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List of Cities and Counties in North Dakota
Discover North Dakota population facts easily with our list of counties and cities. Find out how many people live in each area, from big cities to small towns, and see how the North Dakota population is spread out across the state.
North Dakota Counties by Population
A county is an administrative subdivision of a US state or territory. As of 2022, North Dakota is divided into 53 counties.
The average population of North Dakota counties is 14,622; Cass County is the most populous (186,562) and Slope County is the least (690). The average land area is 1302 sq mi. The largest county by area is McKenzie County (2,742 sq mi) and the smallest is Eddy County (632 sq mi).
read about the Population of North Dakota
# | County | Population 2020 | Area (sq. mi.) | Density (people/sq. mi.) |
1 | Cass | 186,562 | 1,766 | 105.64 |
2 | Burleigh | 98,933 | 1,633 | 60.58 |
3 | Grand Forks | 72,705 | 1,438 | 50.56 |
4 | Ward | 69,071 | 2,013 | 34.31 |
5 | Williams | 38,484 | 2,071 | 18.58 |
6 | Morton | 33,611 | 1,926 | 17.45 |
7 | Stark | 33,046 | 1,338 | 24.70 |
8 | Stutsman | 21,576 | 2,222 | 9.71 |
9 | Richland | 16,560 | 1,437 | 11.52 |
10 | McKenzie | 13,819 | 2,742 | 5.04 |
11 | Rolette | 12,048 | 902 | 13.36 |
12 | Ramsey | 11,572 | 1,186 | 9.76 |
13 | Barnes | 10,806 | 1,492 | 7.24 |
14 | Walsh | 10,469 | 1,282 | 8.17 |
15 | McLean | 9,796 | 2,110 | 4.64 |
16 | Mountrail | 9,576 | 1,824 | 5.25 |
17 | Mercer | 8,323 | 1,045 | 7.96 |
18 | Traill | 8,003 | 862 | 9.28 |
19 | Pembina | 6,767 | 1,119 | 6.05 |
20 | Bottineau | 6,390 | 1,669 | 3.83 |
21 | Benson | 5,809 | 1,389 | 4.18 |
22 | Ransom | 5,675 | 863 | 6.58 |
23 | McHenry | 5,249 | 1,874 | 2.80 |
24 | Dickey | 4,897 | 1,131 | 4.33 |
25 | LaMoure | 4,066 | 1,147 | 3.54 |
26 | Dunn | 4,035 | 2,010 | 2.01 |
27 | Pierce | 3,953 | 1,018 | 3.88 |
28 | Wells | 3,905 | 1,271 | 3.07 |
29 | Sargent | 3,829 | 859 | 4.46 |
30 | Sioux | 3,738 | 1,094 | 3.42 |
31 | Cavalier | 3,662 | 1,489 | 2.46 |
32 | Foster | 3,364 | 635 | 5.30 |
33 | Emmons | 3,271 | 1,510 | 2.17 |
34 | Nelson | 3,054 | 982 | 3.11 |
35 | Bowman | 2,903 | 1,162 | 2.50 |
36 | McIntosh | 2,513 | 975 | 2.58 |
37 | Hettinger | 2,430 | 1,132 | 2.15 |
38 | Kidder | 2,369 | 1,352 | 1.75 |
39 | Eddy | 2,337 | 632 | 3.70 |
40 | Grant | 2,323 | 1,660 | 1.40 |
41 | Griggs | 2,281 | 708 | 3.22 |
42 | Renville | 2,266 | 875 | 2.59 |
43 | Divide | 2,188 | 1,259 | 1.74 |
44 | Adams | 2,167 | 988 | 2.19 |
45 | Burke | 2,158 | 1,104 | 1.95 |
46 | Towner | 2,140 | 1,025 | 2.09 |
47 | Logan | 1,883 | 993 | 1.90 |
48 | Oliver | 1,873 | 724 | 2.59 |
49 | Steele | 1,810 | 712 | 2.54 |
50 | Golden Valley | 1,770 | 1,002 | 1.77 |
51 | Sheridan | 1,268 | 972 | 1.30 |
52 | Billings | 955 | 1,152 | 0.83 |
53 | Slope | 690 | 1,218 | 0.57 |
Source: US Census report 2021
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Top Cities in North Dakota Population by population
There are a total of 372 towns and cities in the state of North Dakota. Fargo is the largest city in North Dakota with a population of 125,990. Its followed by Bismarck (73,622) and Grand Forks (59,166).
