Dickinson is a city in and the county seat of Stark County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 25,679 at the 2020 census, making it the seventh most populous city in North Dakota. Dickinson, founded in 1881, is also home to Dickinson State University.

Since the North Dakota oil boom the city has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. According to the 2020 census, the city is estimated to have a population of 25,679, however, other sources have estimates of the population at 33,646 or possibly exceeding 35,000. Dickinson is home to the Ukrainian Cultural Institute, which has a museum and holds events year-round for the local Ukrainian community.

Dickinson is the principal city of the Dickinson Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Billings and Stark counties and had a combined population of 34,591 at the 2020 census.

History Dickinson was founded in 1881. Dickinson was named for its founder, W. S. Dickinson, a native of Malone, New York.

In 1924, Dickinson was the site of a tornado that killed nine people, making it the fourth deadliest tornado in North Dakota's recorded history. Dickinson was the site of an EF3 tornado in 2009 that damaged more than 450 homes and businesses, with 100 beyond repair, but with no injuries or casualties.

The rapid growth of the city due to an oil boom led to an increase in crime and homelessness within the city limits in the 2010s.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Dickinson's municipal water supplies come from Southwest Water Authority which, in turn, gets their water from Lake Sakakawea through a transmission pipeline.

Climate Nearly all of Stark County has a humid continental climate of warm summer (Köppen: Dfb), but due to low precipitation and marginality between climate with monsoon-influenced dry winter (Dwb) and semi-arid climate (BSk), Dickinson can be said to be prone to periods of drought, even though it is defined as wet all year round. Its climate is similar to Bismarck's, though a bit less extreme. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from in January to in July; on average, temperatures reach on 2.2 days, on 22 days, and on 32 days annually. The average window for freezing temperatures is September 22 thru May 16 and for measurable (≥) snow, October 26 thru April 19. Due to the relative aridity, there are only 2.8 days where 24-hour snowfall exceeds . With a period of record dating only to 1893, extreme temperatures range from as recently as January 12, 2011 to on July 6, 1936.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Dickinson, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 2000 Pop. 2010 % 2000 % 2010 White alone (NH) 15,448 16,54220,920 96.49% 93.00%81.47% Black or African American alone (NH) 39 1751,004 0.24% 0.98%3.91% Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 185 208338 1.16% 1.17%1.32% Asian alone (NH) 37 258310 0.23% 1.45%1.21% Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 745 0.02% 0.04%0.18% Other race alone (NH) 9 275 0.06% 0.01%0.29% Mixed race or multiracial (NH) 120 213923 0.75% 1.20%3.59% Hispanic or Latino (any race) 168 3822,064 1.05% 2.15%8.04% Total 16,010 17,78725,679 100.00% 100.00%100.00%

American Community Survey As of the 2022 American Community Survey, there are 10,247 estimated households in Dickinson with an average of 2.38 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $75,767. Approximately 10.7% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Dickinson has an estimated 69.5% employment rate, with 25.5% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 91.2% holding a high school diploma. The median age in the city was 33.1 years.

Ancestry The top nine reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were German (38.3%), Norwegian (11.2%), Irish (7.2%), English (5.7%), French (except Basque) (2.3%), Italian (2.0%), Polish (1.0%), Scottish (1.0%), and Subsaharan African (0.3%).

2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 25,679 people, 10,544 households, and 6,193 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 11,953 housing units at an average density of ; 11.8% of housing units were vacant, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 2.0% and a rental vacancy rate of 15.7%.

Of these households, 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.7% were married-couple households, 24.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 32.8 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.4 males age 18 and over.

98.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.5% lived in rural areas.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 21,478 83.6% Black or African American 1,020 4.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 407 1.6% Asian 319 1.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 50 0.2% Some other race 845 3.3% Two or more races 1,560 6.1% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,064 8.0%

2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 17,787 people, 7,521 households, and 4,308 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,865 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.16% White, 1.05% African American, 1.22% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from some other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.15% of the population.

