Wells County Courthouse · National Register of Historic Places
Fessenden’s story
133 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1893Fessenden is settled
FessendenND
A town of 433, settled in 1893. A regional job hub with 217 jobs.
Photo: afiler · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
433
residents
Median home value
$71K
Census ACS
Household income
$66K
median
Median age
42.1
years
Jobs based here
217
A job hub
What makes Fessenden stand out
The 2 things Fessenden does most differently from other towns.
Small town
433 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Fessenden’s report card
Now in Fessenden
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Fessenden? Is a C for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Fessenden’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →46°
Clear
H 60° · L 35°
Local news
All →- FBHS vs Carrington - Girls Varsity Volleyball 09/24/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 24
- FBHS vs Kidder County - Girls Varsity Volleyball 09/08/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 8
- North Star vs NR-Sheyenne - Boys Middle School Football 09/08/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 5
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Fessenden. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in five working residents works right in Fessenden
Most working residents leave Fessenden for work: only 19% work in town. The top destinations are Harvey (16%), Fargo (9%) and Carrington (5%). Half commute less than 23 miles.
19%work in town
Where working residents work
In Fessenden19%
Harvey16%
Fargo9%
Carrington5%
Bismarck5%
23 mi
median commute distance
217
jobs based in Fessenden
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Schools
Fessenden’s public schools outperform 29% of North Dakota districts
The public schools Fessenden’s kids attend trail 71% of North Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
CSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fessenden-Bowdon Elementary School | PK–8 | 140 | C |
| Fessenden-Bowdon High School | 9–12 | 56 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within ND on state testsAll 2 schools →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Fessenden has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to -1°, and about 34 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
34″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter2–21°
Spring28–51°
Summer54–79°
Fall31–54°
Sep 28
typical first frost
May 13
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 36% of U.S. communities.
36risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingHail
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
How healthy Fessenden is
Fessenden beats the North Dakota average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.
32 measures vs. North Dakota
4 better19 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Fessenden | ND |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.9% | 10.8% |
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 72.7% | 64.9% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.7% | 6.1% |
Smp Health St. Aloisius
16.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
A job hub
Every workday, about 193 people come to Fessenden for work
Where Fessenden’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
217jobs based in Fessenden
19%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Fessenden
City in North Dakota, United States
Fessenden is a city in and the county seat of Wells County, North Dakota, United States. It was founded in 1893 and is home of the Wells County Fair. The population was 462 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1893
- Population
- 462
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,611 ft
- ZIP code
- 58438
- Area code
- 701
More about Fessenden
Still missing for Fessenden:archive photosupcoming events