Cavalier is the largest city in Pembina County, North Dakota, United States. It is the county seat of Pembina County. The population was 1,246 at the 2020 census. Cavalier was founded in 1875 and became the county seat in 1911. Icelandic State Park is located 6 miles west of Cavalier, is also home to Lake Renwick. Although there is the county to the west of Pembina named Cavalier County, Cavalier is not located in nearby Cavalier County. The Tongue River flows past Cavalier and Cavalier Space Force Station is located approximately 14 miles southwest of the city.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code58220

Area code701

Living in Cavalier

Safety in Cavalier

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Cavalier's police department reported only 2023, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Cavalier 0

North Dakota 2.8

U.S. 3.9

Property crime per 1,000

Cavalier 1.6

North Dakota 19.7

U.S. 19.5

FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Cavalier

Full picture →

About one in 3 of Cavalier’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Fargo (7%), Grand Forks (6%) and Crystal (5%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Fargo

Grand Forks

Crystal

Grafton

34%Work in townlive and work in Cavalier 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 717Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Cavalier →

Health in Cavalier

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 50% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 75% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with North Dakota

2better than ND·12worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▼ 3 close Habits all close Care 2▲ 1▼ 4 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

81.9%More adults treating high blood pressureND 76.3% · better 86%More adults getting cholesterol checkedND 82.7% · better 15.7%More older adults who have lost all their teethND 10.8% · worse

Care nearby

Pembina County Memorial HospitalCavalier · 4.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Service Inc. - GraftonGrafton · 27.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Cavalier · CMS · HRSAHealth in Cavalier →

Natural hazards in Cavalier

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 24% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🧊 Ice storms

11Does Cavalier flood?paid flood claims since 1979 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Cavalier

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Cavalier →

Climate in Cavalier

Full climate →

Cavalier has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to -3°, and about 39 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

17° / 1°Winter

50° / 29°Spring

78° / 55°Summer

52° / 33°Fall

How much snow does Cavalier get?About 39 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 30, with the last in spring around May 12.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Cavalier →

Schools in Cavalier

All Cavalier schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Cavalier’s kids attend outperform 76% of North Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictCAVALIER 6Schools4

Cavalier Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 195 students Red River Valley Elementary Virtual AcademyElementary · Grades K–6 · 5 students Cavalier High School AHigh · Grades 6–12 · 180 students Red River Valley High Virtual AcademyHigh · Grades 7–12 · 5 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within ND. Ratings are from neighbors.