There were 7,521 households, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.7% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 14.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 16,010 people, 6,517 households, and 4,020 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,033 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.16% White, 0.27% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from some other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.05% of the population.

The top six ancestry groups in the city are German (54.1%), Norwegian (14.2%), Czech (7.5%), Russian (7.2%), Irish (5.5%), English (3.7%).

There were 6,517 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,542, and the median income for a family was $41,566. Males had a median income of $30,613 versus $19,951 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,975. About 7.1% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education K–12 The Dickinson Public Schools system includes six elementary schools, a junior high school, Dickinson High School and an alternative high school. There are also several parochial schools in Dickinson. Trinity East, Trinity North, Trinity Central, and Trinity West serve as the parochial elementary schools and Dickinson Trinity has both a junior high school and a high school. Hope Christian Academy is also located in Dickinson. HCA is part of the Evangelical Bible Church. The current principal is Shane Bradley.

Higher education Dickinson is home to Dickinson State University.

Law enforcement

The Dickinson Police Department employs about 50 full-time sworn police officers and 24 full-time civilian employees, including dispatchers, records staff and animal control.

Media

Print The Dickinson Press

Television 2.1 KXMA-TV (The CW) 7.1 KQCD-TV (NBC, with Fox on 7.2) 9.1 KDSE (PBS via Prairie Public Television) In addition, Bismarck ABC affiliate KBMY is available only on local satellite and cable systems; it was previously simulcast via KXMA-TV on 2.2 until February 2, 2016. CBS was previously on KXMA-DT2 until August 2026.

Radio FM band 88.1 K201FN – rebroadcasts CSN (Christian) 89.9 KDPR – North Dakota Public Radio/NPR network (Public radio) 90.7 KSLS – rebroadcasts KSLT "K-Salt" (Cont. Christian music) 92.1 KZRX "Z92" (Mainstream Rock) 93.9 KXDI "I94" (Country) 95.7 KQLZ "Q-Rock 95" (Classic Rock) 99.1 KCAD "Roughrider Country" (Country) 103.3 KPAR-LP – low power broadcaster carrying LifeTalk Radio network (Christian Talk) 105.7 KDXN "The Mix" (Adult Contemporary)

AM band 1230 KDIX "Classic Hits" (Oldies/Classic Hits) 1340 KPOK (Country/Talk) 1410 KDKT "Fox Sports Radio 1410" (Sports/Talk) 1460 KLTC (Classic country/Talk)

Transportation Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines. Local dial-a-ride transit is provided by Dickinson Public Transit for a $4 fare. Hours of operation are from 6:00am–6:00pm Monday-Saturday, and 9:00am–6:00pm on Sunday.

Dickinson is located at the intersection of ND 22 and Interstate 94, about 20 miles east of US 85. It is located around 30 miles east of Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport has flights to Denver via United Airlines.

Sites of interest

Badlands Dinosaur Museum Dickinson Museum Center Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark Dickinson Area Public Library (originally a Carnegie Library) Sanford Sports Complex North Dakota Soccer Association headquarters Henry Biesiot Activities Center West River Ice Center West River Community Center

Sports The Dickinson Packers played independent minor league baseball in the Mandak League from 1955 to 1956 Dickinson State University Blue Hawks Dickinson High School Mavericks Dickinson Roughriders (baseball) Dickinson Outlaws (hockey) Dickinson Trinity High School Titans Badlands Big Sticks, summer collegiate baseball team in the Northwoods League

Notable people

Kelly Armstrong, born in Dickinson, 34th Governor of North Dakota, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives LaRoy Baird, lived in Dickinson, former member of North Dakota Senate Doug Beaudoin, born in Dickinson, former American football safety in the NFL Bob Bergloff, born in Dickinson, former ice hockey defenseman Byron Dorgan, born in Dickinson, former United States Senator Edward Doro, born in Dickinson, poet