Williston, North Dakota

Williston is a city in and the county seat of Williams County, North Dakota, United States.[5] The 2010 census[6] gave its population as 14,716, and the Census Bureau gave the 2019 estimated population as 29,033, making Williston the sixth-largest city in North Dakota. The North Dakota oil boom is largely responsible for the sharp increase in population.

Williston, North Dakota
City
Business district of Williston
Location of Williston, North Dakota
Coordinates: 48°9′23″N 103°37′41″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Dakota
CountyWilliams
Government
 • MayorHoward Klug
Area
 • Total23.31 sq mi (60.36 km2)
 • Land23.17 sq mi (60.00 km2)
 • Water0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2)
Elevation
1,877 ft (572 m)
Population
 • Total14,716
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
29,033
 • Density1,253.20/sq mi (483.87/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
58801-58802
Area code(s)701
FIPS code38-86220
GNIS feature ID1032815[4]
HighwaysUS 85, US 85B, US 2, US 2 Bus., ND 1804
Websitewww.cityofwilliston.com

Williston's newspapers, both in print and online, are the daily Williston Herald and the weekly The Williston Trader. Williston is the home of Williston State College and the Miss North Dakota Scholarship Pageant.

History

Founded in 1887, Williston was named for Daniel Willis James, a merchant and capitalist, by his friend, railroad magnate James J. Hill.[7][8][9]

Geography

Williston is located at the crossroads of U.S. Highways 2 and 85.

It is near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers, at the upper end of the Lake Sakakawea reservoir.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.56 square miles (19.58 km2), of which 7.50 square miles (19.42 km2) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) is water.[10]

The municipality is 18 miles (29 km) from the Montana-North Dakota border and 60 miles (97 km) from the Canada–United States border.[11]

Climate

Williston has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification 'BSk'); it is part of USDA Hardiness zone 4a.[12] The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 11.0 °F (−11.7 °C) in January to 70.1 °F (21.2 °C) in July.[13] On average, there are 2.9 days that reach 100 °F (38 °C) or higher, 25 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs, 42 days with a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) or below, 9.6 days with lows plummeting to at least −20 °F (−29 °C), and 7.7 days that do not rise above 0 °F annually.[13] The average window for freezing temperatures is September 19 through May 20,[13] allowing a growing season of 121 days; . Extreme temperatures officially range from −50 °F (−46 °C) on December 23, 1983 and February 16, 1936 up to 110 °F (43 °C) on July 5, 1936; the record cold daily maximum is −29 °F (−34 °C) on January 16, 1930, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 78 °F (26 °C) last set July 19, 1974.[13]

Precipitation is greatest in June and July and averages 14.37 in (365 mm) annually, but has ranged from 6.13 in (156 mm) in 1934 to 22.04 in (560 mm) in 1896.[13] Snowfall averages 45.3 in (115 cm) per season, and has historically ranged from 8.0 in (20 cm) in 1908–09 to 107.2 in (272 cm) in 2010–11;[13] the average window for measurable (≥0.1 in or 0.25 cm) snowfall is October 20 through April 23, although snow in May occurs at most several times per decade and September snow is a much rarer event.[13] Due to the relative aridity, there are only 3.9 days per season where 24-hour snowfall exceeds 3 in (7.6 cm).[14]

