North Dakota

Wells

3,982
2020 population
1890
first census record
14
census records

About Wells

Wells, North Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1890, when it recorded a population of 1,212. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 3,982.

Its recorded population peaked at 13,285 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 70 percent.

On the ground today, 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20203,982
20104,207
20005,102
19905,864
19806,979
19707,847
19609,237
195010,417
194011,198
193013,285
192012,957
191011,814
19008,310
18901,212
Source

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

Historic places in Wells

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

Wells County Fairgrounds
Fessenden
Harvey Power Plant
Harvey
Vang Evangelical Lutheran Church
Manfred
Beiseker Mansion
Fessenden
Browse all North Dakotahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Wells County, North Dakota

This page charts the census history of Wells 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 Wells

When does Wells first appear in the US census?
Wells, North Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1890, with a recorded population of 1,212.
What is the population of Wells?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wells had a recorded population of 3,982.
When did Wells's population peak?
Wells's recorded population peaked at 13,285 in 1930.
How many historic places are in Wells?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wells, North Dakota.
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