McLean

Formed March 8, 1883 (33^rd county)

McLean County (9,770), Washburn (1,299), Garrison (1,469)

The Modern tan concrete structure built in 2013 replaced the 1907 courthouse.  The new courthouse is located on 5^th Avenue between 7^th and 8^th streets.  United States Highway 83 is four blocks northeast of the courthouse.  The building designer is Al Fitterer.  McLean County was formed on March 8, 1883 as the 33^rd county.  Washburn has always been the county seat.  The county was named for the first mayor of Bismarck, North Dakota, John A. McLean.  The county seat is named for Wisconsin Governor Cadwallader C. Washburn. 

McLean County government consists of a recorder, a sheriff, an attorney, and a treasurer (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Seven District Court Judges serve McLean, Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, Logan, McIntosh, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan, and Sioux counties and a court clerk serves McLean County (judicial.)  McLean County is in the central part of the state.  Bismarck, North Dakota is south and Minot, North Dakota is north of the county.  The Missouri River forms its southern border.  The county center is 27.4 miles North-Northwest of Washburn nearer Coleharbor.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Ward, McHenry, Sheridan, Burleigh, Oliver, Mercer, Dunn, and Mountrail counties. 

The area of the county is 2110 square miles.  It is 3 out of 53 in the state.  It ranks 16 out of 53 in population in the state.  It has a density of 4.6 persons per square mile making it 21 out of 53 in the state.  McLean County has 56.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 83 goes north to south in the county from Ward County to Burleigh County.  The county is shaped like a pistol pointing west.  Washburn is located in the southeast corner of the county.  Garrison is located near the center of the county.  Washburn is the county seat and Garrison is the largest city.  Washburn is 13.3% of the county population while Garrison is 15.0% of the county population.