McKenzie County, North Dakota

The McKenzie County Economic Development office is dedicated to helping people find resources regarding workforce, financing and business services. With a community rich in oil, agriculture, tourism and entrepreneurial opportunities, McKenzie County’s economic development efforts continue to work toward a future based on economic diversification and quality of life opportunities that our residents, new and native, deserve.

Filled with rich farmland, open prairies, rugged badlands, and great people, McKenzie County is unique in its economy, landscape and attitude. Having over 1.7 million acres, we are North Dakota’s largest county geographically; and one of the top two highest oil producing counties in the United States. Largely due to petroleum development in the Bakken formation and its leaders’ progressive spirits, McKenzie County’s population has more than doubled in the past decade, and Watford City—our county seat—has more than tripled in population. Despite this unprecedented growth, our community has found ways to move forward with both upswings and downswings in agriculture and energy markets with a continual determination to make our community a better place.