Beach, North Dakota Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published June 25, 2019 · Updated September 12, 2024

Beach, North Dakota is a small city located in the western part of the state. With a population of just over 1,500 people, it is a quiet and peaceful place to live. The geography of Beach is mostly flat, with rolling hills in the distance. The climate is semi-arid with hot summers and cold winters.

The history of Beach is rich and varied. It was originally settled by Native Americans who lived off the land for many years before the arrival of European settlers in the late 1800s. The influx of settlers led to increased farming activity in the area and eventually to its incorporation as a town in 1890. In recent years, Beach has become increasingly diverse as more people have moved into the area from other parts of North Dakota and beyond.

Politically, Beach leans heavily Democratic but there are a few Republican voters as well. It has two representatives in the state legislature who are both Democrats and one Democratic mayor who serves as head of government for the city.

The economy in Beach is largely based on agriculture and farming, with some small businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, and service industries also contributing to its economic health. There are also several large employers that provide jobs to local residents such as schools, hospitals, banks, and manufacturing plants.

Beach has four public schools that serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade: Beach Elementary School; Southside Middle School; Northside High School; and Beach Community College which offers an associate’s degree program for adults interested in continuing their education beyond high school or college level courses.

Landmarks within Beach include its historic downtown district which features several Victorian-style buildings along Main Street; an old church built in 1885; an 1892 water tower; and a replica covered bridge built over a local creek near Southside Middle School. There are also several parks scattered throughout town that offer outdoor recreational activities such as hiking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, fishing spots, and more for locals to enjoy year round.

Population: 1,116. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,000 (-10.4% change)
Males: 498 (44.6%), Females: 618 (55.4%)

Golden Valley County

Zip code: 58621

Demographics

Median resident age: 43.2 years
Median household income: $28,977
Median house value: $40,100

Population by Race

Races in Beach:

White Non-Hispanic (98.2%)
Hispanic (1.0%)
Other race (0.5%)
American Indian (0.5%)

Ancestries: German (45.2%), Norwegian (20.8%), Irish (9.5%), Polish (8.5%), English (7.4%), Swedish (5.0%).

Elevation: 2793 feet

Land area: 1.8 square miles

Population by Education

Beach, North Dakota is a small town located in the western portion of the state. As of 2020, the population was estimated to be around 725 people. The majority of the population is Caucasian, with around 81% of the population being White. The remaining 19% consists primarily of Native Americans, Hispanics and African Americans. The median age in Beach is 45 years old, with a majority of the population being over 18 years old. The median household income is slightly below the national average at $45,000 per year.

The majority of employment in Beach comes from oil-related industries such as oil extraction and refining. There are also some agricultural and manufacturing businesses present in town as well as some retail establishments like convenience stores and gas stations. Education levels are relatively low with only 12% of adults over 25 having completed a four year college degree or higher. Despite this fact, Beach has a strong sense of community pride with many residents actively involved in local activities such as festivals and sports teams.

For population 25 years and over in Beach

High school or higher: 85.3%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.0%
Unemployed: 4.9%
Mean travel time to work: 11.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Beach city

Never married: 20.1%
Now married: 58.6%
Separated: 0.2%
Widowed: 12.6%
Divorced: 8.5%

0.5% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -114 (-9.3%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Beach:

FALLON MEDICAL COMPLEX CAH (about 43 miles; BAKER, MT)
GLENDIVE MEDICAL CENTER (about 52 miles; GLENDIVE, MT)
SIDNEY HEALTH CENTER (about 55 miles; SIDNEY, MT)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Beach:

SLOULIN FLD INTL (about 90 miles; WILLISTON, ND; Abbreviation: ISN)
ELLSWORTH AFB (about 202 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Abbreviation: RCA)
GILLETTE-CAMPBELL COUNTY (about 207 miles; GILLETTE, WY; Abbreviation: GCC)

Other public-use airports nearest to Beach:

BEACH (about 3 miles; BEACH, ND; Abbreviation: 20U)
BAKER MUNI (about 44 miles; BAKER, MT; Abbreviation: BHK)
SIDNEY-RICHLAND MUNI (about 56 miles; SIDNEY, MT; Abbreviation: SDY)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Beach:

BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 167 miles; SPEARFISH, SD; Full-time enrollment: 3,190)
SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY (about 203 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,002)
MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY (about 209 miles; MINOT, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,662)
BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE (about 224 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,205)
UNIVERSITY OF MARY (about 226 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,203)
CHADRON STATE COLLEGE (about 291 miles; CHADRON, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,144)
CASPER COLLEGE (about 319 miles; CASPER, WY; Full-time enrollment: 2,564)

Schools

Public high school in Beach:

BEACH HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 215; Location: 600 N CENTRAL AVE; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Beach:

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 121; Location: 201 1ST AVE SE; Grades: PK – 06)

Libraries

Library in Beach:

GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY LIBRARY (Operating income: $26,186; Location: 54 CENTRAL AVENUE; 18,500 books; 180 audio materials; 700 video materials; 27 serial subscriptions)