A town of 28,056, settled in 1887. Nearly 4.4% of it is conserved land.
The 3 things Williston does most differently from other towns.
14,716 people in 2010; 28,056 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
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Ordered by what stands out in Williston. Another town gets a different order.
12 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Harmon Park | 0.3 mi | 9 |
| 2. Spring Lake Park | — | 126 |
| 3. Cote Park | — | 10 |
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 12% of U.S. communities.
Williston reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 83% report less.
Williston beats the North Dakota average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 13.
| What stands out | Williston | ND |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.6% | 8.2% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.5% | 6.1% |
| More uninsured adults | 10% | 7.3% |
Williston has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 2°, and about 48 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
57% of Williston’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Williston (7%), Judson (5%) and Minot (3%). Half commute less than 3 miles.
WILLISTON BASIN 7 · 11 schools
| School | Grades | Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hagan Elementary School | PK–4 | 486 | |
| McVay Elementary School | K–4 | 449 | |
| Rickard Elementary School | K–4 | 319 | |
| Lewis and Clark Elementary School | PK–4 | 303 | |
| Wilkinson Elementary School | K–4 | 301 | |
| St. Joseph's School Private | K–6 | 160 |
The median sale price was $345,000 in May 2026.
6 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
6 places in Williston on the National Register of Historic Places.
City in North Dakota, United States
Williston is a city in and the county seat of Williams County, North Dakota, United States. The 2020 census gave its population as 29,160, making Williston the sixth-most populous city in North Dakota. It is near the southeast edge of the Williston Basin, named after the city. This huge subterranean geologic feature is known for its rich deposits of petroleum, coal, and potash, which contributed to the city's population nearly doubling between 2010 and 2020, due largely to the North Dakota oil boom. Williston's newspaper is the weekly Williston Herald. Williston is the home of Williston State College and the Miss North Dakota Scholarship Pageant.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
5 towns share a border with Williston.
