Counties most concerned about climate change in North Dakota

Nationally, 72% of Americans believe global warming is happening. But when public opinion researchers zoom in on Americans, they find that attitudes and opinions about climate change can vary drastically from county to county—even when those counties are next door. Public opinion factors into how policy-makers respond to climate change, including taking steps to reduce CO2 levels and mitigate harmful impacts already being experienced. Stacker compiled a list of counties most concerned about climate change in North Dakota using data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Counties are ranked by the percent of residents that are worried about global warming.

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

1 / 53

#53. Mercer County

- Worried about global warming: 46.7%
--- 5.4% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 42.5%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 31.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 28.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 41.4%
- Total population: 6,552 people

David Becker // Wikimedia Commons

2 / 53

#52. Oliver County

- Worried about global warming: 49.3%
--- 2.8% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 44.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 34.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 43.7%
- Total population: 1,357 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

3 / 53

#51. Pierce County

- Worried about global warming: 49.5%
--- 2.6% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 52.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 34.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 27.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 46.6%
- Total population: 3,246 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

4 / 53

#50. Burke County

- Worried about global warming: 50.1%
--- 2.0% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 51.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 35.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 47.2%
- Total population: 1,587 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

5 / 53

#49. Hettinger County

- Worried about global warming: 50.7%
--- 1.4% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 51.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 30.5%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 47.3%
- Total population: 2,029 people

Matt // Wikimedia Commons

6 / 53

#48. Foster County

- Worried about global warming: 50.9%
--- 1.2% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 52.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 35.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 47.4%
- Total population: 2,563 people

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

7 / 53

#47. Williams County

- Worried about global warming: 50.9%
--- 1.2% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 52.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 47.3%
- Total population: 25,328 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

8 / 53

#46. Bowman County

- Worried about global warming: 51.0%
--- 1.1% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 52.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.7%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 47.9%
- Total population: 2,378 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

9 / 53

#45. Renville County

- Worried about global warming: 51.4%
--- 0.7% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 52.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.7%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 48.3%
- Total population: 1,836 people

Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

10 / 53

#44. Burleigh County

- Worried about global warming: 51.5%
--- 0.7% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 35.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 30.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 47.6%
- Total population: 72,816 people

Publichall // Wikimedia Commons

11 / 53

#43. McHenry County

- Worried about global warming: 51.6%
--- 0.6% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 48.5%
- Total population: 4,479 people

Cavan-Images // Shutterstock

12 / 53

#42. Stark County

- Worried about global warming: 51.6%
--- 0.5% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.7%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 49.2%
- Total population: 23,039 people

Randall Runtsch // Shutterstock

13 / 53

#41. Billings County

- Worried about global warming: 51.7%
--- 0.4% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 51.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 48.0%
- Total population: 725 people

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

14 / 53

#40. McLean County

- Worried about global warming: 52.1%
--- 0.0% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 47.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 46.3%
- Total population: 7,519 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

15 / 53

#39. Dunn County

- Worried about global warming: 52.1%
--- 0.0% lower than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 37.7%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 48.9%
- Total population: 3,340 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

16 / 53

#38. Emmons County

- Worried about global warming: 52.1%
--- 0.0% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 38.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 50.0%
- Total population: 2,678 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

17 / 53

#37. Divide County

- Worried about global warming: 52.5%
--- 0.4% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 37.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 49.3%
- Total population: 1,874 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

18 / 53

#36. Cavalier County

- Worried about global warming: 52.7%
--- 0.6% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 54.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 37.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 49.4%
- Total population: 2,989 people

Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons

19 / 53

#35. Stutsman County

- Worried about global warming: 52.8%
--- 0.7% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 55.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 30.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 48.1%
- Total population: 16,769 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

20 / 53

#34. Golden Valley County

- Worried about global warming: 52.9%
--- 0.7% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 54.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 38.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 35.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 49.6%
- Total population: 1,435 people

Xerxes2004 // Wikimedia Commons

21 / 53

#33. McKenzie County

- Worried about global warming: 52.9%
--- 0.8% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 30.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 49.2%
- Total population: 9,122 people

Bob Pool // Shutterstock

22 / 53

#32. Morton County

- Worried about global warming: 53.0%
--- 0.9% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 36.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 30.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 48.8%
- Total population: 24,158 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

23 / 53

#31. McIntosh County

- Worried about global warming: 53.3%
--- 1.2% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 38.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 49.8%
- Total population: 2,146 people

DakotaDocMartin // Wikimedia Commons

24 / 53

#30. Pembina County

- Worried about global warming: 53.6%
--- 1.5% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 53.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 38.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 50.4%
- Total population: 5,508 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

25 / 53

#29. Walsh County

- Worried about global warming: 54.2%
--- 2.1% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 54.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 38.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 50.1%
- Total population: 8,299 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

26 / 53

#28. Sheridan County

- Worried about global warming: 54.2%
--- 2.1% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 54.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 51.1%
- Total population: 1,178 people

Yosoyana // Shutterstock

27 / 53

#27. Ward County

- Worried about global warming: 54.4%
--- 2.3% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 55.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 38.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 30.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 50.6%
- Total population: 52,533 people

Jerry Huddleston // Wikimedia Commons

28 / 53

#26. Logan County

- Worried about global warming: 54.5%
--- 2.4% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 55.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 38.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 51.2%
- Total population: 1,492 people

USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Common

29 / 53

#25. Bottineau County

- Worried about global warming: 54.6%
--- 2.5% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 56.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 38.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 51.2%
- Total population: 5,121 people

