North Dakota

Ransom

5,703
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Ransom

Ransom, North Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 537. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,703.

Its recorded population peaked at 11,618 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 51 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Fort Ransom Skirmishes 1867–1868, Battle of Fort Ransom, and 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,703
20105,457
20005,890
19905,921
19806,698
19707,102
19608,078
19508,876
194010,061
193010,983
192011,618
191010,345
19006,919
18905,393
1880537
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Ransom

Military engagements that took place in Ransom, North Dakota.

Fort Ransom Skirmishes 1867–1868
1867
Battle of Fort Ransom
1872

Historic places in Ransom

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

Lisbon Opera House
Lisbon
Biesterfeldt Site (32RM1)
Lisbon
Colton's Crossing Bridge
Lisbon
Mizpah Lodge Building
Sheldon
Browse all North Dakotahistoric sites ›

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

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Everything a full report reveals about Ransom County, North Dakota

This page charts the census history of Ransom 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 Ransom

When does Ransom first appear in the US census?
Ransom, North Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 537.
What is the population of Ransom?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Ransom had a recorded population of 5,703.
When did Ransom's population peak?
Ransom's recorded population peaked at 11,618 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Ransom?
2 documented military engagements took place in Ransom, including Fort Ransom Skirmishes 1867–1868, Battle of Fort Ransom.
How many historic places are in Ransom?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ransom, North Dakota.
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