McLean County is a county in North Dakota, United States, straddling the Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea in the central part of the state. It had a population of 9,771 at the 2020 census and covers 2,328 square miles (6,030 km2) centred near 47°39′12″N 101°25′19″W.
Washburn is the county seat, and its postal code is 58577. The county contains 12 incorporated cities and several unincorporated communities, observes Central Time, and shares the 701 area code with the rest of west-central North Dakota.
Towns & Villages in McLean County
McLean County has 12 incorporated cities, all legally chartered as “cities” under North Dakota law regardless of size, plus a handful of unincorporated communities kept on the map for their post offices, grain elevators, or tribal-community status. Wilton straddles the McLean–Burleigh county line, with most of its population on the Burleigh side.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn | City · seat | — | 58577 |
| Garrison | City | — | 58540 |
| Underwood | City | — | 58576 |
| Turtle Lake | City | — | 58575 |
| Wilton | City | — | 58579 |
| Max | City | — | 58759 |
| Mercer | City | — | 58559 |
| Riverdale | City | — | 58565 |
| Coleharbor | City | — | 58531 |
| Butte | City | — | 58723 |
| Benedict | City | — | 58716 |
| Ruso | City | — | 58778 |
| Roseglen | Unincorp. | — | 58775 |
| White Shield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Falkirk | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Emmet | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Merida | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Riverdale Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
Roseglen and White Shield sit on the McLean County portion of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, home to the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (Three Affiliated Tribes). Falkirk is an unincorporated site tied to the lignite coal mine of the same name rather than a townsite in its own right.
ZIP Codes
- 58577 — Washburn (county seat)
- 58540 — Garrison
- 58576 — Underwood
- 58575 — Turtle Lake
- 58579 — Wilton (also serves the McLean side of the Burleigh County line)
- 58759 — Max
- 58559 — Mercer
- 58565 — Riverdale
- 58531 — Coleharbor
- 58723 — Butte
- 58716 — Benedict
- 58778 — Ruso
- 58775 — Roseglen
Smaller unincorporated places such as Emmet, Falkirk, Merida, Riverdale Junction, and White Shield share a ZIP code with the nearest post-office town rather than carrying their own.
Geography
McLean County lies in west-central North Dakota, split by the Missouri River and the Garrison Dam impoundment, Lake Sakakawea, which forms much of the county’s northern and western shoreline. South and east of the lake the land is rolling prairie given over to small-grain and cattle farming; the Falkirk lignite coal field runs through the county’s eastern townships. The county borders Mountrail County to the northwest, Ward County to the north, McHenry County to the northeast, Sheridan County to the east, Burleigh County to the southeast, Oliver County to the south, Mercer County to the southwest, and Dunn County to the west.
Demographics
McLean County recorded a population of 9,771 at the 2020 census, spread across a land area of 2,110 square miles for a density of roughly 4.6 people per square mile — among the more sparsely settled counties in the state. Garrison and Washburn are the two largest communities. The county’s median household income was $81,847 in 2023, above the North Dakota median of $76,525.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy — wheat, canola, and other small grains on the uplands, cattle ranching near the Missouri River breaks. The Falkirk Mine, one of North Dakota’s major lignite coal strip mines, employs workers from Underwood and Washburn and supplies the Coal Creek Station power plant just across the county line in Oliver County. Lake Sakakawea drives a seasonal tourism and recreation economy centred on Garrison, self-styled the “Walleye Capital of North Dakota,” whose summer walleye fishery draws anglers from across the region.
History
McLean County was created on March 8, 1883, and organized that November 1, taking its name from John A. McLean, Bismarck’s first mayor. The county’s modern landscape was reshaped in the mid-20th century by the construction of Garrison Dam near Riverdale, completed in 1953; the resulting Lake Sakakawea reservoir flooded bottomland along the Missouri River and altered settlement patterns on both the McLean side and the neighboring Fort Berthold Reservation.
Getting There
US Highway 83 runs north–south through the county via Washburn and Wilton, and ND Highway 200 crosses it east–west along the Lake Sakakawea shoreline.
- Bismarck — 40 miles south of Washburn
- Minot — 60 miles north of Turtle Lake
- Garrison Dam / Riverdale — 15 miles west of Washburn
The nearest commercial airport is Bismarck Airport (BIS).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is McLean County, North Dakota?
It sits in west-central North Dakota, split by the Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea, between Bismarck and Minot.
What is the population of McLean County?
9,771 people at the 2020 census.
How big is McLean County?
2,328 square miles (6,030 km2), of which about 217 square miles is water — mostly Lake Sakakawea.
What is the McLean County seat?
Washburn is the county seat.
How many towns are in McLean County?
12 incorporated cities and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in McLean County?
13 ZIP codes serve the county, from 58577 (Washburn) to 58778 (Ruso); see the ZIP Codes section above.
What is McLean County known for?
Lake Sakakawea and Garrison Dam, walleye fishing out of Garrison, and lignite coal mining around Falkirk and Underwood.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Dakota.