Bjr97543 // Wikimedia Commons

30 / 53

#24. Slope County

- Worried about global warming: 54.7%
--- 2.5% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 55.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 39.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 51.5%
- Total population: 594 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

31 / 53

#23. Griggs County

- Worried about global warming: 55.6%
--- 3.5% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 56.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 39.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 35.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 52.8%
- Total population: 1,899 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

32 / 53

#22. Grant County

- Worried about global warming: 55.6%
--- 3.5% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 56.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 41.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 38.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 52.5%
- Total population: 1,866 people

{{{1}}} // Wikimedia Commons

33 / 53

#21. Wells County

- Worried about global warming: 55.9%
--- 3.7% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 55.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 39.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 52.4%
- Total population: 3,125 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

34 / 53

#20. Adams County

- Worried about global warming: 55.9%
--- 3.8% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 57.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 52.7%
- Total population: 1,798 people

USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Common

35 / 53

#19. Dickey County

- Worried about global warming: 56.4%
--- 4.3% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 57.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 35.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 52.9%
- Total population: 3,782 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

36 / 53

#18. LaMoure County

- Worried about global warming: 56.5%
--- 4.4% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 57.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 52.3%
- Total population: 3,266 people

northlight // Shutterstock

37 / 53

#17. Kidder County

- Worried about global warming: 56.6%
--- 4.5% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 56.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 41.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 38.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 53.0%
- Total population: 1,938 people

Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) // Wikimedia Commons

38 / 53

#16. Mountrail County

- Worried about global warming: 56.6%
--- 4.5% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 57.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 41.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 52.2%
- Total population: 7,533 people

Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) // Wikimedia Commons

39 / 53

#15. Traill County

- Worried about global warming: 56.7%
--- 4.6% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 57.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 39.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 52.2%
- Total population: 6,223 people

chief_huddleston // Wikimedia Commons

40 / 53

#14. Barnes County

- Worried about global warming: 56.8%
--- 4.7% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 57.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 38.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 51.1%
- Total population: 8,682 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

41 / 53

#13. Ramsey County

- Worried about global warming: 57.4%
--- 5.3% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 58.5%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 41.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.5%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 53.4%
- Total population: 8,910 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

42 / 53

#12. Nelson County

- Worried about global warming: 57.8%
--- 5.7% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 59.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.7%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 35.5%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 54.0%
- Total population: 2,363 people

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

43 / 53

#11. Steele County

- Worried about global warming: 57.9%
--- 5.8% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 60.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 37.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 54.4%
- Total population: 1,402 people

w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

44 / 53

#10. Richland County

- Worried about global warming: 58.3%
--- 6.2% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 58.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 39.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 54.0%
- Total population: 12,768 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

45 / 53

#9. Towner County

- Worried about global warming: 58.3%
--- 6.2% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 58.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 42.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 37.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 54.5%
- Total population: 1,727 people

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

46 / 53

#8. Grand Forks County

- Worried about global warming: 58.4%
--- 6.3% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 59.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 39.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 53.4%
- Total population: 55,639 people

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

47 / 53

#7. Sargent County

- Worried about global warming: 58.6%
--- 6.5% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 59.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 41.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 54.8%
- Total population: 3,110 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

48 / 53

#6. Ransom County

- Worried about global warming: 58.9%
--- 6.8% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 59.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 54.9%
- Total population: 4,214 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

49 / 53

#5. Eddy County

- Worried about global warming: 59.8%
--- 7.7% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 60.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 43.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 55.7%
- Total population: 1,806 people

Guy William // Shutterstock

50 / 53

#4. Cass County

- Worried about global warming: 60.4%
--- 8.3% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 64.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 40.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 56.2%
- Total population: 137,361 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

51 / 53

#3. Benson County

- Worried about global warming: 63.2%
--- 11.1% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 61.9%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 46.7%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 30.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.6%
- Total population: 4,485 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

52 / 53

#2. Rolette County

- Worried about global warming: 69.3%
--- 17.2% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 50.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.4%
- Total population: 9,606 people

Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

53 / 53

#1. Sioux County

- Worried about global warming: 74.3%
--- 22.2% higher than North Dakota average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 70.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 56.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 67.0%
- Total population: 2,800 people

Counties most concerned about climate change in North Dakota

#53. Mercer County

#52. Oliver County

#51. Pierce County

#50. Burke County

#49. Hettinger County

#48. Foster County

#47. Williams County

#46. Bowman County

#45. Renville County

#44. Burleigh County

#43. McHenry County

#42. Stark County

#41. Billings County

#40. McLean County

#39. Dunn County

#38. Emmons County

#37. Divide County

#36. Cavalier County

#35. Stutsman County

#34. Golden Valley County

#33. McKenzie County

#32. Morton County

#31. McIntosh County

#30. Pembina County

#29. Walsh County

#28. Sheridan County

#27. Ward County

#26. Logan County

#25. Bottineau County

#24. Slope County

#23. Griggs County

#22. Grant County

#21. Wells County

#20. Adams County

#19. Dickey County

#18. LaMoure County

#17. Kidder County

#16. Mountrail County

#15. Traill County

#14. Barnes County

#13. Ramsey County

#12. Nelson County

#11. Steele County

#10. Richland County

#9. Towner County

#8. Grand Forks County

#7. Sargent County

#6. Ransom County

#5. Eddy County

#4. Cass County

#3. Benson County

#2. Rolette County

#1. Sioux County

Trending stories

100 best films of the 21st century, according to critics

50 best space movies of all time

50 best movies of the '60s

50 of the best college movies