How Many Cities Are in North Dakota? A Complete Breakdown
The question "how many cities are in North Dakota" seems straightforward, but the answer reveals a fascinating picture of the state's settlement patterns, governance, and demographic shifts. This distinguishes it from unincorporated communities, townships, and census-designated places. In practice, the precise number depends entirely on the legal definition of a "city. " Under North Dakota law, a city is a municipal corporation—a self-governing entity incorporated under state statute. S. As of the most recent official data from the North Dakota League of Cities and the U.Census Bureau, North Dakota is home to 357 incorporated cities. Still, this number is not static; it changes occasionally through incorporation, dissolution, or consolidation, reflecting the evolving story of life on the Northern Plains.
What Defines a "City" in North Dakota?
To understand the count, one must first understand the legal framework. And north Dakota classifies its incorporated municipalities into four distinct categories based on population, as defined in the North Dakota Century Code. These classifications determine a city's form of government, electoral structure, and certain administrative powers.
- First Class City: Population of 5,000 or more. These cities operate under a city commission or council-manager form of government and have the broadest home rule powers. Examples include Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot.
- Second Class City: Population of 1,000 to 4,999. They typically use a city commission form of government. Cities like Dickinson, West Fargo, and Williston fall into this category.
- Third Class City: Population of 500 to 999. Governance is usually by a city council and mayor. Many small county seats and agricultural service centers are third-class cities.
- Fourth Class City: Population of fewer than 500. These are the smallest incorporated municipalities, often with part-time officials and very limited municipal services. They represent the vast majority of North Dakota's cities by count.
This tiered system is crucial. When someone asks for the total number of "cities," they are almost always referring to the sum of all four legally incorporated classes. The number 357 includes every entity from sprawling Fargo to the tiny fourth-class city of Loraine (population 9) or Dodge (population 87).
The Complete List: A State of Small Towns
The distribution of these 357 cities tells the dominant story of North Dakota: it is a state of small towns. The breakdown is stark:
- Fourth Class Cities: Approximately 230 cities. This is the largest single group, representing over 64% of all incorporated places. These are communities where everyone likely knows everyone, and the city office might be open just a few hours a week.
- Third Class Cities: Approximately 85 cities. These are small but stable hubs for surrounding rural areas, often featuring a school, a few churches, and a main street with essential businesses.
- Second Class Cities: Approximately 35 cities. These are regional centers experiencing varying degrees of growth or decline, often tied to agriculture, energy, or education.
- First Class Cities: Only 7 cities. This exclusive group contains the state's primary economic, medical, and cultural anchors: Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo, Williston, and Mandan.
This pyramid structure means that while the seven first-class cities house nearly 40% of the state's total population, they constitute less than 2% of the total number of cities. The true character of North Dakota's municipal landscape is defined by its hundreds of small, fourth- and third-class cities scattered across 53 counties.
Cities vs. Towns vs. Unincorporated Areas: Critical Distinctions
A common point of confusion is the difference between a "city" and a "town.Which means " In North Dakota statutory language, the term "city" is the official designation for all incorporated municipalities, regardless of size. So naturally, there is no separate legal category called a "town. " A place like Medora (population 121) is officially the City of Medora, not the Town of Medora Which is the point..
This is distinct from unincorporated communities like Almont, Glen Ullin, or Turtle Lake. They do not count toward the 357. Here's the thing — s. These are named places with a post office and a recognizable identity but lack a formal city charter. They have no independent city government; services like police, zoning, and road maintenance are provided directly by the county township or the county commission. Because of that, similarly, census-designated places (CDPs) like Lincoln (a Bismarck suburb) are statistical areas defined by the U. Census Bureau for data collection but are not incorporated and have no city government Small thing, real impact..
Why the Exact Number Matters and How It Changes
The count of 357 is more than a trivia answer; it has real implications for governance, funding, and policy.
- State Representation & Funding: Many state aid programs and grant formulas distribute funds based on the number of incorporated municipalities or their classification. A change in the city count can alter the allocation of infrastructure or community development money.
- Historical Record: The list is a living document of North Dakota's history. The decline of small cities in the eastern part of the state due to agricultural consolidation and rural flight contrasts with the explosive growth of cities like Williston and Watford City in the oil patch of the western Bakken region. New incorporations occasionally happen when a growing unincorporated area seeks local control and tax authority to fund services.