Climate data for Williston, North Dakota (1981–2010 normals,[lower-alpha 1] extremes 1894–present[lower-alpha 2]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 58
(14)		 66
(19)		 84
(29)		 92
(33)		 106
(41)		 108
(42)		 110
(43)		 108
(42)		 104
(40)		 93
(34)		 76
(24)		 63
(17)		 110
(43)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 43.8
(6.6)		 48.5
(9.2)		 66.0
(18.9)		 80.5
(26.9)		 88.3
(31.3)		 94.3
(34.6)		 99.1
(37.3)		 99.1
(37.3)		 92.7
(33.7)		 80.4
(26.9)		 61.2
(16.2)		 45.1
(7.3)		 101.4
(38.6)
Average high °F (°C) 21.9
(−5.6)		 27.5
(−2.5)		 40.4
(4.7)		 57.0
(13.9)		 67.7
(19.8)		 76.8
(24.9)		 84.4
(29.1)		 83.8
(28.8)		 71.3
(21.8)		 56.3
(13.5)		 37.9
(3.3)		 24.4
(−4.2)		 54.2
(12.3)
Average low °F (°C) 0.1
(−17.7)		 6.3
(−14.3)		 18.2
(−7.7)		 29.7
(−1.3)		 40.5
(4.7)		 49.7
(9.8)		 55.8
(13.2)		 53.9
(12.2)		 42.1
(5.6)		 29.8
(−1.2)		 16.4
(−8.7)		 3.3
(−15.9)		 28.9
(−1.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −25.4
(−31.9)		 −19.9
(−28.8)		 −4.9
(−20.5)		 13.4
(−10.3)		 25.0
(−3.9)		 37.3
(2.9)		 44.6
(7.0)		 41.0
(5.0)		 26.6
(−3.0)		 10.7
(−11.8)		 −4.7
(−20.4)		 −22.4
(−30.2)		 −30.6
(−34.8)
Record low °F (°C) −42
(−41)		 −50
(−46)		 −35
(−37)		 −15
(−26)		 10
(−12)		 26
(−3)		 34
(1)		 32
(0)		 13
(−11)		 −9
(−23)		 −27
(−33)		 −50
(−46)		 −50
(−46)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.59
(15)		 0.39
(9.9)		 0.71
(18)		 1.00
(25)		 1.92
(49)		 2.52
(64)		 2.54
(65)		 1.45
(37)		 1.06
(27)		 0.92
(23)		 0.65
(17)		 0.62
(16)		 14.37
(365)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 10.0
(25)		 5.7
(14)		 6.2
(16)		 3.7
(9.4)		 1.3
(3.3)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.2
(0.51)		 2.6
(6.6)		 6.1
(15)		 9.5
(24)		 45.3
(115)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.5 6.0 7.6 7.7 10.0 11.5 9.0 8.2 7.4 6.3 6.7 8.6 96.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 8.7 6.4 6.0 2.4 0.8 0 0 0 0.1 1.8 5.9 9.1 41.2
Average relative humidity (%) 76.2 75.6 72.5 61.4 58.5 59.6 56.1 54.9 61.1 65.2 74.9 77.1 66.1
Average dew point °F (°C) 3.4
(−15.9)		 10.0
(−12.2)		 19.9
(−6.7)		 28.6
(−1.9)		 38.8
(3.8)		 48.6
(9.2)		 52.2
(11.2)		 49.5
(9.7)		 41.2
(5.1)		 31.1
(−0.5)		 19.6
(−6.9)		 7.5
(−13.6)		 29.2
(−1.6)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 144.5 169.7 227.3 250.3 297.9 326.0 366.3 331.5 249.5 197.1 122.2 125.5 2,807.8
Percent possible sunshine 53 59 62 61 63 68 76 75 66 59 44 48 63
Source: NOAA (relative humidity and dew point 1962–1990, sun 1961–1990)[lower-alpha 3][13][14][16]
Notes
  1. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.
  2. Official records for Williston kept at the Weather Bureau Office from January 1894 to June 1948, Sloulin Field International Airport from July 1948 until October 22, 2019, and the new Williston Basin Int'l since October 23, 2019.[15]
  3. Only 22 to 24 years out of the 29 in the normals period were used to calculate the humidity normals.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890295—
1900763158.6%
19103,124309.4%
19204,17833.7%
19305,10622.2%
19405,79013.4%
19507,39827.8%
196011,86660.4%
197011,230−5.4%
198013,33618.8%
199013,136−1.5%
200012,512−4.8%
201014,71617.6%
2019 (est.)29,033[3]97.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
2018 Estimate[18]

