Watford City

city in McKenzie County, North Dakota, United States of America

Key facts

Country: United States
State: North Dakota
County: McKenzie
Incorporated: June 1915
Mayor: Phil Riely
City council: Bethany Devlin, Carissa Suter, Chelsea Bulzomi, Lance Renville, Shilo Chavez, Steve Sanford
Total: 8.994 sq mi (23.294 km )
Land: 8.915 sq mi (23.090 km )
Water: 0.079 sq mi (0.204 km ) 0.88%
Elevation: 2,054 ft (626 m)
Estimate 2024: 6,207
Density: 691.4/sq mi (266.97/km )
Time zone

Article

Watford City (Hidatsa: abaʔaruʔush), founded in 1914, is a city in and the county seat of McKenzie County, North Dakota, United States. Its population was 6,207 at the 2020 census and was estimated to be 6,207 in 2024, making it the 14th-most-populous city in North Dakota. Because Watford City is part of the Bakken field, the North Dakota oil boom has significantly increased population and construction since the 2010 census.

The main offices of First International Bank and the headquarters of McKenzie Electric Cooperative are in Watford City. The local newspaper is the McKenzie County Farmer.