North Dakota

Nelson

3,015
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Nelson

Nelson, North Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 4,293. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 3,015.

Its recorded population peaked at 10,362 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 71 percent.

On the ground today, 5 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20203,015
20103,126
20003,715
19904,410
19805,233
19705,776
19607,034
19508,090
19409,129
193010,203
192010,362
191010,140
19007,316
18904,293
Source

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

Historic places in Nelson

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

Nesheim Bridge
McVille
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 Nelson County, North Dakota

This page charts the census history of Nelson 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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North Dakotahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Dakota›

Frequently asked about Nelson

When does Nelson first appear in the US census?
Nelson, North Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 4,293.
What is the population of Nelson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Nelson had a recorded population of 3,015.
When did Nelson's population peak?
Nelson's recorded population peaked at 10,362 in 1920.
How many historic places are in Nelson?
5 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Nelson, North Dakota.
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