North Dakota Percent Change in Population 1990—2000

The state grew by a mere 3,400 people in the 1990s, or about one-half of 1 percent. Only six counties saw population growth—four of which were home to North Dakota's larger cities. Half of the state's counties lost at least 10 percent of their population, and none of these counties had a city of more than 5,000.

Today, more than half of the counties in North Dakota have populations under 5,000 people—the highest such rate in the country. Of 370 cities, 70 percent lost population during the 1990s, and more than one-fifth saw their population decline at least 20 percent.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau