Barnes Public RecordsNorth Dakota

Barnes County, ND, has a 2023 estimated population of 10,508. The median age is 43.6 years, with 48.8% male and 51.2% female residents. Racially, the county is predominantly White (93.0%), followed by Native American (2.5%), two or more races (2.7%), Black or African American (0.7%), and Asian (0.7%). Hispanic or Latino residents constitute approximately 2.1% of the population.

Barnes County, ND, has around 6,100 registered voters as of 2024. Voters participate in federal, state, county, and local elections, with recent turnout at 58% for the 2022 midterms. The county uses centralized polling at the Valley City Eagle Club (345 12th Ave NE). Barnes typically leans Republican; in 2020, 69% voted for the GOP presidential candidate. Key issues include agriculture, education, and rural infrastructure. Elections are administered by the Barnes County Auditor’s Office. The main parties represented are Republican and Democratic-NPL. Early voting and mail-in ballots are available to increase accessibility.

Barnes County, ND has a homeownership rate of about 73%, with median home values near $139,000 in 2023. Median gross rent is roughly $650 per month. The county’s housing stock mainly consists of single-family homes, with some multi-family units in Valley City, the largest city and main neighborhood. Property values have remained steady, with slight annual increases of around 2%. Property taxes average $1,500 per year for a median home. Neighborhoods offer a mix of historic and newer housing, with affordable options compared to state and national averages.

As of 2023, Barnes County, ND, has an employment rate of approximately 63%. The leading industries are education, health care, and social assistance (26.5%), followed by agriculture (15.4%), and retail trade (10.2%). The most common occupations are management (21%), production (13%), and sales (12%). Roughly 82% of workers commute by car, with an average travel time of 13 minutes. Most employment is concentrated in Valley City, the county seat, while about 5% of residents commute to nearby counties for work.

Barnes County, ND, has 12 public schools, including Valley City High School, serving over 1,400 students. About 92% of adults have a high school diploma, and 29% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Schools maintain an average GreatSchools rating of 6/10. Valley City State University offers higher education locally. The county emphasizes school safety with standard protocols and SRO presence. Adult education options include GED and workforce programs. Local schools provide advanced placement, STEM, and career-technical courses to enhance college and career readiness.

Barnes County, ND, maintains relatively low crime rates compared to national averages. In 2022, the county reported approximately 100 total crimes, including 12 violent offenses and 88 property crimes, according to FBI data. The overall crime rate is about 6.2 per 1,000 residents, significantly below the U.S. average of 22 per 1,000. Law enforcement agencies encourage timely crime reporting, contributing to effective prevention and safety initiatives. Most reported incidents involve theft or minor property damage, with violent crime remaining rare, helping Barnes County remain one of the safer regions in the state.