Williston is in northwestern North Dakota's booming oil patch where adequate, affordable housing has become a concern.[19] According to a February 2014 article in Business Insider, Williston had the highest apartment rents in the United States.[20] The 2010 census counted a population of 14,716, up from 12,680 in 2000, but the number of current residents is likely much higher because the count did not include those living in temporary housing. In September 2011, the mayor estimated the actual population at 20,000.[21] The aforementioned 2014 Business Insider story estimated that the population was over 30,000.[20]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 14,716 people, 6,180 households, and 3,589 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,962.1 inhabitants per square mile (757.6/km2). There were 6,542 housing units at an average density of 872.3 per square mile (336.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.6% White, 0.3% African-American, 3.3% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 6,180 households, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.9% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.99.

The median age in the city was 35.5 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.

2000 census

According to the census of 2000, there were 12,512 people, 5,255 households, and 3,205 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,794.1 per square mile (693.1/km2). There were 5,912 housing units at an average density of 847.7 per square mile (327.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.69% White, 0.17% African American, 3.65% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.23% of the population.

The six leading ancestry groups in the city are Norwegian (47.8%), German (31.6%), Irish (9.6%), English (5.8%), Swedish (4.5%), Dutch (4.3%) and French (4.0%).

There were 5,255 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.96.

The age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,962, and the median income for a family was $38,713. Males had a median income of $29,578 versus $18,879 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,656. About 11.3% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Gas station at Farmers' Cooperative in Williston, 1941. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott.

Williston's economy, while historically agricultural, is increasingly being driven by the oil industry. Williston lends its name to the Williston Basin, a huge subterranean geologic feature known for its rich deposits of petroleum, coal, and potash. Williston sits atop the Bakken formation, which by the end of 2012 was predicted to be producing more oil than any other site in the United States, surpassing even Alaska's Prudhoe Bay, the longtime leader in domestic output in the United States.[22]

(The state of North Dakota provides a website detailing daily oil activity.) In 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that there were 150 million barrels of oil "technically recoverable" from the Bakken shale. In April 2008, the number was said to be about four billion barrels; in 2010 geologists at Continental Resources, the major drilling operation in North Dakota, estimated the reserve at eight billion. In March 2012, after the discovery of a lower shelf of oil, it announced a possible 24 billion barrels. Although current technology allows for extraction of only about 6% of the oil trapped 0.99–1.99 mi (1.6–3.2 km) beneath the earth's surface, recoverable oil might eventually exceed 500 billion barrels.[22] [The recoverable oil amount in the WSJ article may be a misprint. Continental Resources estimates of original oil in place (OOIP) is 500 billion bbls of oil. Primary production using new technology could increase primary recover to 10% or 50 billion bbls of recoverable oil. Some suggest as much as 20% which would be 100 billion bbls. Other recovery rates are estimated at 3 – 8% currently, or 15 billion to 40 billion bbls of recoverable oil.]

Williston has seen a huge increase in population and infrastructure investments during the last several years with expanded drilling using the Hydraulic Fracturing petroleum extraction technique in the Bakken Formation and Three Forks Groups.[23] Examples of oil industry related infrastructure investments are the multi-acre branch campus of Baker Hughes, the Sand Creek Retail Center, and the Jim Bridger shops & offices.

Williston, North Dakota Amtrak Station, a popular way to get to the city.

A major regional grain elevator is served by the BNSF Railway. Williston's livestock arena has weekly auctions.

Forts Union and Buford, as well as the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers—a part of the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition—encourage area tourism. Williston is also comparatively close to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Arts and culture

