Moving to Watford City, North Dakota

by btobers · Published June 25, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Watford City is located in the northwestern part of North Dakota, and is the county seat of McKenzie County. It lies at an elevation of 2,037 feet above sea level in the Missouri Plateau region of the Great Plains. The city has a semi-arid climate with cold winters and warm summers. Precipitation is sparse, averaging only 17 inches per year.

The area was first settled in 1906 by homesteaders who were attracted by its fertile soil and abundant water supply. The town was founded in 1914 and named after Watford, England. Since then it has grown to become the largest city in McKenzie County with a population of over 7,000 people.

The economy of Watford City is centered around agriculture and oil production and services related to them. Tourism also plays an important role due to its proximity to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Lake Sakakawea State Park, and other attractions such as golf courses and hunting areas.

Watford City is served by the Watford City Public School District which includes one high school, one middle school, three elementary schools and a vocational-technical center for grades 9-12. There are also several private schools located within the city limits including a Catholic school, an evangelical Christian school, a Montessori school and a Waldorf school.

The most prominent landmark in Watford City is Theodore Roosevelt National Park which was established in 1947 to commemorate President Theodore Roosevelt’s contributions to conservation efforts throughout his presidency. Other notable landmarks include Fort Buford State Historic Site which was established as a US Army post during the Indian Wars of 1866-1890; Little Missouri National Grassland which offers over 1 million acres for outdoor recreation; and Lake Sakakawea State Park which offers camping sites as well as swimming beaches along its shoreline.

Population: 1,435. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,357 (-5.4% change)
Males: 675 (47.0%), Females: 760 (53.0%)

McKenzie County

Zip code: 58854

Demographics

Median resident age: 44.4 years
Median household income: $29,688
Median house value: $45,100

Population by Race

Races in Watford City:

White Non-Hispanic (94.1%)
American Indian (4.5%)
Hispanic (1.1%)
Two or more races (1.0%)

Ancestries: Norwegian (44.5%), German (29.3%), Irish (6.1%), English (5.2%), French (3.8%), Swedish (3.8%).

Elevation: 2100 feet

Land area: 1.5 square miles

Population by Education

Watford City is located in McKenzie County, North Dakota and has a population of approximately 7,800 people. The city has experienced a significant population boom in recent years due to the oil and gas industry. Watford City is home to many young families who are drawn to the area for the job opportunities that it provides. The median age is 30, with 42% of residents between the ages of 25 and 44. The racial makeup of Watford City is 88% White, 5% Native American, 2% Asian, 1% African American and 4% from two or more races. There is also a large Hispanic population in Watford City which makes up 3% of the total population. The median household income for Watford City is $65,000 which is higher than the average for North Dakota as a whole. Education levels are high with nearly 80 percent of adults having at least some college education or higher. The city also has several educational institutions including McKenzie County Public School District, Williston State College, and Dickinson State University Center at Watford City.

For population 25 years and over in Watford City

High school or higher: 77.1%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.9%
Unemployed: 5.1%
Mean travel time to work: 17.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Watford City city

Never married: 22.6%
Now married: 53.1%
Separated: 1.9%
Widowed: 15.2%
Divorced: 7.3%

1.5% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -330 (-18.7%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Watford City:

MCKENZIE COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL -CAH (508 N MAIN)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Watford City:

MERCY MEDICAL CENTER (about 42 miles; WILLISTON, ND)
TIOGA MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL – CAH (about 47 miles; TIOGA, ND)
SIDNEY HEALTH CENTER (about 65 miles; SIDNEY, MT)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Watford City:

SLOULIN FLD INTL (about 35 miles; WILLISTON, ND; Abbreviation: ISN)
MINOT AFB (about 140 miles; MINOT, ND; Abbreviation: MIB)
MINOT INTL (about 143 miles; MINOT, ND; Abbreviation: MOT)

Other public-use airports nearest to Watford City:

WATFORD CITY MUNI (about 3 miles; WATFORD CITY, ND; Abbreviation: S25)
WEYDAHL FIELD (about 46 miles; KILLDEER, ND; Abbreviation: 9Y1)
TIOGA MUNI (about 48 miles; TIOGA, ND; Abbreviation: D60)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Watford City:

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY (about 141 miles; MINOT, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,662)
BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE (about 186 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,205)
UNIVERSITY OF MARY (about 189 miles; BISMARCK, ND; Full-time enrollment: 2,203)
BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 232 miles; SPEARFISH, SD; Full-time enrollment: 3,190)
SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY (about 256 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,002)
CHADRON STATE COLLEGE (about 344 miles; CHADRON, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,144)
NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 368 miles; ABERDEEN, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,356)

Schools

Public high school in Watford City:

WATFORD CITY HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 311; Location: 100 E 3RD ST; Grades: 07 – 12)

Private high school in Watford City:

JOHNSON CORNERS CHRISTIAN (Students: 64; Location: HC 3 BOX 22; Grades: 1 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Watford City:

WATFORD CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 276; Location: 300 3RD ST SE; Grades: PK – 06)
STEVENSON SCHOOL (Students: 4; Location: MCKENZIE COUNTY; Grades: KG – 08)

Libraries

Library in Watford City:

MCKENZIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $81,497; Location: 112 SECOND AVENUE NE; 25,000 books; 925 audio materials; 400 video materials; 37 serial subscriptions)