Bismarck is a city located in Burleigh County North Dakota. Bismarck has a 2024 population of 75,541. Bismarck is currently growing at a rate of 0.6% annually and its population has increased by 2.44% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 73,745 in 2020.
The average household income in Bismarck is $97,414 with a poverty rate of 9.18%. The median age in Bismarck is 38 years: 36.5 years for males, and 40 years for females.
This city has a relatively short history, only being founded toward the end of the 19th century but it has grown quite quickly and has even in recent years been named one of the fastest-growing small cities in the nation.
The city’s top employer is Sanford Health, which employs 25,000 people across multiple states. The State of North Dakota, St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck Public School, and the federal government are other top employers, each providing thousands of jobs to residents of Bismarck and surrounding areas.
The city of Bismarck’s boundaries and population have only continued to expand since it was founded, and this trend shows no sign of slowing down. By the 1930s, the city’s population had grown to more than 11,000 people. By 1960, that number had more than doubled. The city’s population reached over 50,000 at the time of the 2000 census and grew to over 61,000 at the next census. Current estimates show that the population has increased by over 18% since the last census in 2010, indicating that this city has much growth still in its future.
The region that is now Bismarck was first inhabited by indigenous tribes dating back thousands of years. It was in 1872 when the Europeans founded the settlement that would one day become Bismarck. The town was called Edwinton after Northern Pacific Railway engineer Edwin Ferry Johnson. However, the Northern Pacific Railway changed the name to Bismarck after the German chancellor Otto con Bismarck. This was in efforts to bring in German immigrants to work and invest in the railroad.
The city began to grow significantly in the mid-1870s when gold was discovered in the Black Hills. The city attracted many miners, which was great for growth. However, it did contribute to tensions with the Lakota tribe. The tribe felt as though the new settlers were invading sacred territory.
In 1883, Bismarck was named as the capital of the Dakota Territory. At the end of the decade, after North Dakota was made a state, Bismarck was named as the state capital. Throughout the 19th century and into the 20th century, the city continued to see its population rise. The city constructed its state capitol building, which later burned in 1930. During the Great Depression, the city built another capitol in the city center, which is the tallest building in both the city and the state.
In 1953, Garrison Dam was built to prevent floods, and the floodplain area of the city now was suitable for development. Residential and commercial buildings were erected as the city, and its population continued to grow.
In modern times, the city’s northern area has seen substantial growth with the addition of retail shopping centers. The city’s major shopping center, Kirkwood Mall, was constructed in the city center and has since expanded to include other major retail stores in the area. There are also two hospitals and multiple restaurants that have been developed in the growing downtown area.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Bismarck was:
White
Two or more races
Native American
Black or African American
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Other race
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 31,716 | 2.25 | 65.4 | 34.6 |
Married | 14,194 | 3.04 | 87.5 | 12.5 |
Non Family | 13,688 | 1.21 | 47.9 | 52.1 |
Female | 2,629 | 3.06 | 45.9 | 54.1 |
Male | 1,205 | 3.08 | 47.3 | 52.7 |
2.98
Average Family Size
2.25
Average Household Size
65.4%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among 2+ races people with a rate of 95.72%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 63.38%.
All
Male
Female
$53,816
Average Earnings
$58,654
Average Male
$49,061
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
94.64% of Bismarck residents speak only English, while 5.36% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 2.67% of the population.
rate
9.18%
Overall Poverty Rate
7.4%
Male Poverty Rate
10.93%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Bismarck is Islander, with 59.36% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Bismarck is White, with 6.22% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.28%. Among those working part-time, it was 10.31%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 19.26%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
49.2%
Overall Marriage Rate
51.8%
Male Marriage Rate
46.7%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
2.17%
Veteran Poverty Rate
22.89%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
65.8%
Labor Force Participation
63.6%
Employment Rate
3.1%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
70.52%
Born in Bismarck
95.95%
Native Born
4.05%
Foreign Born
2.31%
Non Citizen
1.74%
Naturalized
95.95% of Bismarck residents were born in the United States, with 70.52% having been born in North Dakota. 2.31% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Africa.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 77,786 | 449 | 0.58% |
2028 | 77,337 | 449 | 0.58% |
2027 | 76,888 | 449 | 0.59% |
2026 | 76,439 | 449 | 0.59% |
2025 | 75,990 | 449 | 0.59% |
2024 | 75,541 | 449 | 0.6% |
2023 | 75,092 | 556 | 0.75% |
2022 | 74,536 | 454 | 0.61% |
2021 | 74,082 | 337 | 0.46% |
2020 | 73,745 | 74 | 0.1% |
2019 | 73,671 | 249 | 0.34% |
2018 | 73,422 | 211 | 0.29% |
2017 | 73,211 | 609 | 0.84% |
2016 | 72,602 | 1,136 | 1.59% |
2015 | 71,466 | 2,413 | 3.49% |
2014 | 69,053 | 1,895 | 2.82% |
2013 | 67,158 | 2,358 | 3.64% |
2012 | 64,800 | 2,016 | 3.21% |
2011 | 62,784 | 1,189 | 1.93% |
2010 | 61,595 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 55,532 | 6,276 | 12.74% |
1990 | 49,256 | 4,771 | 10.72% |
1980 | 44,485 | 9,782 | 28.19% |
1970 | 34,703 | 7,033 | 25.42% |
1960 | 27,670 | 9,030 | 48.44% |
1950 | 18,640 | 3,144 | 20.29% |
1940 | 15,496 | 4,406 | 39.73% |
1930 | 11,090 | 3,968 | 55.71% |
1920 | 7,122 | 1,679 | 30.85% |
1910 | 5,443 | 2,124 | 64% |
1900 | 3,319 | -74,467 | -95.73% |