Moving to Steele, North Dakota

Steele, North Dakota is a small town located in the southeastern corner of the state. It has a population of around 500 people, mostly consisting of farmers and ranchers. The geography of Steele is mostly flat with some rolling hills to the north and south. The climate is fairly mild, with temperatures ranging from 30-80 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months and 10-40 during the winter months.

Steele’s history dates back to its founding in 1881 when it was first established as a farming and ranching community. Since then, it has remained primarily agricultural in nature but has also developed some other industries such as oil production and tourism. Politically, Steele is part of Burleigh County and votes mainly Republican.

The economy in Steele is mostly based on farming, ranching, and oil production. There are also some businesses that provide services to local residents such as restaurants, grocery stores, and hardware stores. The town also has two schools: Steele Elementary School for pre-kindergarten through fourth grade students, and Central High School for fifth through twelfth grade students.

Landmarks in Steele include the Steele Post Office which was built in 1903 and still stands today as an example of early twentieth century architecture; the old grain elevator which dates back to 1912; and the historic church located on Main Street which was built in 1890 by German immigrants who settled here at that time.

Population: 761. Estimated population in July 2024: 694 (-8.8% change)
Males: 354 (46.5%), Females: 407 (53.5%)

Kidder County

Zip code: 58482

Demographics

Median resident age: 44.8 years
Median household income: $27,841
Median house value: $55,600

Population by Race

Races in Steele:

  • White Non-Hispanic (99.6%)

Ancestries: German (58.3%), Norwegian (23.1%), English (7.6%), Irish (5.5%), Russian (4.6%), French (2.4%).

Elevation: 1865 feet

Land area: 0.6 square miles

Population by Education

Steele, North Dakota is a small rural town located in the south-central part of the state. It has a population of just over 800 people, most of whom are white, with small minorities of Native Americans and Hispanics. The median age is 36.7 years old and the median household income is $36,000 per year.

The town is largely agricultural with many farms and ranches in the area. The main crops grown are wheat, corn and soybeans. There are also several small businesses that provide goods and services to the town’s residents.

Living costs in Steele are relatively low compared to other parts of North Dakota; the cost of living index for Steele is 6% lower than the national average. Housing prices are among the lowest in the state, with an average home costing around $100,000. Utilities such as electricity and water are also inexpensive compared to other areas in North Dakota due to its rural nature. Taxes on property and income are also lower than other locations in North Dakota; however sales tax is slightly higher at 7%.

The town has several recreational activities available for its residents including fishing, camping, hiking and hunting opportunities nearby as well as several parks within city limits for families to enjoy. There are also several churches located within Steele providing spiritual guidance for its citizens.

For population 25 years and over in Steele

  • High school or higher: 69.8%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.5%
  • Unemployed: 5.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 17.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Steele city

  • Never married: 17.6%
  • Now married: 52.0%
  • Separated: 0.5%
  • Widowed: 22.6%
  • Divorced: 7.4%

1.7% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -6 (-0.8%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Steele:

  • MEDCENTER ONE (about 43 miles; BISMARCK, ND)
  • WISHEK COMMUNITY HOSPITAL – CAH (about 47 miles; WISHEK, ND)
  • LINTON HOSPITAL (about 47 miles; LINTON, ND)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Steele:

  • BISMARCK MUNI (about 57 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Abbreviation: BIS)
  • JAMESTOWN REGIONAL (about 87 miles; JAMESTOWN, ND; Abbreviation: JMS)
  • DEVILS LAKE MUNI (about 111 miles; DEVILS LAKE, ND; Abbreviation: DVL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Steele:

  • NAPOLEON MUNI (about 29 miles; NAPOLEON, ND; Abbreviation: 5B5)
  • HAZELTON MUNI (about 37 miles; HAZELTON, ND; Abbreviation: 6H8)
  • LINTON MUNI (about 50 miles; LINTON, ND; Abbreviation: 7L2)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Steele:

  • UNIVERSITY OF MARY (about 59 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,203)
  • BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE (about 60 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,205)
  • MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY (about 136 miles; MINOT, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,662)
  • NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 137 miles; ABERDEEN, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,356)
  • NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 205 miles; FARGO, ND; Full-time enrollment: 8,836)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA-MAIN CAMPUS (about 210 miles; GRAND FORKS, ND; Full-time enrollment: 9,935)
  • NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (about 233 miles; WAHPETON, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,176)

Schools

Public high school in Steele:

  • STEELE-DAWSON HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 136; Location: 101 4TH ST SE; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Steele:

  • STEELE-DAWSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 141; Location: 101 4TH ST SE; Grades: PK – 06)

Libraries

Library in Steele:

  • KIDDER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $57,415; Location: 115 WEST BROADWAY; 22,800 books; 26 serial subscriptions)