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Williams County, North Dakota
Old Armory at Williston, North Dakota
Location in the U.S. state of North Dakota
North Dakota's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 8, 1891
Seat	Williston
Largest city	Williston
Area
• Total	2,148 sq mi (5,563 km2)
• Land	2,077 sq mi (5,379 km2)
• Water	70 sq mi (181 km2), 3.3%
Population (est.)
• (2017)	33,349
• Density	11/sq mi (4/km2)
Congressional district	At-large
Time zone	Central: UTC−6/−5
Website	www.williamsnd.com

Williams County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,398.^[1] Its county seat is Williston.^[2] Between 2010 and 2017, according to Census Bureau estimates, it was the first-fastest growing county in the United States, trailing only neighboring McKenzie County, to its south.

The Williston Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Williams County. The Micropolitan Statistical Area is the fastest-growing Primary Statistical Area, growing 48.9% in population from 2010 to 2017.

In 2014, Williams County had the lowest percentage of unemployed people of any county in the United States, at 1.2 percent.^[3]

History

There have been two Williams counties in the history of North Dakota. The first, created in 1873, was located south of the Missouri River near where Dunn and Mercer counties are today. The second Williams County was established by the 1891 state legislature and consists of the contemporary Williams and Divide counties. The name comes from Erastus Appelman Williams, an early politician from Bismarck who served in both the territorial and state legislatures. The county government was first organized on December 8, 1891; Williston has always been the county seat.^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,148 square miles (5,560 km²), of which 2,077 square miles (5,380 km²) is land and 70 square miles (180 km²) (3.3%) is water.^[5] It is the fourth-largest county in North Dakota by area.

Lake Sakakawea, a reservoir on the Missouri River, is situated on the southern boundary of the county. Little Muddy Creek is entirely within Williams County. The confluence of the Yellowstone River with the Missouri is west of Williston.

The Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is located in Williams County along the Missouri River on the Montana border.

Williams County is one of several western North Dakota counties with significant exposure to the Bakken formation in the Williston Basin.

Adjacent counties

• 
  Divide County (north)


• 
  Burke County (northeast)


• 
  Mountrail County (east)


• 
  McKenzie County (south)


• 
  Roosevelt County, Montana (southwest)


• 
  Sheridan County, Montana (west)

Major highways

• 
  US 2
  


• 
  US 85
  


• 
  US 85B
  


• 
  ND 40
  


• 
  ND 50
  


• 
  ND 1804
  

National protected areas

• 
  Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (part)


• Lake Zahl National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 19,761 people, 8,095 households, and 5,261 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 9,680 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.95% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 4.40% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 48.3% were of Norwegian and 22.0% German ancestry.

There were 8,095 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. Of all households 30.9% were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,491, and the median income for a family was $39,065. Males had a median income of $29,884 versus $19,329 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,763. About 9.6% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 22,398 people, 9,293 households, and 5,746 families residing in the county.^[11] The population density was 10.8 inhabitants per square mile (4.2/km²). There were 10,464 housing units at an average density of 5.0 per square mile (1.9/km²).^[12] The racial makeup of the county was 92.1% white, 4.0% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population.^[11] In terms of ancestry, 46.2% were of Norwegian, 35.9% of German, 9.8% of Irish, 4.5% of Swedish and 4.4% of English ancestry.^[13]

Of the 9,293 households, 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.2% were non-families, and 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 39.0 years.^[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $55,396 and the median income for a family was $67,875. Males had a median income of $50,735 versus $27,071 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,153. About 4.7% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.^[14]

Media

• The Williston Herald

Communities

Cities

Townships

Defunct townships

• Hofflund^[15]
  

Unincorporated communities

• Appam


• Buford


• Corinth


• Hamlet


• Hanks


• McGregor


• Temple


• Trenton


• Wheelock


• Zahl

Politics

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Williams County, North Dakota

References

Coordinates: 48°21′N 103°29′W / 48.35°N 103.48°W / 48.35; -103.48