The North Dakota Counties With The Highest Cancer Deaths

The "C" word.  I hate to even say it, let alone type it.

Unfortunately, it's a big part of everyday life in North Dakota.  I think just about everybody has been affected by cancer to some degree.  If not ourselves, somebody in our life has taken that journey.  Oftentimes, it's a fatal journey.

So many things factor into cancer rates across North Dakota and the USA, for that matter.

According to an article on Stacker, they range from personal habits (smoking, unhealthy eating), genetics, air pollution, to even the water we drink in any given area.

People who are also experiencing social, economic, or environmental disadvantages are disproportionately affected by high cancer rates in certain regions of North Dakota and across our country.  Lack of access or barriers to early screening care for cancer contribute to higher cancer rates.

Even your career choice in life can contribute to your chances of developing cancer.  People working in the meat industry, rubber manufacturing workers, and farmers.

Speaking of farming, North Dakota, being an agricultural leader in the country, exposes us to a lot of cancer-causing chemicals.

The following are "The 10 Counties in North Dakota with the Highest Cancer Rates", using data from the NIH. (Between 2019-2023, all races & ages, deaths adjusted per 100,000)

I find it interesting that all of the top 10 counties are mostly rural (agricultural) counties.

#10 - McHenry County - 156.2 deaths - Notable cities include Velva and Towner.

#9 - Walsh County - 156.7 deaths - Notable cities include Grafton and Park River.

#8 - Pembina County - 157.4 deaths - Notable cities include Pembina and Cavalier.

#7 - McIntosh County - 165.1 deaths - Notable cities include Wishek and Ashley.

#6 - Benson County - 165.9 deaths - Notable cities include Minnewaukan and Maddock.

#5 - Foster County - 170.1 deaths - Notable cities include Carrington and Grace City.

#4 - Sargent County - 175.1 deaths - Nobable cities include Forman and Gwinner.

#3 - Eddy County - 184.4 deaths - Notable cities include New Rockford and Sheyenne.

#2 - Burke County -191.1 deaths - Notable cities include Bowbells and Powers Lake.

#1 - Rolette County - 220.0 deaths - Notable cities include Belcourt and Rolette.

*** Morton County came in at #12 and Burleigh County came in at #32.