Watford City, North Dakota

In 1913, a few prospective businessmen located on the townsite of the future Watford City in anticipation of the arrival of the first Great Northern Railroad train from Fairview, Montana. The Northern Land and Townsite Company, a division of the Great Northern, platted the town and sold lots in June 1914. Building began immediately, and many businesses and homes were moved from Schafer, which eventually became a ghost town. Watford was incorporated in June 1915, and was named by Vaughan G. Morris (1879–1940) for his hometown of Watford, Ontario. A year later the town added "City" to its name to differentiate itself from Wolford in Pierce County. The Great Northern planned to extend its line to New Rockford and in 1914 began building the "Madson Grade," one of the longest dirt filled railroad grades in the country about a mile west of town. Two years later the grade was ninety feet high and nearly a mile long, but the project was abandoned shortly before the United States entered World War I. ==Geography==

Watford City is in western North Dakota, in central McKenzie County. U.S. Route 85 and North Dakota Highway 200, running concurrently, pass south and west of the city on a bypass. Williston is to the northwest, and Interstate 94 at Belfield via US 85. North Dakota Highway 23 has its western terminus in Watford City and leads east to New Town. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , (0.88%) is water. Cherry Creek, a tributary of the Little Missouri River, flows through the east side of the city. ==Climate==

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Watford City has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The wettest time of year is late spring to early summer; winter is the driest season. Temperature variation between seasons is significant. {{Weather box ==Demographics==

Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 6,207 people, 2,449 households, and 1,390 families residing in the city. As of the 2020 census, the median age was 29.3 years. 27.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 6.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 127.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 135.0 males age 18 and over. There were 2,449 households in Watford City, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.9% were married-couple households, 32.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 16.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Demographic estimates According to realtor website Zillow, the average price of a home as of May 31, 2025, in Watford City is $376,786. As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 2,797 estimated households in Watford City with an average of 2.11 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $88,351. Approximately 7.9% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Watford City has an estimated 80.7% employment rate, with 25.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 92.5% holding a high school diploma. The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (88.7%), Spanish (10.2%), Indo-European (0.0%), Asian and Pacific Islander (1.0%), and Other (0.1%). 2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 1,744 people, 733 households, and 445 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 873 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.64% White, 0.11% African American, 3.44% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from some other races and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.89% of the population. There were 733 households 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.3% were non-families. 34.7% of households were one person and 15.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 40.2 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% female. 2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 1,435 people, 619 households, and 378 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 790 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.91% White, 0.21% African American, 3.83% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from some other races and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.11% of the population. Of the 619 households 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 37.5% of households were one person and 22.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.91. The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.3% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males. The median household income was $29,688 and the median family income was $36,850. Males had a median income of $32,250 versus $21,193 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,084. About 9.8% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over. ==Transportation==

Northwest Dakota Public Transit provides dial-a-ride transit in the city. The service, run by the Williston Council for the Aging, operates weekdays from 7:30am–4:00pm and 5:00pm–9:00pm for a $3 fare. ==Education==

• Badlands Elementary School • Fox Hills Elementary School • Watford City Middle School • Watford City High School ==Sites of interest==

• Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit), to the south • Maah Daah Hey Trail • McKenzie County Heritage Park • Long X Trading Post Visitor Center • Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County ==References==