Sites of interest
  • Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site – a reconstructed fur-trade era fort owned and maintained by the National Park Service.
  • Fort Buford – a pioneer age military fort. An interesting site is the military graveyard.
  • Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center – A museum highlighting the history of the area where the Missouri River and the Yellowstone River merge.
  • Lake Sakakawea – a large man-made lake located close to Williston. The lake offers plenty of recreational activities.
  • The Confluence – where the Missouri River and the Yellowstone River meet. A historical center, boat ramp, camp site, and bike path are located here.
  • Eagle Ridge Golf Club – an eighteen-hole golf course located on Highway 2 north of Williston. It measures 6,240 yards (5,710 m) from the back tees.
  • Williston Municipal Golf Course – a 9-hole golf course located at 3600 42nd Street West in Williston.
  • The Links of North Dakota at Red Mike Resort – an 18-hole links course east of Williston. Golfweek ranked it 41st among America's 100 best modern courses in 1997, 75th in 1998, and 81st in 1999.
  • Cut Bluff Overlook – a historic site located about two miles (3 km) east of Williston on the south side of Highway 1804. Commemorating Lewis and Clark's campsite near Cut Bluff on the south banks of the Missouri River.
  • James Memorial Art Center – Originally the community library (est 1911), The James was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.It now serves as an art & cultural center for the community, offering art exhibits and art classes.[24]
  • Old Armory – The Old Armory was built in 1915 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.[25] The Old Armory is now home to community theater non-profit organization Entertainment, Inc!, founded in 1981. Entertainment, Inc! produces five shows each year.[26]
  • Williston Area Recreation Center – a 234,000 square foot recreation center, built in 2014, that includes an indoor surfing, golf simulators, and a water park. There are also the more traditional tennis and basketball courts, along with turf fields and an indoor track.[27]

Sports
  • Williston Keybirds of North Dakota American League Baseball
  • Williston State College Tetons: women's and men's basketball, women's volleyball, men's ice hockey, women's softball and men's baseball.

Education

The Williston Public School District #1 serves the city. The surrounding rural area is served by New Public School District 8. Trinity Christian School is a private K-12 school located in Williston. St. Joseph Catholic School is a private K-6 school located in Williston.

Williston State College, on University Avenue, was founded in 1961 as the University of North Dakota—Williston (UND-W) and is a two-year public college in the North Dakota University System (NDUS). Students can earn Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees.

The Williston Public Library also serves as the public library for Williams County. The library hosts an annual fundraiser called "Table of Contents" where local patrons create unique table arrangements and dining themes. Proceeds are used to purchase equipment for local organizations holding public meetings at the library.[28] Numerous public events, including voting stations, are regularly held at the library.

The library also has a bookmobile that serves rural schools and retirement home communities.[29]

Prior to moving to the Davidson Drive location, the Williston Public Library was located in what is now the James Memorial Art Center which is now an art gallery and event center. From February 27, 1911, until 1983, the James Memorial Library was the town's only library. In the early 1990s the city began to address the issue of probable building destruction. In 1993 a concerned group of citizens formed the James Memorial Preservation Society to save the historic building and develop it into a center for the visual arts.[30] The James Memorial Art Center now hosts an annual Art Fest, art classes for youth and adults, and exhibits by local, national, and international artists.

Media
A woman photographed in Williston in 1937 by Russell Lee

Print

Television

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, KXMD and KUMV were rebroadcast across Saskatchewan as part of that region's first terrestrial-based cable television system. By 1984, however, the Williston signals had been replaced by those of similar stations in Detroit.

Radio
FM
AM

Infrastructure

Air

The city of Williston is served by the Williston Basin International Airport, which has a customs service in its facilities. The facility opened in October 2019, replacing Sloulin Field International Airport.[31]

In 2012, United Airlines began offering daily codeshare jet service (via ExpressJet Airlines) to Denver, CO (KDEN) on Embraer 145 aircraft, while Delta Air Lines began daily codeshare jet service (via SkyWest Airlines) to Minneapolis, MN (MSP) on Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. In August 2014, United began offering direct flights to Houston TX. In June 2020, Delta Airlines announced that it would suspend service to Williston, effective July 8.[32]

FedEx Express of Memphis, TN, provides cargo flights to and from the Williston, ND Airport and Grand Forks, ND (GFK) airport utilizing Cessna 208B Caravans with CargoMaster cargo pods. These flights run Monday through Saturday. The Saturday service has an early cutoff time and pickups are limited to in-town stops and drop box locations only.

