Personal loans in Golden Valley, ND

With roughly 188 residents, Golden Valley is a small community, and the lending rules its borrowers live under are written in North Dakota, not by the city.

By the Personalloaner Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

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The Census estimates 188 residents in Golden Valley, which ranks it 165th of 355 places in North Dakota. A 2020-to-2023 comparison shows Golden Valley down by about 1.1%. Decide the purpose of the loan and your repayment plan before sharing any details with a Golden Valley lender. The closest larger city is Zap, ND about 7 miles away. Consumer lending that reaches Golden Valley's 188 residents is governed by North Dakota statute; no city ordinance changes it.

Borrowing in Golden Valley: the local picture

Only a few things actually differ by place — population, area, location, and the North Dakota rules a lender must follow — and they are below.

Population: about 188 people live here, which puts Golden Valley 165th of 355 Census places in North Dakota (Vintage 2023).
Population trend: A loss of roughly 1.1% between 2020 and 2023.
Absolute change: 2 residents lost between 2020 and 2023.
Size percentile: about 54% of North Dakota communities are smaller than Golden Valley (188 residents).
Density: the Census land area of 0.7 sq mi holds about 251 people per square mile.
Land area: Golden Valley covers 0.7 square miles, the 150th-largest area among North Dakota's 355 places.
Share of state population: Golden Valley's 188 residents are about 0.0% of North Dakota.
National rank: Golden Valley is the 16,655th most populous of the 19,457 Census places covered here.
Growth rank: Golden Valley ranks 120th among North Dakota's 355 places for the 2020-to-2023 change.
Versus North Dakota: the state average change is -1.2%, while Golden Valley moved 1.1%.
Density rank: Golden Valley places 216th among North Dakota's places by people per square mile.
Density in context: Golden Valley's 251 people per square mile sit against a North Dakota median of 352.
Location: 47.2903, -102.0653 (Census Gazetteer coordinates).
Nearest larger cities: Zap (7 mi); Halliday (14 mi); Beulah (14 mi); Hazen (21 mi); Dunn Center (26 mi). Any of them may have more branches, but statewide rules and your credit still set the price.
Smaller communities close by: Dodge (7 mi); Pick City (32 mi); Coleharbor (43 mi), each with its own Census population profile.
Within a 50-mile radius: 7 smaller Census places.
At 100 miles: 62 larger Census places fall inside that radius.

The anatomy of a Golden Valley personal loan

A Golden Valley personal loan is an installment loan: a lump sum, then fixed monthly payments over a set term, priced off your credit rather than its 188 residents. Federal Truth in Lending rules require a Golden Valley lender to disclose the APR and finance charge before you sign. Shortening the term on a Golden Valley loan raises the monthly payment but cuts the interest; lengthening it does the reverse.

Where Golden Valley sits in North Dakota

Within North Dakota, Golden Valley holds roughly 0.0% of all residents, the 165th-largest share among 355 places. Its 2020-to-2023 change ranks 120th of 355 North Dakota places, putting it near the 66th percentile for growth. At about 251 people per square mile, Golden Valley is the 216th most densely settled place in North Dakota. By land area, its 0.7 square miles rank 150th of 355 places in North Dakota.

Land, water and location for Golden Valley

Golden Valley covers about 0.7 square miles of land (Census Gazetteer); no significant water area is recorded inside its boundaries. With 188 residents, the land area yields roughly 251 people per square mile. The largest place in North Dakota, Fargo, lies about 248 miles away. Counting outward 50 miles, 20 larger communities surround Golden Valley. Within the same 50 miles lie 7 smaller Census places.

North Dakota consumer-lending rules applied in Golden Valley

When North Dakota does not publish a figure, the row links to the source instead of inventing a number; Golden Valley is bound by the same rules.

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
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
Payday lending status	Legal for licensed deferred presentment service providers; fee capped at 20% of amount advanced; max $500 per transaction; $600 aggregate outstanding per customer. Source says: "A licensee may charge a fee for the deferred presentment service, not to exceed twenty percent of the amount paid to the customer" (N.D.C.C. 13-08-12); "may not disburse more than five hundred dollars to the customer in a deferred presentment service transaction" (13-08-12.3).	North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16

Before you apply in Golden Valley

A sensible order of operations for a loan in Golden Valley, home to about 188 people:

Start with the credit file: order the reports, fix the errors, then apply.
Use the loan calculator to test the payment on your intended amount and term.
Shop at least three lenders and judge them on APR and total cost.
Look the lender up in the North Dakota regulator's licence records before you sign.
When debt already feels heavy, a nonprofit credit counsellor is worth a call first.
Look for an origination fee or prepayment penalty in the written disclosure.
Test the payment against your current bills before you commit.

In Golden Valley as elsewhere in North Dakota, the written terms — not the advertisement — are what count for its 188 residents.

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Common questions

What are my options in Golden Valley if my credit is poor?

Borrowing is still possible, but expect a higher APR and a smaller approved amount. Lenders that accept lower scores hold statewide licences, so what is open to you in Golden Valley is the same as anywhere in North Dakota.

What loan size can I expect in Golden Valley?

Most personal loans sit somewhere between $1,000 and $50,000, though the figure you are approved for turns on the lender, your income and your credit. Model the monthly payment first with our personal loan calculator.

Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Golden Valley?

For an unsecured personal loan, no — there is nothing to pledge. A secured loan, such as home equity or one secured by a vehicle, does require collateral, and default puts that asset at risk.

Does comparing loans in Golden Valley cost me credit score points?

Not during pre-qualification, which normally uses a soft pull and leaves your score alone. Submitting a full application triggers a hard inquiry, which can trim a few points briefly.

Nearby places

Dodge, ND — population 86
Zap, ND — population 224
Halliday, ND — population 230
Beulah, ND — population 3,034
Hebron, ND — population 788
Hazen, ND — population 2,276
Richardton, ND — population 671
Taylor, ND — population 224