Wells County Demographics

A map of Wells County's Population by Race

Wells County, North Dakota has an estimated population of 3,890, a slight decrease from the 3,982 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 95.1% White, 3.5% Multiracial, 0.6% Hispanic, 0.6% Native American/Other, 0.2% Asian, and 0.0% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Wells County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Wells is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Dakota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Wells County, that probability was 9.6% in 2020 and 9.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Wells County is ranked the 28th most populous county in North Dakota, out of 53 counties. Wells County was ranked the 28th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Wells County's White Population

3,698 residents of Wells County, or 95.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Wells County is considerably higher than in North Dakota overall, where 81.7% of the population is White. Wells County ranks 7th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wells County's White population has declined by an estimated 2.3%. White residents' share of Wells County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 95.1%.

Wells County is more White than neighboring Benson County (42.7% White), Kidder County (94.4% White), Pierce County (90.8% White), and Eddy County (87.6% White). Wells County is less White than neighboring Sheridan County (96.5% White).

Wells County's Black Population

0 residents of Wells County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Wells County is slightly lower than in North Dakota overall, where 3.3% of the population is Black. Wells County ranks 25th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wells County's Black population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Black residents' share of Wells County's population has decreased from 0.5% to 0.0%.

Wells County is less Black than neighboring Benson County (0.6% Black), Kidder County (0.2% Black), and Pierce County (0.3% Black).

Wells County's Asian Population

8 residents of Wells County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Wells County is comparable to the share in North Dakota overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Wells County ranks 37th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wells County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 33.3%. Asian residents' share of Wells County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Wells County is more Asian than neighboring Eddy County (0% Asian). Wells County is less Asian than neighboring Benson County (0.8% Asian), Kidder County (0.3% Asian), Sheridan County (0.5% Asian), and Pierce County (0.4% Asian).

Wells County's Hispanic Population

22 residents of Wells County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Wells County is slightly lower than in North Dakota overall, where 4.7% of the population is Hispanic. Wells County ranks 52nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wells County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 42.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Wells County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Wells County is more Hispanic than neighboring Sheridan County (0.4% Hispanic). Wells County is less Hispanic than neighboring Benson County (1.9% Hispanic), Kidder County (3% Hispanic), Pierce County (0.8% Hispanic), and Eddy County (5.4% Hispanic).

Wells County's Native American/Other Population

24 residents of Wells County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Wells County is slightly lower than in North Dakota overall, where 4.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Wells County ranks 47th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wells County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 14.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Wells County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Wells County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Kidder County (0% Native American/Other), and Sheridan County (0.4% Native American/Other). Wells County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Benson County (50.3% Native American/Other), Pierce County (4.8% Native American/Other), and Eddy County (4.3% Native American/Other).

Wells County's Multiracial Population

138 residents of Wells County, or 3.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Wells County is comparable to the share in North Dakota overall, where 4% of the population is Multiracial. Wells County ranks 34th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 53 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wells County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 26.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Wells County's population has increased from 2.7% to 3.5%.

Wells County is more Multiracial than neighboring Kidder County (2.1% Multiracial), Sheridan County (2.2% Multiracial), Pierce County (2.9% Multiracial), and Eddy County (2.7% Multiracial). Wells County is less Multiracial than neighboring Benson County (3.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.