North Dakota

Foster

3,397
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Foster

Foster, North Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 37. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 3,397.

Its recorded population peaked at 6,353 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 47 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Sibley Scout — Encounter on Burnt Creek (July 1863), Battle of Stony Lake — Sibley Expedition (July 28, 1863), and 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20203,397
20103,343
20003,759
19903,983
19804,611
19704,832
19605,361
19505,337
19405,824
19306,353
19206,108
19105,313
19003,770
18901,210
188037
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Foster

Military engagements that took place in Foster, North Dakota.

Sibley Scout — Encounter on Burnt Creek (July 1863)
1863
Battle of Stony Lake — Sibley Expedition (July 28, 1863)
1863

Historic places in Foster

National Register of Historic Places listings in Foster, North Dakota.

Putnam, Thomas Nichols, House
Carrington
Browse all North Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Dakota

Explore census history and historic records for more North Dakota counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Foster County, North Dakota

This page charts the census history of Foster County, North Dakota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Foster

When does Foster first appear in the US census?
Foster, North Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 37.
What is the population of Foster?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Foster had a recorded population of 3,397.
When did Foster's population peak?
Foster's recorded population peaked at 6,353 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Foster?
2 documented military engagements took place in Foster, including Sibley Scout — Encounter on Burnt Creek (July 1863), Battle of Stony Lake — Sibley Expedition (July 28, 1863).
How many historic places are in Foster?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Foster, North Dakota.
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