Moving to Cooperstown, North Dakota

by btobers · Published June 25, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Cooperstown is located in the east-central part of North Dakota, with a population of 1,061 people according to the 2010 Census. The town is situated in a agricultural region, surrounded by rich farmland and prairie. The climate is typical for the Midwest region of the United States, with hot summers and cold winters.

Cooperstown has a long and storied history that dates back to 1882 when it was founded as a railroad stop on the Great Northern Railway line. The town quickly grew into an important regional center for commerce and trade. Today Cooperstown serves as an important hub for transportation and services in the area.

The politics of Cooperstown are strongly conservative with most residents voting Republican in federal elections. Local government is run by an elected mayor who oversees a five-member city council. There are also several local boards and commissions that oversee various aspects of city life such as education, public works, parks & recreation, and economic development.

Economically speaking, Cooperstown relies heavily on agriculture as its main source of employment with many local businesses involved in farming or related industries such as grain processing or livestock production. In addition to agriculture there are also several manufacturing companies located within city limits which provide additional jobs for local residents.

Cooperstown is served by two school districts – one public district containing two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school; and one private Catholic school which offers grades K-12 education. Both districts offer quality educational opportunities to their students with many graduating students going on to attend college or enter into professional careers after graduation.

Finally, Cooperstown has several landmarks that make it unique including the historic Great Northern Railway depot which stands today as a reminder of its past; St John’s Lutheran Church which was built in 1902; the historic Carnegie Library which serves today as an art gallery; and the historic Opera House which still hosts live performances throughout the year.

Population: 1,053. Estimated population in July 2024: 945 (-10.3% change)
Males: 483 (45.9%), Females: 570 (54.1%)

Griggs County

Zip code: 58425

Demographics

Median resident age: 48.2 years
Median household income: $28,705
Median house value: $45,400

Population by Race

Races in Cooperstown:

White Non-Hispanic (98.4%)
Hispanic (0.9%)

Ancestries: Norwegian (56.4%), German (34.2%), Swedish (5.7%), English (5.1%), French (3.8%), Irish (3.8%).

Elevation: 1437 feet

Land area: 0.9 square miles

Population by Education

Cooperstown, North Dakota is a small rural town located in Griggs County with a population of just over 1,000 people. The town is known for its rich agricultural history and the opportunity to experience small-town life. It is home to a variety of businesses, including several restaurants and retail stores. The cost of living in Cooperstown is relatively low compared to other US cities, with the median home value being around $90,000 and the median household income being around $41,000. The unemployment rate in Cooperstown is also below the national average at 3.2%.

The town offers several amenities for its residents including a public library, parks, golf courses and swimming pools. There are also many cultural events that take place throughout the year such as festivals and community gatherings. Cooperstown is home to several churches offering different denominations for community members to attend or become involved in. There are also plenty of outdoor activities available for residents such as camping, canoeing, fishing and hiking trails throughout the area. Education is important in Cooperstown with two public schools within the city limits that offer students the opportunity to excel academically while still having access to extracurricular activities such as sports teams and clubs. Overall, Cooperstown provides an excellent quality of life with low living costs and plenty of opportunities for growth both professionally and personally.

For population 25 years and over in Cooperstown

High school or higher: 75.6%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.4%
Unemployed: 1.0%
Mean travel time to work: 9.3 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Cooperstown city

Never married: 18.3%
Now married: 59.2%
Separated: 0.3%
Widowed: 16.3%
Divorced: 5.9%

1.3% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -188 (-15.1%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Cooperstown:

COOPERSTOWN MEDICAL CENTER – CAH (1200 ROBERTS AVENUE NE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Cooperstown:

NELSON COUNTY HEALTH SYSTEM – CAH (about 23 miles; MCVILLE, ND)
MERCY HOSPITAL OF VALLEY CITY – CAH (about 36 miles; VALLEY CITY, ND)
NORTHWOOD DEACONESS HEALTH CENTER-CAH (about 43 miles; NORTHWOOD, ND)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Cooperstown:

JAMESTOWN REGIONAL (about 53 miles; JAMESTOWN, ND; Abbreviation: JMS)
DEVILS LAKE MUNI (about 71 miles; DEVILS LAKE, ND; Abbreviation: DVL)
GRAND FORKS INTL (about 75 miles; GRAND FORKS, ND; Abbreviation: GFK)

Other public-use airports nearest to Cooperstown:

COOPERSTOWN MUNI (about 3 miles; COOPERSTOWN, ND; Abbreviation: S32)
MC VILLE MUNI (about 23 miles; MC VILLE, ND; Abbreviation: 8M6)
BARNES COUNTY MUNI (about 36 miles; VALLEY CITY, ND; Abbreviation: 6D8)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Cooperstown:

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA-MAIN CAMPUS (about 80 miles; GRAND FORKS, ND; Full-time enrollment: 9,935)
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 88 miles; FARGO, ND; Full-time enrollment: 8,836)
MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MOORHEAD (about 119 miles; MOORHEAD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 6,400)
CONCORDIA COLLEGE AT MOORHEAD (about 119 miles; MOORHEAD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,771)
NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (about 133 miles; WAHPETON, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,176)
NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 139 miles; ABERDEEN, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,356)
UNIVERSITY OF MARY (about 188 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,203)

Schools

Public high school in Cooperstown:

GRIGGS CO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 167; Location: 1207 FOSTER AVE NE; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Cooperstown:

GRIGGS CO CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 101; Location: 901 ROBERTS AVE NE; Grades: PK – 03)

Libraries

Library in Cooperstown:

GRIGGS COUNTY LIBRARY (Operating income: $60,387; Location: 902 BURREL AVE SE; 34,139 books; 550 audio materials; 323 video materials; 58 serial subscriptions)