Personal loans in Dawson, ND
If you are weighing a personal loan in Dawson, start from the payment you can carry; its 73 residents face the same statewide rules. Dawson is home to roughly 73 people and stands 247th by size out of 355 Census places in North Dakota.
The nearest larger metro is Tappen, ND about 6 miles away. From the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate, the population declined by about 2.7%. Which products a lender may offer to Dawson's 73 residents follows from the North Dakota consumer-lending framework. Price two or three terms so you can see which payment is truly affordable in Dawson.
Dawson: population, trend and location
Dawson is a small community; the notes below cover its population profile and the statewide rules that apply.
- Population: about 73 people live here, which puts Dawson 247th of 355 Census places in North Dakota (Vintage 2023).
- Population trend: Roughly 2.7% fewer residents than the 2020 Census counted.
- Absolute change: 2 residents lost between 2020 and 2023.
- Size percentile: with 73 residents, Dawson is larger than about 30% of North Dakota's Census places.
- Population density: 214 people per square mile on 0.3 square miles of land.
- Land area rank: Dawson's 0.3 square miles rank 237th of 355 places in North Dakota.
- State population share: Dawson accounts for about 0.0% of everyone in North Dakota.
- National standing: Dawson ranks 18,594th of 19,457 US places.
- Growth in North Dakota: Dawson stands 234th by percentage change from 2020 to 2023, among 355 places.
- State comparison: North Dakota's places average -1.2% for 2020-to-2023, against Dawson's 2.7%.
- Density rank: Dawson places 237th among North Dakota's places by people per square mile.
- Against the state median: Dawson runs about 214 residents per square mile, where the North Dakota median is 352.
- Location: the Census Gazetteer records it at 46.8679, -99.7536.
- Nearest larger cities: Tappen (6 mi); Steele (8 mi); Medina (22 mi); Streeter (24 mi); Napoleon (25 mi). A bigger neighbour may offer more branches; the rate you see still follows your credit, not your address.
- Smaller places nearby: Robinson (19 mi); Pettibone (20 mi); Tuttle (22 mi).
- Smaller neighbours: 11 places smaller than Dawson sit within 50 miles.
- Within 100 miles: 97 places are larger than Dawson.
Land, water and location for Dawson
Inside Dawson's boundaries lie about 0.3 square miles of land, with no significant water area recorded. The resulting density is about 214 people per square mile. The state's population centre of gravity, Fargo, is roughly 138 miles away. A 50-mile radius around Dawson takes in 18 places that are larger. By land area it ranks 237th of 355 North Dakota places.
Getting a loan in Dawson
At roughly 214 people per square mile, Dawson is lightly settled; 18 larger places lie within 50 miles. Whether Dawson has a local branch or not, a North Dakota-licensed lender can serve its 73 people online on the same terms. The nearest larger city, Tappen, ND about 6 miles away.
North Dakota rules behind a Dawson personal loan
Below are the North Dakota rules that apply to a loan made in Dawson, each with the regulator that issued it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (NDDFI) Source says: "The Department also licenses and regulates Money Brokers... Deferred Presentment Service Providers (Payday Lenders), Collection Agencies, Debt Settlement Service Providers, and Money Transmitters." | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Usury penalties (state-specific rule) | Usury forfeits all interest plus 25% of principal; charging usurious interest is a class B misdemeanor. Source says: "shall be deemed a forfeiture of the entire interest" and "a forfeiture of twenty-five percent of the principal" (N.D.C.C. 47-14-10); usury is a class B misdemeanor (47-14-11). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Formula ceiling: 6-month U.S. Treasury bill average + 5.5 percentage points, never less than 7%; NDDFI-published rate for September 2026: 9.204%. Source says: "The rate is equal to five and one-half percent (5.5%) higher than the current cost of money" and "the maximum allowable interest rate ceiling may not be less than seven (7) percent" (NDDFI Usury Rate page; September 2026 rate 9.204%). | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
The anatomy of a Dawson personal loan
A Dawson personal loan is an installment loan: a lump sum, then fixed monthly payments over a set term, priced off your credit rather than its 73 residents. Federal Truth in Lending rules require a Dawson lender to disclose the APR and finance charge before you sign. A longer term lowers the monthly payment on a Dawson loan but raises total interest, so the smallest payment is not the cheapest loan.
The Dawson borrowing checklist
Complete these steps first when you borrow in Dawson (73 residents):
- Get your credit reports, dispute what is wrong, and only then start shopping.
- Price the payment first with our personal loan calculator before any lender quotes you.
- Gather at least three pre-qualified offers and line up the APR, not the headline rate.
- Check the North Dakota regulator's records to confirm the lender is licensed here.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment you can comfortably afford.
- Borrow only what the purpose requires, not the maximum you are offered.
- Be clear on what the loan is for and how it gets repaid.
What differs between Dawson and the rest of North Dakota is not the process but the borrower's own file, among the 73 people here.
Common questions
What are my options in Dawson if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Dawson?
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Dawson?
Does comparing loans in Dawson cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Tappen, ND — population 211
- Steele, ND — population 652
- Robinson, ND — population 35
- Pettibone, ND — population 58
- Napoleon, ND — population 745
- Tuttle, ND — population 58
- Streeter, ND — population 148
- Braddock, ND — population 17