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Ray, North Dakota
Motto(s): 
"The Grain Palace City"
Location of Ray, North Dakota
Location of Ray, North Dakota
Country United States
State North Dakota
County Williams
Founded 1902
Incorporated March 3, 1902
Area
 • Total 1.356 sq mi (3.512 km2)
 • Land 1.320 sq mi (3.418 km2)
 • Water 0.036 sq mi (0.094 km2)
Elevation
2,270 ft (692 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 740
 • Estimate 
(2023)
723
 • Density 547.78/sq mi (211.49/km2)
Time zone UTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
58849
Area code(s) 701
FIPS code 38-65580
GNIS feature ID 1036231
Sales tax 8.0%

Ray is a city in Williams County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 740 at the 2020 census.

History

Ray, N. Dak. LCCN2013646992
Ray, North Dakota (panorama postcard)

Ray was founded in 1902. The city was named in honor of William G. Ray, a railroad official. A post office has been in operation at Ray since 1902.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 1.356 square miles (3.51 km2), of which 1.320 square miles (3.42 km2) is land and 0.036 square miles (0.09 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 436
1920 563 29.1%
1930 621 10.3%
1940 579 −6.8%
1950 721 24.5%
1960 1,049 45.5%
1970 776 −26.0%
1980 766 −1.3%
1990 603 −21.3%
2000 534 −11.4%
2010 592 10.9%
2020 740 25.0%
2023 (est.) 723 22.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census

2020 census

Ray, North Dakota – Racial 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 can be of any race.
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 660 89.2%
Black or African American (NH) 1 0.1%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 13 1.8%
Asian (NH) 3 0.4%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 0.0%
Some Other Race (NH) 1 0.1%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 41 5.5%
Hispanic or Latino 21 2.8%
Total 740 100.0%

As of the 2020 census, there were 740 people, 283 households, and 187 families residing in the city. There were 361 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 89.6% White, 0.1% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other races and 7.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 592 people, 276 households, and 163 families residing in the city. The population density was 586.1 inhabitants per square mile (226.3/km2). There were 301 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile (115.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 2.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 276 households, of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 46.1 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 35% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.2% male and 46.8% female.

Transportation

Amtrak's Empire Builder, which operates between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, passes through the town on BNSF tracks, but makes no stop. The nearest stations are located in Williston, 34 miles (55 km) to the southwest, and Stanley, 37 miles (60 km) to the east.

Education

It is within the Nesson School District (Ray Public School).

Notable people

  • Delbert F. Anderson, farmer and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, was born in Ray.
  • Mary Sherman Morgan, inventor of Hydyne, which was combined with liquid oxygen to propel the first US rocket into orbit (1958), was born in Ray.
  • Erin Oban, member of the North Dakota Senate and USDA Rural Development State Director of North Dakota, lived in Ray.
  • Claudia Meier Volk, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, lived in Ray.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ray (Dakota del Norte) para niños

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