ND · Healthcare shortage profile
Richland County, ND
Peak severity leads this reading: Richland County's highest active HPSA score is 21.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 16,529.
- Active HPSAs
- 3
- Population
- 16,529
- Peak shortage score
- 21.0
- MUA Index
- 46.9
Light-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Richland County carries a comparatively light shortage burden - 3 active HPSA designations, more than 20% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 3
- Active HPSA designations
- 1
- Dental shortages
- 21
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 80%
- US counties by volume
Dense ZCTA lattice over Richland County
Richland County intersects 20 Census ZCTAs, above the 15-ZIP dense-tercile cut. Shortage designations still attach at the county (or smaller HPSA) grain; the ZIP list is geography, not a second severity score.
Largest land-share ZCTAs in this county
8 additional ZCTAs intersect this county in the crosswalk (ordered by land share).
Source: Census ZCTA–county relationship file joined to this portal's county FIPS set. As of 2026-08-15.
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for Richland County, ND on its own pages , computed from the retained designation mirror as of 2026-08-15. Each line carries its own denominator so it can be quoted as it stands.
-
Peak HPSA score 21.0 clears HRSA's 17-point high-priority line.
Scores at or above 17 on the 0–25/26 scales open NHSC placement priority for the matching provider type; eligibility still follows the designated area, not the county boundary alone.
-
33.3% of Richland County's 3 active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from designated HPSA records only: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental (denominator 3).
Richland County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
3 Top 80% higher than 20% of 3,289 real US counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more real US counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs · 2026
State peer position. Richland County falls in the lower half of ND counties by active-designation volume, at rank 31 of 53. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 38077. Population: 16,529.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need. What counts as a high score?
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 3 active (designated) HPSAs in Richland County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Wahpeton Health Center (Tribally Run and Funded By Bia) | dental | 21.0 |
| Wahpeton Health Center (Tribally Run and Funded By Bia) | primary_care | 17.0 |
| Wahpeton Health Center (Tribally Run and Funded By Bia) | mental_health | 13.0 |
Light-burden reading for Richland County
Peak severity leads this reading: Richland County's highest active HPSA score is 21.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Dental care carries Richland County's deepest shortage reading, 21.0 on HRSA's 0–26 dental scale, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 17.0 of 25; Mental health reads 13.0 of 25. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 46.9, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Richland County carries 3 active designations and sits below the national mid-pack (above 20% of counties). A light footprint still matters: a single high-score dental or mental-health record can open program geography even when the county total looks small next to heavy peers.
Richland County falls in the lower half of ND counties by active-designation volume, at rank 31 of 53. Read the active scores and the deepest-care guide link below before collapsing this county into a "no shortage" story.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) + Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) HPSA primary-care, mental-health, and dental designations for Richland County, ND · 2026 HRSA designation data updated quarterly; HPSA scores 0-25 (primary/mental) and 0-26 (dental); higher = greater shortage severity. Coverage tiers from U.S. Census ACS PUMS + KFF state tracker.
Acting on Richland County's designations
Richland County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Richland County's 3 active designations make providers here eligible for National Health Service Corps loan repayment, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's primary care burden compares with the rest of ND before you draw conclusions from a single score. ND overview
- Check whether an area clears HRSA's 3,500:1 population-to-provider threshold with the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score. HPSA score lookup
HPSA scores describe shortage severity within HRSA's designation criteria, not the availability of any individual provider. For a specific appointment, contact a provider or your insurer; use HRSA's current tools to verify a designation.
Counties near Richland County's dental score of 21.0
One peer set for this severity-led county: nearest active dental HPSA score to 21.0 (severity lead on this page is “Wahpeton Health Center (Tribally Run and Funded By BIA)”).
Oconee County, SC
21.0 dental score · 78,607 pop.
Duplin County, NC
21.0 dental score · 48,715 pop.
Webster County, IA
21.0 dental score · 36,999 pop.
Lancaster County, PA
21.0 dental score · 552,984 pop.
Hamilton County, IN
21.0 dental score · 347,467 pop.
Calhoun County, MI
21.0 dental score · 134,310 pop.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Richland County's MUA standing sit beside its HPSA records?
- Yes - Richland County carries an MUA designation (index 46.9; lower = greater measured need) in addition to its HPSA rows. MUA and HPSA are separate HRSA tracks; both can open different federal pathways.
- Which record sets Richland County's peak score of 21.0?
- "Wahpeton Health Center (Tribally Run and Funded By BIA)" leads the active set (score 21.0; dental; 2,522 people in the service area; designated 09/18/2020). Clearing 17 opens NHSC high-priority placement for the matching provider type on the designated geography. Discipline mix across 3 active rows: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental.
- Which other active designations sit under Richland County's severity reading?
- After "Wahpeton Health Center (Tribally Run and Funded By BIA)", the next active names on this release are "Wahpeton Health Center (Tribally Run and Funded By BIA)", "Wahpeton Health Center (Tribally Run and Funded By BIA)" and "Wahpeton Health Center (Tribally Run and Funded By BIA)". Provider need (id-de-duped) totals ~0 FTE across disciplines that still carry a gap.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 38077. This county’s designations come from BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_PC.csv (primary care) , BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_MH.csv (mental health) and BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_DH.csv (dental) — download the normalized export on our open data page. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
HRSA Data Warehouse HPSA + MUA/P records for FIPS 38077 (Richland County, ND), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 3; peak score 21.0; signature peak score 21.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.