Rail

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, serves a station in Williston via its Empire Builder, a once-daily train in each direction between Portland, Oregon/Seattle, Washington, and Chicago.

Highways
US 2 and US 85 at Williston

US 2 runs through the city. US 85 bypasses the city to the northwest, and US 85B bypasses the city to the northeast. ND 1804 runs through the southern portion of the city and is concurrent with US 2 between 143rd Avenue, and 2nd Street.

Health Care

Williston clinics include Craven-Hagan Clinic, Fairlight Medical Center, and Trinity Community Clinic-Western Dakota. Fairlight has the only Veteran's Affairs clinic in northwestern North Dakota and also serves residents of northeastern Montana. Fairlight includes a walk-in clinic with four health care professionals. Mercy Medical Center is the Williston hospital. It provides 24-hour emergency and trauma care but lacks a walk-in clinic.

Mercy Medical Center is home to the Leonard P. Nelson Family Cancer Treatment Center (est. 1996), providing oncology services in the region for the past seventeen years to an area of a 100-mile radius. Patients receive treatment for a wide variety of cancers including breast, gynecologic, head and neck, lung and prostate. Mercy Medical Center broke ground August 24, 2012 on an expanded cancer treatment facility. Improvements include the installation of a highly specialized linear accelerator to increase precision radiation therapy treatment delivery with decreased patient treatment time. The grand opening was October 7, 2013.[33]

Mercy Medical Center was named among the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the United States by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations in September 2012.[34]

Notable people

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
    2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
    3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
    4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
    5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
    6. "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
    7. John Matzko, Reconstructing Fort Union (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2001), 26; Ben Innis, Sagas of the Smoky-Water (Williston, ND: privately published, 1985), 344.
    8. Wick, Douglas A. (1988). North Dakota PlaceNames. Bismarck, North Dakota: Hedemarken Collectibles. ISBN 0-9620968-0-6. OCLC 191277027.
    9. Williams, Mary Ann (Barnes) (1966). Origins of North Dakota Place Names. Bismarck, North Dakota: Bismarck Tribune, 1966. OCLC 431626.
    10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
    11. "Overview" (Archive). Sloulin Field International Airport. Retrieved on June 2, 2014.
    12. "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". United States Department of Agriculture.
    13. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
    14. "Station Name: ND WILLISTON SLOULIN INTL AP". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
    15. ThreadEx
    16. "WMO Climate Normals for WILLISTON/SLOULIN FIELD, ND 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
    17. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
    18. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
    19. Meg Lindholm, "Flock To N.D. Oil Town Leads To Housing Crisis," NPR, 28 May 2010
    20. Johnson, Robert (February 13, 2014). "What Life Is Like In Williston, The North Dakota Oil Boomtown Where Tiny Apartments Top $2,000 A Month". Business Insider. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
    21. NPR website.
    22. Moore, Stephen (March 11, 2012). "What North Dakota Could Teach California". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
    23. Seattle Times.
    24. http://thejamesmemorial.org/historical-notes/
    25. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    26. http://www.entertainmentinc.org/AboutUs.aspx
    27. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-18/a-70-million-rec-center-brings-indoor-surfing-golf-to-north-dakota
    28. http://www.willistonherald.com/archives/tables-of-contents-to-be-held-at-library/article_80132da7-f44a-5797-ad3f-52426dbe2819.html
    29. http://www.willistonherald.com/news/bookmobile-takes-library-on-the-road/article_7c885eb8-7a11-11e3-a38a-0019bb2963f4.html
    30. http://www.thejamesmemorial.org/what-we-do/
    31. Melberg, Mitch (October 10, 2019). "Welcome to the people's airport: First flight lands at Williston Basin International Airport". Retrieved October 11, 2019.
    32. https://news.delta.com/delta-suspend-flying-select-us-cities
    33. http://www.mercy-williston.org/News/Leonard-P-Nelson-Cancer-Center-Grand-Opening
    34. http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/news-analysis/top-100-critical-access-hospitals-named-by-ivantage.html
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