Grant County is a county in North Dakota, United States, in the south-central part of the state along the Cannonball River. It had a population of 2,301 at the 2020 census and covers 1,666 square miles (4,315 km2) centred near 46°21′N 101°38′W.
Carson is the county seat and its postal code is 58529. The county has four incorporated cities, two census-designated places, and several unincorporated communities spread across eleven civil townships. Grant County is on Mountain Time.
Towns & Villages in Grant County
Grant County’s population is spread across four small cities, two census-designated places (CDPs), and a scatter of unincorporated communities. Elgin is the largest place; Carson, the seat, is the smallest of the four cities. The table below carries Type as City, City · seat, CDP, or Unincorp.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson | City · seat | — | — | 58529 |
| Elgin | City | — | — | 58533 |
| Leith | City | — | — | — |
| New Leipzig | City | Leipzig | — | 58562 |
| Heil | CDP | — | — | — |
| Raleigh | CDP | Raleigh | — | 58564 |
| Brisbane | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Freda | Unincorp. | Freda | — | — |
| Johnson Ford | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lark | Unincorp. | Lark | — | — |
| Saint Gertrude | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Shields | Unincorp. | — | — | 58569 |
| Wollman Ranch Colony | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Wollman Ranch Colony is a Hutterite colony rather than a platted town, common to this stretch of south-central North Dakota; it carries no separate ZIP or census figure of its own.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Leipzig | — | New Leipzig |
| Raleigh | — | Raleigh |
| Freda | — | Freda |
| Lark | — | Lark |
| Elm | — | — |
| Fisher | — | — |
| Howe | — | — |
| Minnie | — | — |
| Pretty Rock | — | — |
| Rock | — | — |
| Winona | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 58529 — Carson
- 58533 — Elgin
- 58562 — New Leipzig
- 58564 — Raleigh (also serves Heil)
- 58569 — Shields
Leith, Brisbane, Johnson Ford, Saint Gertrude, and Wollman Ranch Colony have no ZIP code of their own and are served by the nearest listed post office town.
Geography
Grant County sits on the rolling plains of south-central North Dakota, drained by the Cannonball River, which crosses the county’s northern half on its way east to the Missouri River. The Missouri Slope’s rougher, more broken terrain shows up in the county’s southwestern corner, cut by coulees and buttes rather than the flatter cropland farther north. Water covers only about 6.8 square miles of the county’s total, mostly small stock ponds and stretches of the Cannonball itself.
Grant County borders Stark County to the north, Morton County to the northeast, Sioux County to the southeast, Adams County to the south, and Hettinger County to the west.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 2,301 residents, down from earlier decades as the county’s farm population has thinned. Elgin and Carson, the county seat, are the two largest communities. Grant County’s rural, agriculture-based economy runs well below the North Dakota median of $76,525; local household income sits in the lower range typical of the state’s smallest counties. Population density is roughly 1.4 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Wheat, corn, and cattle ranching drive Grant County’s economy, with grain elevators anchoring Elgin, Carson, and New Leipzig. Small grain and livestock operations dominate the tax base, supplemented by a scattering of oil and gas leases that spill south from the Bakken-era boom in neighboring counties. The county courthouse and a handful of small businesses employ much of Carson’s workforce. New Leipzig, founded by German-Russian settlers who arrived via the Northern Pacific line, still holds an annual community celebration tied to that heritage, and Elgin’s grain elevator remains the largest single employer along the Highway 21 corridor.
History
Grant County was created on November 7, 1916, from Morton County and organized on November 28, 1916. It was named for Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th U.S. president. German-Russian and Scandinavian homesteaders settled the county in the early 20th century, and the Northern Pacific Railway’s branch lines shaped where towns like Elgin and New Leipzig grew up.
Getting There
North Dakota Highway 21 and Highway 49 are the county’s main routes, connecting its towns to Interstate 94 to the north.
- Mandan — 40 miles northeast
- Bismarck — 50 miles northeast
- Dickinson — 55 miles northwest
Bismarck Municipal Airport, in Bismarck, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Grant County, North Dakota?
It’s in the south-central part of the state, on the Cannonball River, between Bismarck and Dickinson.
What is the population of Grant County?
2,301 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Grant County?
1,666 square miles (4,315 km2), including 6.8 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Grant County?
Carson is the county seat.
How many towns are in Grant County?
Four incorporated cities (Carson, Elgin, Leith, New Leipzig), two CDPs, and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Grant County?
58529 (Carson), 58533 (Elgin), 58562 (New Leipzig), 58564 (Raleigh), and 58569 (Shields).
What is Grant County named after?
President Ulysses S. Grant, following its creation from Morton County in 1916.
What is the largest city in Grant County?
Elgin, on the county’s Highway 21 corridor, is the largest of the county’s four incorporated cities.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Dakota.