Watford City offers a great tool for residents and visitors looking to stay up to date on what’s happening in Watford City. Watford City Events is a community calendar that highlights local events, activities, and gatherings to let you see what’s happening each week. It is a go-to destination for anyone looking to plan their weekend, promote a local event, or discover something new happening in town. The website also features an option for local organizations, groups, and businesses to submit their events for free. The site is updated regularly and aims to provide a broad overview of Watford City events without requiring users to search across multiple platforms or websites.

With a strong focus on community connection, the platform continues to support local engagement and participation by making event information accessible to everyone.

To view upcoming events or submit your own, visit www.watfordcityevents.com.

Watford City Events

At the September 16th County Commissioners meeting, the commissioners agreed to grant $5 million to the Bakken Area Skills Center (BASC) endowment fund. The request was sent to the commissioners after the Job Development Authority (JDA) Board decided that the goals of the BASC align with the JDA goals of economic diversification and workforce development. Dr. Wayne Heckaman, Director of the BASC, presented to the commissioners on the center’s importance to the area and everything they’ve been doing for its students.

The $5 million endowment will be established through the North Dakota Community Foundation and will consist of annual disbursements to the BASC from the fund. The funds will be used for launching new high-demand programs, equipping labs with industry-grade simulators and tools, and attracting top-tier instructors with competitive packages. Dr. Heckaman believes that by developing a skilled workforce locally, McKenzie County will be able to retain more students after they begin their careers. You can watch the presentation and discussion at the county commissioner’s meeting on their Vimeo page.

The August 2025 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include:

  • June oil production in McKenzie County was 9,660,056 barrels, which is down nearly 2 million barrels from 11,631,323 barrels in June of 2024.
  • City Sales Tax Distribution for July was $503,808, an increase of 43.7% from last July.
  • The North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park received 27,800 visitors in July, which is the busiest month on average each year.

The McKenzie County Commission has approved adding an additional $2 million in funding towards the JDA Housing Down Payment Assistance Program. Since launching in February 2025, 79 homes have become a part of the program. The program provides up to $40,000 in down payment assistance towards the purchase of a newly-constructed house, and up to $15,000 towards the purchase of an existing house. See webpage for complete details and application.

The July 2025 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include:

  • YTD City of Watford City sales tax distributions were $2,858,396, for the same period last year they were $2,347,967.
  • YTD Rough Rider Center visits for this year are 119,700, while for the same time period last year they were 111,200.
  • Apartment occupancy rate for Brookledge remains high at 94%.

Watford City is excited to announce the launch of a new official city branding project, a significant step towards shaping the city’s future identity. This initiative aims to develop a strong, cohesive brand that reflects the spirit and evolution of Watford City, a place that has seen remarkable transformation over the past two decades. The project’s goal is to create a brand that not only represents city government but also fosters a deeper sense of community among residents.

To lead this important effort, The City of Watford City is partnering with The Good Kids, a renowned brand agency based in Bismarck, ND. The Good Kids are known for work on statewide projects, such as The North Dakota Tourism icon project, and local brands such as The Merc at Long X and The Living in McKenzie County magazine and podcast.

Together, representatives from the city and The Good Kids will embark on a comprehensive process to craft a brand guide that captures the essence of this vibrant community. This guide will serve as a foundational tool, ensuring consistency and clarity in all official communications and initiatives as the official City of Watford City “logo”, while helping to articulate what makes Watford City a unique and desirable place to live, work, and visit.

A crucial component of this project is community engagement. Before any creative development begins, there will be a community engagement survey to gather feedback directly from residents. Your insights are invaluable in helping your city government understand what makes Watford City special to you, what you envision for its future, and what elements should be represented in our new brand. This is an opportunity for every resident to contribute to the narrative of our city. Watford City has changed dramatically since its current logo and brand were established. This new branding project is an opportunity to honor the past while embracing the present and future.

The June 2025 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include:

  • YTD Occupancy Tax is $81,642, for the same period last year it was $70,258
  • YTD Rough Rider Center visits is 105,300, the same period last year was 101,800
  • McKenzie County’s labor force for April 2025 was 8,193, for April 2024 it was 7,958.

The May 2025 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include:

  • Watford City’s city sales tax distribution in April 2025 was $339,504; in April 2024 it was $262,643.
  • The McKenzie County Landfill’s daily average in April 2025 was 105.8 tons; in April 2025 it was 83.3 tons.
  • The number of permits issued in Watford City in April 2025 was 40 permits; in April 2024 it was 28 permits.

The McKenzie County Job Development Authority (JDA) is offering an interest buydown loan program designed to help diversify the local economy and grow the tax base for public benefit. This funding serves as a required local match for Bank of North Dakota’s (BND) Flex PACE and PACE programs and is available to eligible businesses operating within McKenzie County.

To qualify, applicants must have a lead lender committed to applying through BND’s Flex PACE or PACE programs, complete an initial review with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and submit a completed application. Projects within Watford City limits or its extraterritorial area must instead utilize the Rough Rider Fund.

To learn more or apply, contact Cauy Hartel at 701-444-8855 or visit here.

The April 2025 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include:

  • McKenzie County’s LoadPass permits in March 2025 was 3,024 permits; in March 2024 it was 2,937 permits.
  • The number of births in McKenzie County in 2024 was 263 births; in 2023 it was 247 births.
  • Watford City’s total Taxable Sales & Purchases in Q4 of 2024 was $73,064,333; in Q4 of 2023 it was $70,956,404.