let’s have a look at Top Cities in North Dakota by population
# | City | Population |
1 | Fargo | 125,990 |
2 | Bismarck | 73,622 |
3 | Grand Forks | 59,166 |
4 | Minot | 48,377 |
5 | West Fargo | 38,626 |
6 | Williston | 29,160 |
7 | Dickinson | 25,679 |
8 | Mandan | 24,206 |
9 | Jamestown | 15,849 |
10 | Wahpeton | 8,007 |
Source: US Census 2020
Most Populous Counties in North Dakota
The most populous county in North Dakota is Cass County with 186,562 residents. It is followed by Burleigh County (98,933) and Grand Forks County (72,705)
Let’s have a look at the Top 10 most populous counties
# | County | Population 2020 |
1 | Cass | 186,562 |
2 | Burleigh | 98,933 |
3 | Grand Forks | 72,705 |
4 | Ward | 69,071 |
5 | Williams | 38,484 |
6 | Morton | 33,611 |
7 | Stark | 33,046 |
8 | Stutsman | 21,576 |
9 | Richland | 16,560 |
10 | McKenzie | 13,819 |
Least Populated North Dakota County
The least populous county is Slope County with 690 residents, it’s followed by Billings County and Sheridan County.
Let’s have a look at 5 least populated counties in North Dakota
# | County | Population 2020 |
1 | Slope | 690 |
2 | Billings | 955 |
3 | Sheridan | 1,268 |
4 | Golden Valley | 1,770 |
5 | Steele | 1,810 |
source: US Census 2021
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Largest counties in North Dakota by area
The Largest county by Land Area in North Dakota is McKenzie County with an area of 2,742 sq. miles. Stutsman County with an area of 2,222 sq. mi. comes next followed by McLean County (2,110 sq. mi.)
Let’s have a look at the Top 10 counties by Area
# | County | Area (sq. mi.) |
1 | McKenzie | 2,742 |
2 | Stutsman | 2,222 |
3 | McLean | 2,110 |
4 | Williams | 2,071 |
5 | Ward | 2,013 |
6 | Dunn | 2,010 |
7 | Morton | 1,926 |
8 | McHenry | 1,874 |
9 | Mountrail | 1,824 |
10 | Cass | 1,766 |
Smallest County in North Dakota by area
The smallest county by area in North Dakota is Eddy County with an area of 632 square miles.
# | County | Area (sq. mi.) |
1 | Eddy | 632 |
2 | Foster | 635 |
3 | Griggs | 708 |
4 | Steele | 712 |
5 | Oliver | 724 |
source: US Census report 2021
Most Densely populated Counties in North Dakota
The most densely populated county in North Dakota is Cass County, with 105 people per sq. mi. Next comes Burleigh County with 61 people per sq. mi. followed by Grand Forks County (51/per sq.mi)
Let’s have a look at the Top densely populated counties
# | County | Density (people/sq. mi.) |
1 | Cass | 105.64 |
2 | Burleigh | 60.58 |
3 | Grand Forks | 50.56 |
4 | Ward | 34.31 |
5 | Stark | 24.70 |
Least Densely Populated County in North Dakota
Slope County with a population density of just 0.57 people per sq. miles is the least densely populated county in North Dakota
# | County | Density (people/sq. mi.) |
1 | Slope | 0.57 |
2 | Billings | 0.83 |
3 | Sheridan | 1.30 |
4 | Grant | 1.40 |
5 | Divide | 1.74 |
source: US Census 2021