.32
(8.1)
0.56
(14)
1.37
(35)
2.55
(65)
3.05
(77)
2.55
(65)
1.53
(39)
1.62
(41)
1.17
(30)
0.47
(12)
0.19
(4.8)
15.63
(397)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.0
(15)
5.0
(13)
5.6
(14)
5.9
(15)
0.5
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.5
(1.3)
1.6
(4.1)
5.8
(15)
4.6
(12)
35.5
(90)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4.8 4.4 5.9 8.0 11.2 12.5 9.8 6.9 6.6 6.2 4.7 4.0 85.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 5.8 4.8 4.9 3.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.1 5.1 5.6 30.8
Source: NOAA (snow 1981–2010)
Climate data for Dickinson, North Dakota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 61
(16)
67
(19)
85
(29)
93
(34)
106
(41)
109
(43)
114
(46)
110
(43)
104
(40)
95
(35)
81
(27)
68
(20)
114
(46)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 49.2
(9.6)
53.6
(12.0)
66.6
(19.2)
79.4
(26.3)
86.0
(30.0)
91.9
(33.3)
98.5
(36.9)
97.8
(36.6)
93.7
(34.3)
82.1
(27.8)
66.7
(19.3)
51.1
(10.6)
101.0
(38.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 26.5
(−3.1)
30.6
(−0.8)
41.4
(5.2)
54.3
(12.4)
65.9
(18.8)
75.2
(24.0)
83.0
(28.3)
83.0
(28.3)
72.5
(22.5)
56.7
(13.7)
41.8
(5.4)
30.3
(−0.9)
55.1
(12.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 14.6
(−9.7)
18.6
(−7.4)
29.1
(−1.6)
41.2
(5.1)
52.7
(11.5)
62.4
(16.9)
69.1
(20.6)
67.9
(19.9)
57.5
(14.2)
42.9
(6.1)
29.6
(−1.3)
18.4
(−7.6)
42.0
(5.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 2.8
(−16.2)
6.5
(−14.2)
16.8
(−8.4)
28.1
(−2.2)
39.5
(4.2)
49.6
(9.8)
55.1
(12.8)
52.8
(11.6)
42.5
(5.8)
29.0
(−1.7)
17.4
(−8.1)
6.6
(−14.1)
28.9
(−1.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −22.6
(−30.3)
−17.6
(−27.6)
−6.1
(−21.2)
10.5
(−11.9)
23.6
(−4.7)
35.3
(1.8)
42.3
(5.7)
38.7
(3.7)
24.9
(−3.9)
10.1
(−12.2)
−4.0
(−20.0)
−19.8
(−28.8)
−29.7
(−34.3)
Record low °F (°C) −47
(−44)
−47
(−44)
−36
(−38)
−16
(−27)
7
(−14)
26
(−3)
29
(−2)
24
(−4)
12
(−11)
−15
(−26)
−29
(−34)
−41
(−41)
−47
(−44)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.40
(10)
0.53
(13)
0.68
(17)
1.56
(40)
2.59
(66)
3.17
(81)
2.69
(68)
1.86
(47)
1.73
(44)
1.33
(34)
0.59
(15)
0.43
(11)
17.56
(446)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 4.9
(12)
4.4
(11)
5.8
(15)
4.2
(11)
0.8
(2.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.3
(0.76)
3.0
(7.6)
4.4
(11)
6.5
(17)
34.3
(87)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 6.5 5.6 6.4 7.4 11.4 12.1 9.6 7.4 7.7 6.4 4.8 5.6 90.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 4.1 4.5 3.7 1.5 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.0 2.9 5.3 23.4
Source: NOAA (snow, mean maxima/minima 1981–2010)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 897
1900 2,076 131.4%
1910 3,678 77.2%
1920 4,122 12.1%
1930 5,025 21.9%
1940 5,839 16.2%
1950 7,469 27.9%
1960 9,971 33.5%
1970 12,405 24.4%
1980 15,974 28.8%
1990 16,097 0.8%
2000 16,010 −0.5%
2010 17,787 11.1%
2020 25,679 44.4%
2022 (est.) 24,979 40.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census

2020 census

Dickinson, North Dakota – Racial and ethnic composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
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.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020  % 2000  % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 15,448 16,542 20,920  %  % 81.5%
Black or African American alone (NH) 39 175 1,004  %  % %
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 185 208 338  %  % %
Asian alone (NH) 37 258 310  %  % %
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 7 45  %  % %
Other race alone (NH) 9 2 75  %  % %
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 120 213 923  %  % %
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 168 382 2,064  % 2.1% 8.0%
Total 16,010 17,787 25,679 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

As of the 2020 census, there were 25,679 people and 10,544 households, and 6,193 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,816.6 inhabitants per square mile (701.4/km2) There were 11,953 housing units. The racial makeup was 83.6% White, 4.0% African American, 1.6% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 17,787 people, 7,521 households, and 4,308 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,785.4 inhabitants per square mile (689.3/km2). There were 7,865 housing units at an average density of 789.7 per square mile (304.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 1.0% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 7,521 households, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.7% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 14.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

Education

K–12

The Dickinson Public Schools system includes six elementary schools, a junior high school, Dickinson High School and an alternative high school. There are also several parochial schools in Dickinson. Trinity East and Trinity West serve as the parochial elementary schools and Dickinson Trinity has both a junior high school and a high school. Hope Christian Academy is also located in Dickinson. HCA is part of the Evangelical Bible Church. The current principal is Shane Bradley.

