Formed April 14, 1885 (43rd county)
Oliver County (1,876), Center (589)
The Modern tan brick building that is the 1979 courthouse replaced a wooden 1903 structure in Center. The courthouse is on Main Street and Center Avenue. Arlo C. Beattie is the building architect. North Dakota State Highway 48 passes in front of the courthouse. The building features columns. The grounds have a gazebo and an old Prairie House. Veterans are honored with banners throughout the community. Oliver County was organized on April 14, 1885 as the 43rd county. It is named for Congressman Harry S. Oliver. The county seat name is a geographical term for its location in the county. Sanger was the first county seat until 1902 when Center assumed the role.
Oliver County government consists of a recorder, a sheriff, an attorney, and a treasurer (executive). It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.) Seven District Court Judges serve Oliver, Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, Logan, McIntosh, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Sheridan, and Sioux counties and a court clerk serves Oliver County (judicial.) The county is in the western part of the state. Bismarck, North Dakota is southeast and Minot, North Dakota is northwest of the county. The county center is 3.1 miles West of Center. The county is surrounded clockwise by McLean, Burleigh, Morton, and Mercer counties.
The area of the county is 724 square miles. It is 49 out of 53 in the state. It ranks 48 out of 53 in population in the state. It has a density of 2.6 persons per square mile making it 36 out of 53 in the state. Oliver County has 31.4% of its population in its incorporated areas. There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county. The county is an overall rectangle. Center is located near the center of the county. Center is the county seat and the largest city since it is the only incorporated city. It is 31.4% of the county population.
Center