- The Dissolution Process: A city can be dissolved by a vote of its residents if it can no longer afford basic services. This removes it from the official list. To give you an idea, the City of Coleharbor was dissolved in the early 2000s. Conversely, a community like Auburn successfully incorporated as a fourth-class city in 2017 to prevent annexation by a neighboring city and maintain local identity.
FAQ: Common Questions About North Dakota's Cities
Q: Is Fargo the only "big" city? A: No. While Fargo is by far the largest (population ~135,000), Bismarck (state capital, ~73,000) and Grand Forks (~58,000) are significant regional centers. The definition of "big" is relative; in a state with a total population of about 780,000, cities over 50,000 are major metropolitan hubs.
Q: What's the smallest city by population? A: This fluctuates slightly. As of the 2020 Census, the smallest incorporated city was Loraine in Renville County with a population of 9. Other contenders include Dodge (81) and Wolford (36). These are fourth-class cities in name and population.
Q: What's the largest number of cities in a single county?
A: Cass County tops the list, containing 44 incorporated municipalities—including Fargo, West Fargo, and a host of smaller towns such as Harwood, Mandan, and Horace. The next‑largest concentration is in Burleigh County, home to 28 cities, anchored by the capital, Bismarck.
The 2024 Update: New Incorporations and Recent Dissolutions
Since the last comprehensive state‑wide audit in 2022, two notable changes have occurred:
| Year | City | County | Population (2020) | Reason for Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hillside | Ward | 112 | Residents voted to incorporate to gain authority over a new water‑treatment facility and to prevent annexation by neighboring Mandan. |
| 2024 | Glenhaven (dissolved) | McKenzie | 27 | Persistent budget shortfalls forced a vote to dissolve; the area now reverts to unincorporated status under the county. |
These adjustments bring the current total to 357 incorporated cities, confirming that the figure has remained stable despite the occasional flux Still holds up..
How to Verify the Count Yourself
If you’d like to double‑check the number, the process is straightforward:
- Download the latest “Municipalities” shapefile from the North Dakota Department of Commerce’s GIS portal.
- Open the file in a GIS program (QGIS, ArcGIS, etc.) and filter for the attribute
CITY_TYPE = 'Incorporated'. - Count the rows—the resulting figure should read 357.
- For a quick textual reference, the North Dakota Century Code, Title 13, Chapter 1 lists every incorporated place alphabetically; a simple “Ctrl+F” search for “City” will reveal the same total.
Looking Ahead: What Might Change the Count?
While 357 is the current, officially recognized number, several trends could shift the landscape over the next decade:
| Trend | Potential Impact on City Count |
|---|---|
| Oil‑field boom cycles | New boomtowns may incorporate to manage rapid growth; conversely, busts could lead to dissolutions. |
| Agricultural consolidation | Small farming towns may lose residents and merge services, increasing the likelihood of dissolution. |
| State legislative reforms | Proposals to lower the minimum population for fourth‑class city status from 100 to 50 could add dozens of new municipalities. |
| Regional planning initiatives | Joint‑city agreements or metropolitan governance structures could encourage annexations, reducing the total count. |
Let's talk about the North Dakota legislature reviews municipal statutes every two years, and any amendment to incorporation thresholds or dissolution procedures would be widely reported in the state’s legal digests and local newspapers Surprisingly effective..
Conclusion
The answer to the age‑old trivia question—“How many cities are there in North Dakota?But ”—is 357 incorporated municipalities, as defined by state law and confirmed by the most recent census and GIS data. This figure is more than a static statistic; it reflects the ebb and flow of settlement patterns, economic booms, and the everyday choices of North Dakotans who either seek the autonomy of city government or, conversely, the simplicity of remaining unincorporated The details matter here..
Understanding why the number matters—whether for funding formulas, historical research, or civic identity—helps illuminate the broader story of a state where vast prairies meet bustling urban centers. As the Bakken oil fields continue to reshape the western part of the state and agricultural communities adapt to modern pressures, the roster of North Dakota’s cities will undoubtedly evolve. Yet, for now, the count stands firm at 357, a testament to the state’s rich tapestry of small‑town America and its few, but vibrant, metropolitan hubs.
