McKenzie County, North Dakota

McKenzie County Education, Geography, and History

McKenzie County is a county located in the state of North Dakota. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 6,360. Its county seat is Watford City.

McKenzie County was first created by the March 8, 1883 Dakota Territory legislature but eliminated in 1891 due to a lack of settlement. The county was then recreated by the 1905 state legislature, with the county government first organizing on April 20, 1905. The name comes from early North Dakota politician Alexander McKenzie. Before becoming Watford City, the county seat was Alexander from 1905 to 1907 and Schafer from 1907 to 1941.

Etymology - Origin of McKenzie County Name

Named for Alexander McKenzie of Bismarck (1851-1922), credited with helping to engineer the removal of the capitol of Dakota Territory from Yankton to Bismarck that year and who later became one the North Dakota's most powerful political leaders.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

McKenzie County History

Original McKenzie County was created by the 1883 territorial legislature but eliminated in 1891 due to lack of settlement. Named for Alexander McKenzie of Bismarck (1851-1922), credited with helping to engineer the removal of the capitol of Dakota Territory from Yankton to Bismarck that year and who later became one the North Dakota's most powerful political leaders. The present county was created by the 1905 state legislature. Government organized: April 20, 1905. County Seat: Alexander, 1905-1907; Schafer, 1907-1941; Watford City, 1941-present.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,861 square miles (7,410 km²), of which 2,760 square miles (7,100 km²) is land and 100 square miles (260 km²) (3.5%) is water. It is the largest county in North Dakota by area.

The McKenzie County landscape features a wide diversity of physical features, ranging from sugarbeet fields bordering the Missouri River at the northwest corner of the county to rugged badlands near the Little Missouri River in the south, where Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Little Missouri National Grassland are located. Between the two rivers is a large area of prairie, ranging from gentle rolling terrain to rocky, rugged pastures. The southeast corner of the county, bordering on the Little Missouri badlands of neighboring Dunn County, is abundant in wildlife, quaking aspen groves, and bur oak groves, interspersed in places with western red cedar on the north-facing slopes of the badlands.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Williams County (north)
• Mountrail County (northeast)
• Dunn County (southeast)
• Billings County (south)
• Golden Valley County (southwest)
• Wibaux County, Montana (southwest)
• Richland County, Montana (west)

Education

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