Rolette County is a county in North Dakota, United States, on the Canadian border along the base of the Turtle Mountains. It had a population of 12,187 at the 2020 census and covers 939 square miles (2,433 km2), centred near 48°46′N 99°50′W.
Rolla is the county seat and its postal code is 58367. The county has 5 incorporated cities, 4 census-designated places and 3 unincorporated communities, grouped into 3 organized townships. It sits in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 38079.
Towns & Villages in Rolette County
Twelve named places appear on the map of Rolette County: 5 incorporated cities, 4 CDPs (unincorporated but census-tracked) and 3 unincorporated communities with no formal government. Belcourt, the tribal seat of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, is the county’s largest community even though it is a CDP rather than an incorporated city.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rolla | City · seat | — | 58367 |
| Belcourt | CDP | — | 58316 |
| Dunseith | City | — | 58329 |
| East Dunseith | CDP | — | 58329 (shared) |
| St. John | City | — | 58369 |
| Rolette | City | — | 58366 |
| Mylo | City | — | 58353 |
| Green Acres | CDP | — | — |
| Shell Valley | CDP | — | — |
| Agate | Unincorp. | — | 58310 |
| Kelvin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nanson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| San Haven | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thorne | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fonda | Unincorp. | — | — |
East Dunseith sits immediately outside Dunseith’s city limits and shares its ZIP code and much of its daily life; the two are effectively one built-up area split by incorporation status only.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Shell Valley | — | Shell Valley CDP |
| South Valley | — | rural farmland south of Rolla |
| Kohlmeier | — | rural farmland near the Bottineau County line |
ZIP Codes
- 58367 — Rolla (also serves the county courthouse area)
- 58316 — Belcourt (also serves the Turtle Mountain Band tribal offices)
- 58329 — Dunseith (also serves East Dunseith)
- 58369 — Saint John
- 58366 — Rolette
- 58353 — Mylo
- 58310 — Agate
Green Acres, Shell Valley, Kelvin, Nanson, San Haven, Thorne and Fonda have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest listed ZIP.
Geography
Rolette County lies in the north-central part of North Dakota, straddling the wooded Turtle Mountains in the north and flat farmland in the south. The Turtle Mountains give way to prairie pothole terrain toward the Pierce County line, and several small lakes and sloughs dot the county’s western townships. The international border with Manitoba, Canada, forms the county’s entire north edge.
Rolette County borders Bottineau County to the west, Towner County to the east, and Pierce County to the south, with Manitoba, Canada, along its entire northern edge.
Demographics
Rolette County had a population of 12,187 at the 2020 census, about 13.5 people per square mile of land. Belcourt and Rolla are the two largest communities; Belcourt anchors the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians’ reservation population, while Rolla serves as the county’s commercial and administrative center. Median household income in the county runs well below the North Dakota median of $76,525, reflecting the county’s rural, reservation-heavy economy.
Economy & Local Life
The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians is the county’s largest employer, running tribal government offices, the Sky Dancer Hotel and Casino, and Turtle Mountain Community College, all based in or near Belcourt. Rolla hosts the county courthouse, a hospital, and farm-supply businesses serving the surrounding grain and cattle operations. Small-grain farming (wheat, barley, canola) and cattle ranching dominate the open farmland south of the Turtle Mountains.
History
The Dakota Territory legislature created Rolette County on January 4, 1873, and it was organized on October 14, 1884. It is named for Joseph Rolette Jr., a fur trader and territorial legislator. The Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, established in the county’s northeast corner in 1882 for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, has shaped much of the county’s later history and remains its demographic and economic center.
Getting There
US Route 281 runs north–south through the county into Canada at the Dunseith border crossing; North Dakota Highways 3, 5, 30, 43 and 66 connect the county’s towns.
- Rolla — 75 miles north of Devils Lake
- Belcourt — 12 miles east of Rolla via ND-5
- Dunseith — 20 miles west of Rolla via US-281
- Minot — about 85 miles southwest of Rolla
The nearest commercial airport is Minot International Airport, roughly 85 miles southwest of Rolla.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rolette County?
It is in north-central North Dakota, on the Canadian border, with Rolla as its county seat.
What is the population of Rolette County?
12,187 as of the 2020 census.
How big is Rolette County?
939 square miles (2,433 km2), including 36 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Rolette County?
Rolla is the county seat.
How many towns are in Rolette County?
Five incorporated cities — Rolla, Dunseith, Rolette, St. John and Mylo — plus four census-designated places and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Rolette County?
58367 (Rolla), 58316 (Belcourt), 58329 (Dunseith), 58369 (Saint John), 58366 (Rolette), 58353 (Mylo) and 58310 (Agate).
Is the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Rolette County?
Yes. It occupies the county’s northeast section and is home to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, centred on Belcourt.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Dakota.