McKenzie

Formed March 9, 1883 (39^th county)

McKenzie County (14,709), Watford City (6,214)

The 1974 concrete and tan brick Modern building is on 2^nd Avenue at 5^th Street.  The courthouse is two blocks north of United States Highway 85 in the town.  Schafer had the 1908 courthouse.  Kielhack & Fougner and Associates designed the courthouse.  The courthouse sits on a hill and has veteran memorials on the grounds.  The county was established on March 9, 1883 as the 39^th county.  Alexander (1905), Schafer (1907), and Watford City (1941) have all served as the county seat.  The county is named for State Politician Alexander McKenzie.  Watford City is named after Watford, Canada.  McKenzie County is the birthplace of 1 North Dakota governor; Arthur A. Link. 

McKenzie County government consists of a recorder, a sheriff, an attorney, and a treasurer (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Six District Court Judges serve McKenzie, Divide, and Williams counties and a court clerk serves McKenzie County (judicial.)  The county is situated on the western border with Montana.  Minot, North Dakota is east and Bismarck, North Dakota is southeast of the county.  The Missouri River forms its northern border.  The county center is 7.8 miles West-Southwest of Watford City nearer Arnegard.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Williams, Mountrail, Dunn, Billings, and Golden Valley counties and Montana. 

The area of the county is 2742 square miles.  It is 1 out of 53 in the state.  It ranks 10 out of 53 in population in the state.  It has a density of 5.4 persons per square mile making it 19 out of 53 in the state.  McKenzie County has 46.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 85 comes into the county from the north, Williams County, and goes to the south, Billings County.  The county is shaped like a small letter r.  Watford City is located near the center of the county.  Watford City is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 42.3% of the county population.