Ward County is a county in North Dakota, United States, in the north-central part of the state along the Mouse (Souris) River basin. It had a population of 69,919 at the 2020 census, the fourth-highest of North Dakota’s 53 counties, and covers 2,056 square miles (5,325 km2) centred near 48°13′N 101°32′W.
Minot is the county seat, and its postal code is 58701. The county has 12 incorporated cities, four census-designated places and several unincorporated communities. Ward County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Ward County
Minot, home to Minot Air Force Base, anchors the county’s population; the rest of Ward County is farm country and small rail towns strung along the old Great Northern and Soo Line grades.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot | City · seat | Ward (unorg.) | 48,377 | 58701 |
| Minot AFB | CDP | Nedrose | — | — |
| Burlington | City | Burlington | — | — |
| Surrey | City | Surrey | — | — |
| Berthold | City | Berthold | — | — |
| Kenmare | City | Kenmare | — | — |
| Des Lacs | City | Des Lacs | — | — |
| Sawyer | City | Sawyer | — | — |
| Carpio | City | Carpio | — | — |
| Donnybrook | City | Denmark | — | — |
| Douglas | City | Cameron | — | — |
| Makoti | City | Mandan | — | — |
| Ryder | City | Ryder | — | — |
| Foxholm | CDP | Foxholm | — | — |
| Logan | CDP | Kirkelie | — | — |
| Ruthville | CDP | Rushville | — | — |
| South Prairie | Unincorp. | New Prairie | — | — |
| Lonetree | Unincorp. | Lund | — | — |
| Hesnault | Unincorp. | Hilton | — | — |
| Drady | Unincorp. | Passport | — | — |
| Aurelia | Unincorp. (ghost town) | Torning | — | — |
| Hartland | Unincorp. (ghost town) | Harrison | — | — |
| Gassman | Unincorp. | Gasman | — | — |
| Rice Lake | Unincorp. | Rice Lake | — | — |
| Wolseth | Unincorp. | Vang | — | — |
Townships
Ward County is organized into 72 civil townships. Selected townships that carry a namesake town or CDP:
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington | — | Burlington |
| Surrey | — | Surrey |
| Berthold | — | Berthold |
| Kenmare | — | Kenmare, the “gooseneck” strip |
| Des Lacs | — | Des Lacs |
| Sawyer | — | Sawyer |
| Carpio | — | Carpio |
| Ryder | — | Ryder |
| Nedrose | — | Minot Air Force Base |
| Foxholm | — | Foxholm |
Population figures by individual township were not published in the 2020 census township tables sourced for this page.
ZIP Codes
- 58701 — Minot (also serves 58702, 58703, 58704 and 58707 across the city)
The county’s other cities, CDPs and unincorporated places each have their own post offices and ZIP codes, but this page omits specific codes for them rather than publish an unverified number.
Geography
Ward County lies in the Souris River (Mouse River) valley, with terrain sloping east and north from a high point near 2,175 feet (663 m) above sea level in the southwest corner. The Souris loops through the county past Minot, Burlington and Sawyer, and Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge covers wetlands along its northern tributary. The county spans 2,013 square miles (5,214 km2) of land and 43 square miles (111 km2) of water.
Ward County borders:
- Renville County to the north
- Burke County to the northwest
- Mountrail County to the west
- McLean County to the south
- McHenry County to the east
More on neighboring counties: McHenry County and Mountrail County.
Demographics
Ward County counted 69,919 residents at the 2020 census. Minot, the county seat, is by far the largest place at 48,377; Minot AFB is the second-largest community. Ward County’s median household income runs above the North Dakota state figure of $76,525, reflecting the base and Minot’s regional trade and health-care economy. With a land area of 2,013 square miles, the county’s population density works out to roughly 35 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Minot Air Force Base, home to the 5th Bomber Wing and a Minuteman III missile field, is the county’s largest single employer and the main driver of its economy; the base and its personnel support Minot’s retail, health-care and housing sectors well beyond what a city of its size would otherwise sustain. Away from Minot, farming and ranching dominate — wheat, canola, soybeans and cattle on the upland prairie, with elevators anchoring towns like Carpio, Berthold and Douglas along the rail lines. The Norsk Høstfest, one of North America’s largest Scandinavian heritage festivals, draws crowds to Minot’s State Fairgrounds each September.
History
Ward County was created on April 14, 1885, and named for Mark Ward, who chaired the territorial House of Representatives’ Committee on Counties. Burlington was the first county seat; voters moved the seat to Minot in 1888 after the Great Northern Railway bypassed Burlington in favor of the new townsite. Kenmare sits inside a narrow finger of Ward County territory nicknamed the “gooseneck,” a boundary quirk left over from a 1908–1910 dispute in which neighboring counties preferred not to make Kenmare their own seat. Minot Air Force Base opened in 1957 and has anchored the county’s economy since.
Getting There
U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 83 cross at Minot, and North Dakota Highway 52 runs southeast toward Velva. Minot International Airport offers daily commercial flights, and Amtrak’s Empire Builder stops at Minot’s depot on its Chicago–Seattle/Portland route.
- Burlington — 6 miles northwest of Minot
- Surrey — 8 miles east of Minot
- Berthold — 20 miles west of Minot
- Kenmare — 45 miles northwest of Minot
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Minot postcode?
Minot’s postal code is 58701, with several additional ZIPs (58702–58707) covering different parts of the city.
Is Minot the county seat of Ward County?
Minot is the county seat, having taken over from Burlington in 1888.
How many people live in Ward County?
Ward County had a population of 69,919 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth most populous county in North Dakota.
What is the “gooseneck” near Kenmare?
It is a narrow strip of Ward County land that reaches around Kenmare, created by a 1908–1910 boundary dispute among neighboring counties.
What is the largest employer in Ward County?
Minot Air Force Base, a few miles north of the city, is the county’s largest employer and its main economic driver.
What time zone is Ward County in?
Ward County observes Central Time.
What counties border Ward County?
Renville to the north, Burke to the northwest, Mountrail to the west, McLean to the south and McHenry to the east.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Dakota.