The August 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some notable data includes: Oil production in McKenzie County continues to decline for the third consecutive month with production decreasing by more than 1.4 million barrels from May to June 2026 While 50 fewer permits have been issued through the end of July 2026 compared […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, host Vawnita Best takes a look at the power of community in Watford City in a discussion with Irene Sealy, Director of the McKenzie County Public Library, and Kat Hartel and Emily Brown with Bakken MomCo. As families gear up for the school year, […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, host Vawnita Best chats with Tim Fjeldahl and Mitch Lunde about the exciting developments within the Wolf Pack Booster Club. As the freshly appointed athletic director for Watford City High School and Middle School, Mitch shares insights alongside Tim, the enthusiastic Booster Club […]
The July 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some notable data includes: Year to Date permit values are up significantly in 2026 compared to 2025 for both Watford City and McKenzie County permits Watford City hotel occupancy rate increased by 10 percentage points from 49.2% in May 2026 to 59.2% in June 2026 Census data […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, Vawnita Best sits down with Mary Fish-Gumke, Jessica Hollenbeck, and Stefanie Russell to dive into all the exciting happenings around Watford City. The Chamber’s big focus is on the upcoming 2026 Ribfest on August 14th, a staple event that promises fun, community spirit, […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast, host Vawnita Best gathers a panel of community leaders to dive into the history and resilience of McKenzie County. Featuring Tim Taylor, Steve Stenehjem, and Neal Shipman, this episode takes listeners on a journey from the early days of homesteading through the booms and […]
In this bonus episode of the Living in Mckenzie County Podcast, host Jessie Veeder Scofield welcomes Long X Arts Education and Outreach Coordinator Oksana Zvyagelskiy, Rough Rider Center Assistant Director Josh Nollmeyer, and Watford City Parks and Rec’s Recreation Manager Krystal Picklesimer. The group takes a look at the various events and activities that will […]
The June 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some notable data includes: West Texas Intermediate Oil prices in April 2026 averaged $100.32 per barrel, which is over $36 more than April of 2025. However, April production showed 9,807,740 barrels, nearly 1.4 million barrels less than the 11,202,716 barrels of oil produced in April 2025 May […]
Are data centers a viable option in McKenzie County? In this episode of Living in McKenzie County, Meghan Taunton brings together County Commissioners Howdy Lawlar and Craig Hystad, and Nathan Brenna, a rancher and former attorney, to answer that question and discuss their recent trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming. The purpose of their visit was […]
In the latest episode of Living in McKenzie County, host Meghan Taunton welcomed McKenzie County Commissioner Joel Brown and North Dakota State Senator Dale Patten to discuss the future of energy in North Dakota and to provide insights from the recent Williston Basin Petroleum Conference, where industry leaders gather to discuss the latest […]
