Divide County is a county in North Dakota, United States, tucked into the state’s northwestern corner against the Canadian border. It had a population of 2,195 at the 2020 census and covers 1,261 square miles (3,266 km2) of land plus 33 square miles (87 km2) of water, centred near 48°48′53″N 103°30′34″W.
Crosby is the county seat, and its postal code is 58730. The county has 4 incorporated cities and 6 unincorporated communities, organized into 32 civil townships. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Divide County
Divide County has 10 named places on record: four incorporated cities, one of them the county seat, and six unincorporated communities served by nearby post offices. CDP means census-designated place; Unincorp. means an unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crosby | City · seat | — | 959 | 58730 |
| Noonan | City | — | 73 | 58765 |
| Fortuna | City | — | 60 | 58844 |
| Ambrose | City | Ambrose | 19 | 58833 |
| Alkabo | Unincorp. | — | — | 58730 |
| Colgan | Unincorp. | — | — | 58730 |
| Juno | Unincorp. | — | — | 58730 |
| Kermit | Unincorp. | — | — | 58730 |
| Paulson | Unincorp. | — | — | 58730 |
| Stady | Unincorp. | — | — | 58730 |
Townships
Beyond its four cities, Divide County is divided into 32 organized civil townships that govern the surrounding farmland. Township-level population figures are not separately published by the Census Bureau for this county, so populations are omitted below rather than estimated.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Ambrose | — | Ambrose |
| Border | — | — |
| Alexandria | — | — |
| Blooming Prairie | — | — |
| Blooming Valley | — | — |
| Burg | — | — |
| Clinton | — | — |
| Coalfield | — | — |
| Daneville | — | — |
| De Witt | — | — |
| Elkhorn | — | — |
| Fertile Valley | — | — |
| Fillmore | — | — |
| Frazier | — | — |
| Frederick | — | — |
| Garnet | — | — |
| Gooseneck | — | — |
| Hawkeye | — | — |
| Hayland | — | — |
| Lincoln Valley | — | — |
| Long Creek | — | — |
| Mentor | — | — |
| Palmer | — | Colgan |
| Plumer | — | — |
| Sioux Trail | — | — |
| Smoky Butte | — | — |
| Stoneview | — | — |
| Troy | — | — |
| Twin Butte | — | — |
| Upland | — | — |
| Westby | — | — |
| Writing Rock | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 58730 — Crosby (also serves Alkabo, Colgan, Juno, Kermit, Paulson and Stady)
- 58765 — Noonan
- 58844 — Fortuna
- 58833 — Ambrose
The six unincorporated communities have no post office of their own and use Crosby’s 58730 ZIP code for mail.
Geography
Divide County lies at the northwestern edge of North Dakota, on gently rolling prairie cut by Long Creek and the Little Muddy River drainage. About 2.6% of the county is water. It borders Burke County, North Dakota, to the east and Williams County, North Dakota, to the south; Saskatchewan, Canada, lies along its entire northern edge, and Sheridan County, Montana, forms its western boundary. The Bakken Formation’s oil-producing shale runs beneath much of the county’s western half.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Dakota. Burke County, North Dakota, is covered at its own page.
Demographics
Divide County had 2,195 residents at the 2020 census, up slightly from the previous decade on the strength of Bakken-era oil activity. Crosby, the county seat, is by far the largest place with 959 residents; Noonan is a distant second at 73. The county’s median household income runs below the North Dakota median of $76,525, reflecting its small, aging farm population. Population density is roughly 1.7 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Wheat, durum, canola and cattle ranching anchor Divide County’s economy, supplemented since the mid-2000s by oil and gas activity tied to the Bakken Formation in the county’s western townships. Crosby serves as the county’s trade center, with the Divide County Courthouse, a hospital and the county’s only public school district. The annual Divide County Fair draws residents from across the county each summer.
History
Divide County was created on November 8, 1910, and organized the following month, on December 9, 1910, carved from the western portion of Williams County. Its name reflects that split from its parent county. In June 1911 the county was struck by one of the deadliest tornadoes in North Dakota’s recorded history, an early and defining event in its short history as a separate jurisdiction.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 85 runs north–south through the county into Saskatchewan, while North Dakota Highways 5, 40 and 42 connect its towns to neighboring counties.
- Williston, North Dakota — about 45 miles south
- Minot, North Dakota — about 100 miles southeast
- Estevan, Saskatchewan — about 60 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) in Williston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Divide County?
It is in the northwestern corner of North Dakota, on the Canadian border, roughly 45 miles north of Williston.
What is the population of Divide County?
2,195 at the 2020 census.
How big is Divide County?
1,261 square miles (3,266 km2) of land, plus 33 square miles (87 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Divide County?
Crosby, with 959 residents.
How many towns are in Divide County?
Four incorporated cities (Crosby, Ambrose, Fortuna, Noonan) and six unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Divide County?
58730 (Crosby), 58765 (Noonan), 58844 (Fortuna) and 58833 (Ambrose).
What industries drive Divide County’s economy?
Wheat and canola farming, cattle ranching, and Bakken-era oil and gas production in the county’s western townships.