Center, North Dakota

2025-08-18T04:24:04Z

2605:4A80:7802:5530:9C26:2119:21AA:7A6A:

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Center, North Dakota
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| image_blank_emblem = CenterNDlogo.png
| blank_emblem_type = Logo
| blank_emblem_size = 140px
| nickname = Center of North America
| motto = 
| image_skyline =
| imagesize =
| image_caption =
| image_flag =
| image_seal = 
| image_map = ND Oliver County Center.svg
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location of Center, North Dakota
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 = 
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[North Dakota]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in North Dakota|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Oliver County, North Dakota|Oliver]]
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1902
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 1.24
| area_land_km2 = 1.24
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.48
| area_land_sq_mi = 0.48
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est = 579
| pop_est_as_of = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
| population_total = 588
| population_density_km2 = 474.59
| population_density_sq_mi = 1230.13
| timezone = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset = -6
| timezone_DST = CDT
| utc_offset_DST = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_m = 601
| elevation_ft = 1972
| coordinates = {{Coord|47|06|54|N|101|17|52|W|region:US-ND_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code = 58530
| area_code = [[Area code 701|701]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 38-13180
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 1035961<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1035961}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://www.centernd.net/|centernd.net}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Center''' is a city in [[Oliver County, North Dakota|Oliver County]], [[North Dakota]], United States. It is the [[county seat]] of, and the only incorporated place in, Oliver County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The population was 588 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Center_city,_North_Dakota?g=160XX00US3813180 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 17, 2023}}</ref> Center along with Oliver County is included in the [[Bismarck metropolitan area|Bismark Metropolitan Area]].

==History==
Center was founded in 1902.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA834 |title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States |publisher=Routledge |date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=November 30, 2013 |author=Hellmann, Paul T. |pages=834 |isbn=978-1135948597}}</ref> The city was named from its location near the geographical center of Oliver County.<ref>{{cite book|author=Federal Writers' Project|author-link=Federal Writers' Project|title=North Dakota, a Guide to the Northern Prairie State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCGVnMUdNqMC&pg=PA318|year=1938|publisher=WPA|isbn=978-1-62376-033-5|page=318}}</ref> Coincidentally, it has also been calculated to be the geographical center of North America.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hsu|first1=Charlotte|title=Where's the center of North America? Geographer's new method finds a new answer|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170104104212.htm|website=Science Daily|publisher=Science Daily|access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

The town is somewhat notable for the [[1920 North Dakota blizzard|blizzard]]-related death of [[Hazel Miner]], who would go on to be the subject of a song and memorials.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.46|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=June 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

Southwest of Center, there is a large open air coal mine. Southeast of Center, at Nelson Lake there is a large power plant. West of Nelson Lake is situated the [[Square Butte (transmission line)|Square Butte]] [[high-voltage direct current]] transmission line's static inverter.

===Center of North America===
Peter Rogerson, a professor of geography at the [[University at Buffalo]] in New York, used new scientific methods and the [[azimuthal equidistant projection]] to calculate the "geographic center" of the North American continent. By some extraordinary [[coincidence]], he found that Center, North Dakota, is the continent's geographical center.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/25/science/north-america-geographical-center-north-dakota.html |first=Steph |last=Yin |title=North America's Geographical Center May Be in a North Dakota Town Called Center |date=January 25, 2017 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215103037/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/25/science/north-america-geographical-center-north-dakota.html |archive-date=February 15, 2017}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
This [[climate|climatic]] region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Center has a [[humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=654123&cityname=Center%2C+North+Dakota%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Center, North Dakota]</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Center 4SE, North Dakota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1938–present)
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 61
| Feb record high F = 68
| Mar record high F = 80
| Apr record high F = 94
| May record high F = 96
| Jun record high F = 108
| Jul record high F = 107
| Aug record high F = 110
| Sep record high F = 104
| Oct record high F = 96
| Nov record high F = 82
| Dec record high F = 65
| year record high F = 110
| Jan high F = 22.9
| Feb high F = 26.8
| Mar high F = 39.2
| Apr high F = 53.9
| May high F = 65.8
| Jun high F = 75.1
| Jul high F = 81.6
| Aug high F = 81.0
| Sep high F = 70.8
| Oct high F = 54.7
| Nov high F = 38.4
| Dec high F = 26.4
| year high F = 53.1
| Jan mean F = 13.7
| Feb mean F = 17.8
| Mar mean F = 29.4
| Apr mean F = 43.4
| May mean F = 54.5
| Jun mean F = 64.2
| Jul mean F = 69.7
| Aug mean F = 68.3
| Sep mean F = 58.6
| Oct mean F = 44.1
| Nov mean F = 29.0
| Dec mean F = 17.9
| year mean F = 42.6
| Jan low F = 4.6
| Feb low F = 8.9
| Mar low F = 19.6
| Apr low F = 32.8
| May low F = 43.3
| Jun low F = 53.3
| Jul low F = 57.8
| Aug low F = 55.7
| Sep low F = 46.4
| Oct low F = 33.5
| Nov low F = 19.5
| Dec low F = 9.4
| year low F = 32.1
| Jan record low F = −42
| Feb record low F = −40
| Mar record low F = −30
| Apr record low F = −11
| May record low F = 10
| Jun record low F = 26
| Jul record low F = 35
| Aug record low F = 31
| Sep record low F = 10
| Oct record low F = −3
| Nov record low F = −25
| Dec record low F = −40
| year record low F = −42
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.51
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.51
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.85
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.41
| May precipitation inch = 2.78
| Jun precipitation inch = 3.46
| Jul precipitation inch = 2.77
| Aug precipitation inch = 2.01
| Sep precipitation inch = 2.08
| Oct precipitation inch = 1.40
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.66
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.51
| year precipitation inch = 18.95
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=bis
| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = September 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00321456&format=pdf
| title = Station: Center 4SE, ND
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = September 18, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 293
|1940= 509
|1950= 492
|1960= 476
|1970= 619
|1980= 900
|1990= 826
|2000= 678
|2010= 571
|2020= 588
|estyear=2022
|estimate=579
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|date=October 17, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 17, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 16, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 571 people, 252 households, and 169 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1241.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 310 housing units at an average density of {{convert|673.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 0.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 252 households, of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were [[marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.9% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.71.

The median age in the city was 49.3 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.4% were from 25 to 44; 40% were from 45 to 64; and 17% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.3% male and 48.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 678 people, 279 households, and 196 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,743.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 310 housing units at an average density of {{convert|797.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.81% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.44% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 2.36% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 279 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,406, and the median income for a family was $57,045. Males had a median income of $54,750 versus $18,393 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,043. About 2.1% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the [[poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
It is in the [[Center-Stanton School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st38_nd/schooldistrict_maps/c38065_oliver/DC20SD_C38065.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Oliver County, ND|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=August 14, 2021}}</ref> The district formed in July 2004 from the merger of the Center and Stanton school districts.<ref>{{cite web|last=Donovan|first=Lauren|url=https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/stanton-center-to-join-together/article_c2b46c9d-b63f-5d27-826c-6cf2d0bf6b8b.html|title=Stanton, Center to join together|newspaper=[[Bismarck Tribune]]|date=November 12, 2003|accessdate=August 14, 2021}}</ref>

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.centernd.net/ Official website]
{{Bismarck-Mandan}}
{{Oliver County, North Dakota}}
{{GeographicalCenters}}
{{North Dakota county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Cities in Oliver County, North Dakota]]
[[Category:County seats in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1903]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in North Dakota]]

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Center, North Dakota