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McKenzie County Heritage Park & ND Oil Museum featured on KFYR news story

The McKenzie County Heritage Park and ND Oil Museum was featured on a KFYR TV news story on Tuesday, April 23. The story showed highlights of the museum and interviewed LeRoy Lillibridge who leads the museum and helps attain its valuable and historic items. With dreams of expansion, Lillibridge continues to infuse his passion into […]

Watford City community survey on redevelopment

Over the last 15 years, Watford City has been at the center of U.S. energy production, unleashed through the extraction of Bakken oil and natural gas. As a result, the community has experienced one of the largest population growths by percentage in the U.S. during that same period. As we continue to grow and evolve, […]

April 2024 Economy at a Glance

The April 2024 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include: McKenzie County’s taxable sales & purchases for Q4 of 2023 was $84,213,962; in Q4 of 2022 it was $78,934,445. The city sales tax distribution for Watford City in March 2024 was $371,763; in March 2023 it was $354,816. The landfill […]

Bakken Area Skills Center ribbon cutting

The ribbon-cutting ceremony (in this case, a wood-cutting ceremony) for the Bakken Area Skills Center (BASC) in Watford City was held on Tuesday, April 16. Governor Doug Burgum attended the ceremony and spoke towards the success and hopefulness of the skills center. Alongside Gov. Burgum was Superintendent Dr. Steve Holen and other esteemed guests who […]

“Living in McKenzie County” community magazine

“Living in McKenzie County” is a community magazine designed to assist both new and existing residents in establishing connections within the community and exploring the myriad opportunities available in McKenzie County. This comprehensive 48-page publication (front-to-back) features a wealth of information, ranging from local attractions and annual events to workforce resources and childcare options. Delve […]

Population growth in the Bakken

New U.S. Census Bureau estimates reveal varied population changes across North Dakota’s Bakken counties, with slight increases seen in some areas while other areas experienced declines. Ward, Renville and McHenry counties saw a 0.6% decrease in population from July 2022 to July 2023. In that same timespan, Williams, McKenzie and Mountrail County saw notable growth, […]

March 2024 Economy at a Glance

The March 2024 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include: McKenzie County’s number of load pass permits in February 2024 was 2,572 permits; in February 2023 it was 1,956 permits. The city sales tax distribution for Alexander in February 2024 was $99,193; in February 2023 it was $82,364. The landfill […]

Bakken Area Skills Center ribbon cutting event

The Bakken Area Skills Center (BASC) will be holding a ribbon cutting event to officially introduce the state-of-the-art facility to the community on Tuesday, April 16 at 2:30 p.m. The event will be held at the address of the BASC, 2112 Wolves Den Parkway in Watford City. All are welcome to this exciting event!

Main Street awards announced for 2023

ND Governor Doug Burgum has announced the recipients of the 2023 Main Street Awards, which honor individuals from North Dakota who have made exceptional contributions to their communities by implementing innovative approaches aligned with the Main Street Initiative’s principles. These awards highlight the importance of recognizing and celebrating the efforts of those who actively work […]

North Dakota employment projections for 2023-2025

Job Service ND Labor Market Information Center has released the short-term employment projections through 2025, which summarizes the numeric and percent changes by industry and occupation. The top five North Dakota industries projected to have the most growth by 2025 include: 1. Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction – employed 17,500 workers in 2023 […]