Griggs County is a county in North Dakota, United States, roughly halfway between Fargo and Devils Lake in the northeastern part of the state. It had a population of 2,306 at the 2020 census and covers 716.58 square miles (1,855.93 km2) — 708.69 square miles land and 7.90 square miles water — centred near 47°27′23″N 98°13′56″W.
Cooperstown is the county seat, and its postal code is 58425. The county has three incorporated cities (including the seat) and two census-designated places, sits in the Central time zone, and carries FIPS code 38039.
Towns & Villages in Griggs County
Griggs County has three incorporated cities and two census-designated places. All are unincorporated crossroads or CDPs except Cooperstown, Binford, and Hannaford. A handful of names from older listings — Jessie, Karnak, Mose, Revere, Shepard, Sutton, and Walum — are historic rural post office or siding names; only Jessie and Sutton are recognized Census Bureau places today, and the others are kept below as unincorporated locales without verified 2020 population counts.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooperstown | City · seat | 983 | 58425 |
| Binford | City | 170 | 58416 |
| Hannaford | City | 126 | 58448 |
| Jessie | CDP | — | — |
| Sutton | CDP | — | — |
| Karnak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mose | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Revere | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shepard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Walum | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 58425 — Cooperstown (also serves the surrounding county seat area)
- 58416 — Binford
- 58448 — Hannaford
The smaller unincorporated places and CDPs in the county share these three post office ZIPs rather than having their own.
Geography
Griggs County sits on the gently rolling drift prairie of northeastern North Dakota, drained by the Sheyenne River, which loops through the county’s southern and eastern reaches on its long, winding course toward the Red River. The land is mostly cropland, broken by shelterbelts, low ridges left behind by retreating glaciers, and scattered wetlands known locally as prairie potholes that host waterfowl in spring and fall. Elevations across the county are modest, generally between 1,300 and 1,500 feet, with little relief beyond the Sheyenne’s shallow valley. It borders Nelson County to the north, Steele County to the east, Barnes County to the south, Stutsman County to the southwest, Foster County to the west, and Eddy County to the northwest.
Demographics
Griggs County’s 2020 population of 2,306 makes it one of North Dakota’s smaller counties by headcount. Cooperstown and Binford are its two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs below the North Dakota median of $76,525, consistent with its largely agricultural economic base. Population density is about 3.3 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county’s economy, with wheat, soybeans, corn, and cattle the dominant enterprises on the drift-prairie farmland surrounding each town. Grain elevators along the Canadian Pacific rail line through Cooperstown and Hannaford remain central to how the harvest moves to market. Cooperstown serves as the county’s retail, medical, and school hub, home to Griggs County Central School and the Griggs County Care Center, and functions as the local seat of county government and the county courthouse. The Griggs County Fair, held in Cooperstown each summer, is the county’s biggest annual gathering, drawing residents from across the surrounding farm townships for livestock shows, a parade, and evening entertainment.
History
The Dakota Territory legislature created Griggs County on February 18, 1881, carving it from Barnes, Foster, and Traill counties; it organized as a functioning county government on June 16, 1882. It is named for Alexander Griggs, a steamboat captain credited with founding Grand Forks farther east on the Red River. Cooperstown was platted as the county seat soon after organization and has held that role ever since, growing up around the rail line that reached the area in the 1880s and made large-scale grain farming practical across the county’s rolling prairie. Like much of rural North Dakota, Griggs County’s population peaked in the early 20th century and has declined gradually since as farms consolidated and residents moved to larger regional centers.
Getting There
North Dakota Highways 1, 45, 65, and 200 cross the county, meeting at or near Cooperstown.
- Fargo — 75 miles southeast
- Devils Lake — 45 miles north
- Jamestown — 45 miles southwest
- Grand Forks — 80 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Hector International Airport in Fargo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Griggs County, North Dakota?
It lies in the northeastern part of the state, between Fargo and Devils Lake, drained by the Sheyenne River.
What is the population of Griggs County?
2,306 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Griggs County?
716.58 square miles (1,855.93 km2), of which 708.69 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Griggs County?
Cooperstown is the county seat.
How many towns are in Griggs County?
Three incorporated cities — Cooperstown, Binford, and Hannaford — plus the CDPs of Jessie and Sutton and several small unincorporated places.
What ZIP codes are in Griggs County?
58425 (Cooperstown), 58416 (Binford), and 58448 (Hannaford).
Who was Griggs County named after?
Steamboat captain Alexander Griggs, credited with founding Grand Forks.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Dakota.