Higher education

Dickinson is home to Dickinson State University.

Law enforcement

Dickinson Police Department
Dickinson Police Department patch
Dickinson Police Department patch
Agency overview
Preceding agency
  • Dickinson Police Department
Employees 74.5
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction Stark County, North Dakota, United States
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters 2475 State Ave North Dickinson, ND 58601
Police Officers 32 (2024)
Professional Staffs 24 (2022)
Agency executive
  • Joe Cianni, Chief of Police
Facilities
Detention Centers 1
Marked and Unmarked Cars 20
K-9 Units 2
Website
Dickinson Police Department web site

The Dickinson Police Department employs about 50 full-time sworn police officers and 24 full-time civilian employees, including dispatchers, records staff and animal control.

Media

Print

  • The Dickinson Press

Television

Digital

  • 2.1 KXMA-TV/The CW (ATSC 19-3)
  • 2.2 KXMA-TV/CBS (ATSC 19-4)
  • 2.3 KXMA-TV/weather (ATSC 19-5)
  • 7.1 KQCD-TV/NBC
  • 7.2 KQCD-TV/Fox
  • 7.3 KQCD-TV/MeTV
  • 9.1 KDSE/PBS Prairie Public Broadcasting
  • 9.2 KDSE/PBS World
  • 9.3 KDSE/PBS Minnesota Channel
  • 9.4 KDSE/PBS Lifelong Learning
  • In addition, Bismarck ABC affiliate KBMY is available only on local satellite and cable systems; it was previously simulcast via KXMA-TV on 2.2 until February 2, 2016.

Radio

FM band

AM band

  • 1230 KDIX "Real Country" (Oldies/Classic country)
  • 1340 KPOK (Country/Talk)
  • 1410 KDKT "Fox Sports Radio 1410" (Sports/Talk)
  • 1460 KLTC (Classic country/Talk)

Transportation

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines. Local dial-a-ride transit is provided by Dickinson Public Transit for a $4 fare. Hours of operation are from 6:00am-6:00pm Monday-Saturday, and 9:00am-6:00pm on Sunday.

Sites of interest

  • Badlands Dinosaur Museum
  • Dickinson Museum Center
  • West River Community Center
  • West River Ice Center
  • Biesiot Activities Center
  • Ukrainian Cultural Institute
  • Dickinson Area Public Library (originally a Carnegie Library)
  • North Dakota Soccer Association headquarters

Sports

  • The Dickinson Packers played independent minor league baseball in the Mandak League from 1955 to 1956
  • Dickinson Roughriders of North Dakota American Legion Baseball
  • Dickinson State University Blue Hawks
  • Dickinson High School Midgets
  • Trinity High School Titans
  • Badlands Big Sticks, summer collegiate baseball team in the Northwoods League

Notable people

  • Kelly Armstrong, born in Dickinson, member of the U.S. House of Representatives
  • LaRoy Baird, lived in Dickinson, former member of North Dakota Senate
  • Doug Beaudoin, born in Dickinson, former American football safety in the NFL
  • Bob Bergloff, born in Dickinson, former ice hockey defenseman
  • Byron Dorgan, born in Dickinson, former United States Senator
  • Edward Doro, born in Dickinson, poet
  • Clay S. Jenkinson, born in Dickinson, scholar, author, and educator
  • Bennie Joppru, born in Dickinson, former tight end in the National Football League
  • Douglas Kary, born in Dickinson, member of the Montana Legislature
  • Aaron Krauter, born in Dickinson, member of North Dakota Senate
  • John S. Lesmeister, born in Dickinson, 30th North Dakota State Treasurer
  • Kellan Lutz, born in Dickinson, actor, played Emmett Cullen in Twilight
  • Mitch Malloy, born in Dickinson, singer and songwriter
  • Ted Nace, raised in Dickinson, writer, publisher, and environmentalist
  • Herb Parker (1921–2007), lived in Dickinson, teacher and American football coach at Minot State University
  • Malachi Ritscher (1954–2006), born in Dickinson, musician and human rights activist
  • George Scherger (1920–2011), born in Dickinson, MLB coach, infielder, and manager
  • Dorothy Stickney (1896–1998), born in Dickinson, stage and film actress
  • Bill Swain, born in Dickinson, former linebacker for the New York Giants

See also

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