Bottineau County, North Dakota

Bottineau County Education, Geography, and History

Bottineau County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 6,429.[1] Its county seat is Bottineau.

The Territorial legislature identified Bottineau as one of the original counties of the territory in 1872 but it wasn't organized until July 17, 1884, at a meeting in Bottineau. It is named for Pierre Bottineau (c.1814-1895), a M?is pioneer, hunter, and trapper who became a successful land speculator.

Etymology - Origin of Bottineau County Name

Named for Pierre Bottineau (ca. 1814-1895), a respected Metis guide, hunter, land speculator, and frontiersman.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Bottineau County History

Bottineau County was created by act of Dakota Legislature, January 4, 1873. It was named for Pierre Bottineau, (ca. 1814-1895), probably the first white child born in North Dakota, about 1812. He was born to a family of French voyageurs associated with the fur companies then trading with the Indians at all points in North Dakota where furs were caught or accumulated, engaging often with the Indians on the buffalo hunts. Charles Bottineau, a brother of Pierre, was the first considerable farmer in North Dakota, and as early as 1870 had a farm of about one hundred acres under cultivation at Neche, where he had been engaged in farming long before any particular attention had been attracted to the Red River Valley. Indeed the first settlement in the valley for agricultural purposes was in the fall of 1870 and spring of 1871, while the census of 1870 shows about 1,200 halfbloods in North Dakota. They practically all originated from the voyageurs and traders connected with the Hudson's Bay Company, occupying the lower Red River country, and the American Fur Company, occupying the upper Missouri River and its tributaries as well as the James. Both classes occupied the Pembina and Turtle mountains and became associated with what is known as the Turtle Mountain band of Indians now numbering about three thousand. Some of these were of Canadian origin and some of American, but whether American or Canadian they roamed over the prairies hunting, now selling their catch to traders in the field or taking them to Fort Garry, now Winnipeg, where churches and schools were built and they were taught in the ways of civilization.

Bottineau County was organized March 13, 1884, by the appointment by the governor of William F. Simerall, Albert C. Barnes and Lorenzo D. Dana county commissioners.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,697 square miles (4,400 km²), of which 1,668 square miles (4,320 km²) is land and 29 square miles (75 km²) (1.7%) is water.

Part of the Turtle Mountain plateau lies in the northeastern corner of the county.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Argyle No. 1, Saskatchewan (north)
• Rural Municipality of Edward, Manitoba (north)
• Rural Municipality of Arthur, Manitoba (north)
• Rural Municipality of Brenda, Manitoba (north)
• Rural Municipality of Winchester, Manitoba (north)
• Rural Municipality of Morton, Manitoba (north)
• Rolette County (east)
• Pierce County (southeast)
• McHenry County (south)
• Renville County (west)

Education

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