Wells County is a county in North Dakota, United States, holding the geographic center of the state in its southeastern corner. It had a population of 3,982 at the 2020 census and covers 1,290 square miles (3,342 km2) centred near 47°32′N 99°45′W.
Fessenden is the county seat; its postal code is 58438. The county has seven incorporated cities, one census-designated place, and seven unincorporated communities, all organized within 34 civil townships. Wells County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Wells County
Fifteen named places appear on the county map, from the small cities strung along U.S. Route 52 to farm-country hamlets that never incorporated. City = self-governing incorporated municipality; CDP = Census-Designated Place, an unincorporated cluster the Census Bureau still tracks; Unincorp. = an unincorporated community with no formal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fessenden | City · seat | Fessenden | 448 | 58438 |
| Harvey | City | Harvey | 1,675 | 58341 |
| Sykeston | City | Sykeston | — | 58486 |
| Bowdon | City | Bowdon | — | 58418 |
| Cathay | City | Cathay | — | 58426 |
| Hurdsfield | City | Hurdsfield | — | 58451 |
| Hamberg | City | — | — | — |
| Heimdal | CDP | — | — | — |
| Bremen | Unincorp. | Bremen | — | — |
| Chaseley | Unincorp. | Chaseley | — | — |
| Dover | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Emrick | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Heaton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Manfred | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wellsburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Harvey, the county’s largest city, sits near the Wells–Foster line but is wholly within Wells County; it should not be confused with the several other Harveys scattered across the Midwest.
ZIP Codes
- 58438 — Fessenden (county seat)
- 58341 — Harvey
- 58486 — Sykeston
- 58418 — Bowdon
- 58426 — Cathay
- 58451 — Hurdsfield
Bremen, Chaseley, Dover, Emrick, Hamberg, Heaton, Heimdal, Manfred, and Wellsburg are too small to carry their own ZIP code and are served by the nearest city post office above.
Geography
Wells County lies in the drift prairie of central North Dakota, a rolling, glaciated landscape of shallow lakes, sloughs, and farmland with almost no native tree cover outside planted shelterbelts. The James River rises in the county’s southern townships and flows south toward Jamestown; Bald Hill Creek and a scatter of prairie-pothole wetlands drain the rest of the county. Land makes up roughly 98% of the county’s area, with water in small lakes and stream channels.
Wells County borders Pierce County to the northwest, Benson County to the north, Eddy County to the east, Foster County to the southeast, Stutsman County to the south-southeast, Kidder County to the south, and Sheridan County to the west.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 3,982 residents in Wells County. Harvey (1,675) and Fessenden (448) are the county’s two largest communities and together hold more than half its population. Median household income in the county runs below the North Dakota median of $76,525, consistent with a rural, agriculture-dependent economy. With just over 3,900 residents spread across 1,271 square miles of land, the county’s population density is roughly three people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Wheat, barley, canola, soybeans, and cattle ranching drive the county’s economy, and grain elevators mark most of its townsite skylines. Harvey, the commercial hub, hosts St. Aloisius Medical Center and a handful of small manufacturers alongside the farm-supply trade. Fessenden anchors county government and serves the surrounding farm townships as a trade center. Local calendars center on county fair season and harvest, with Harvey’s community celebrations drawing residents from across the county each summer.
History
The county was created by the Dakota Territory legislature on January 4, 1873, as Gingras County, then renamed Wells County in 1881 for Edward Payson Wells, a Jamestown banker and territorial legislator. It was formally organized on August 28, 1884, as settlers followed the railroad west across the drift prairie. Wells County also claims the geographic center of North Dakota, located in its southeastern corner.
Getting There
U.S. Route 52 crosses the county through Harvey and Fessenden, linking it to Minot to the northwest and Jamestown to the southeast; North Dakota Highway 20 runs north-south through the eastern part of the county.
- Minot — 65 miles northwest
- Jamestown — 45 miles southeast
- Devils Lake — 55 miles northeast
- Bismarck — 95 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Jamestown Regional Airport; Minot International Airport offers more frequent service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wells County, North Dakota?
It sits in central North Dakota, roughly halfway between Minot and Jamestown along U.S. Route 52.
What is the population of Wells County?
3,982, per the 2020 census.
How big is Wells County?
1,290 square miles (3,342 km2), including about 20 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Wells County?
Fessenden is the county seat.
How many towns are in Wells County?
Seven incorporated cities — Bowdon, Cathay, Fessenden, Hamberg, Harvey, Hurdsfield, and Sykeston — plus the Heimdal CDP and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Wells County?
58438 (Fessenden), 58341 (Harvey), 58486 (Sykeston), 58418 (Bowdon), 58426 (Cathay), and 58451 (Hurdsfield).
What is Wells County’s largest city?
Harvey, with 1,675 residents at the 2020 census.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Dakota.