North Dakota is the 39th state to join the United States after officially being admitted into the Union on November 2, 1889, alongside South Dakota. Its history spans thousands of years, inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Mandan and Sioux prior to European exploration in the 18th century. Although your mention of the “9th century” as the state’s formative period seems an error—North Dakota’s significant development began in the late 19th century, especially with the arrival of railroads and the growth of agriculture as its economic backbone.
Jump Into What Matters
The state has a unique municipal framework with 53 counties, 357 cities, and 1,314 townships. According to North Dakota state law, municipalities are classified as cities or townships based primarily on population and governance:
- Cities are incorporated municipalities with populations typically exceeding 500 residents. They have formal municipal governments providing various services.
- Townships cover rural areas with smaller populations, serving as local governance entities managing township-level services.
State Information Overview
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Municipalities | 1,671 (Cities + Townships) |
| Number of Cities | 357 |
| Number of Townships | 1,314 |
| Number of Counties | 53 |
| Largest City | Fargo (Population approx. 125,990) |
| State Land Area | Approximately 70,700 square miles |
| Population (2025 est.) | Approximately 780,000 |
North Dakota Cities & Towns Ranked by Population
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo | 133,188 |
| 2 | Bismarck | 75,092 |
| 3 | Grand Forks | 58,921 |
| 4 | Minot | 47,373 |
| 5 | West Fargo | 40,400 |
| 6 | Williston | 27,706 |
| 7 | Dickinson | 25,130 |
| 8 | Mandan | 24,586 |
| 9 | Jamestown | 15,691 |
| 10 | Wahpeton | 8,000 |
| 11 | Devils Lake | 7,135 |
| 12 | Valley City | 6,551 |
| 13 | Watford City | 6,020 |
| 14 | Horace | 5,643 |
| 15 | Minot AFB | 4,904 |
| 16 | Lincoln | 4,426 |
| 17 | Grafton | 4,059 |
| 18 | Beulah | 3,034 |
| 19 | New Town | 2,725 |
| 20 | Casselton | 2,472 |
| 21 | Rugby | 2,446 |
| 22 | Hazen | 2,276 |
| 23 | Stanley | 2,184 |
| 24 | Lisbon | 2,173 |
| 25 | Bottineau | 2,171 |
| 26 | Tioga | 2,097 |
| 27 | Grand Forks AFB | 2,072 |
| 28 | Carrington | 2,009 |
| 29 | Langdon | 1,847 |
| 30 | Mayville | 1,805 |
| 31 | Oakes | 1,764 |
| 32 | Belcourt | 1,739 |
| 33 | Hillsboro | 1,641 |
| 34 | Harvey | 1,600 |
| 35 | Garrison | 1,464 |
| 36 | Mapleton | 1,435 |
| 37 | Surrey | 1,417 |
| 38 | Bowman | 1,411 |
| 39 | Park River | 1,385 |
| 40 | New Rockford | 1,310 |
| 41 | Burlington | 1,306 |
| 42 | Washburn | 1,283 |
| 43 | Larimore | 1,224 |
| 44 | Cavalier | 1,223 |
| 45 | Rolla | 1,165 |
| 46 | Shell Valley | 1,112 |
| 47 | Ellendale | 1,093 |
| 48 | Thompson | 1,069 |
| 49 | Cando | 1,047 |
| 50 | Velva | 1,046 |
| 51 | Linton | 1,045 |
| 52 | Hettinger | 1,043 |
| 53 | Crosby | 1,036 |
| 54 | New Salem | 1,027 |
| 55 | Kindred | 1,024 |
| 56 | Beach | 972 |
| 57 | Belfield | 969 |
| 58 | Cooperstown | 961 |
| 59 | Northwood | 950 |
| 60 | Fort Totten | 930 |
| 61 | Hankinson | 918 |
| 62 | Gwinner | 916 |
| 63 | Kenmare | 914 |
| 63 | Green Acres | 914 |
| 65 | Killdeer | 908 |
| 66 | Parshall | 898 |
| 67 | Walhalla | 880 |
| 68 | Cannon Ball | 859 |
| 69 | Enderlin | 856 |
| 70 | Wishek | 841 |
| 70 | Reile’s Acres | 841 |
| 72 | Harwood | 827 |
| 73 | Hebron | 788 |
| 74 | Underwood | 774 |
| 75 | LaMoure | 760 |
| 76 | Napoleon | 745 |
| 77 | Drayton | 735 |
| 78 | Glen Ullin | 725 |
| 79 | Ray | 723 |
| 80 | Wilton | 714 |
| 81 | Hatton | 702 |
| 82 | Mohall | 689 |
| 83 | Lakota | 685 |
| 84 | New England | 676 |
| 85 | Richardton | 671 |
| 86 | Steele | 652 |
| 87 | Mott | 637 |
| 88 | Milnor | 614 |
| 89 | Dunseith | 611 |
| 90 | Minto | 609 |
| 91 | Mandaree | 604 |
| 92 | Ashley | 602 |
| 93 | Lidgerwood | 593 |
| 94 | Center | 581 |
| 95 | Portland | 577 |
| 96 | Edgeley | 576 |
| 97 | Turtle Lake | 537 |
| 98 | Elgin | 519 |
| 99 | Pembina | 497 |
| 100 | Forman | 494 |
| 101 | Argusville | 474 |
| 102 | Berthold | 467 |
| 103 | Trenton | 464 |
| 104 | Rolette | 462 |
| 105 | Towner | 458 |
| 106 | Fessenden | 452 |
| 107 | Wyndmere | 448 |
| 108 | Emerado | 441 |
| 109 | Leeds | 423 |
| 110 | South Heart | 403 |
| 110 | Glenburn | 403 |
| 112 | Finley | 391 |
| 113 | Maddock | 384 |
| 114 | McVille | 379 |
| 115 | Powers Lake | 375 |
| 116 | Westhope | 374 |
| 117 | Oxbow | 371 |
| 118 | Manvel | 369 |
| 119 | East Dunseith | 367 |
| 120 | Kulm | 366 |
| 121 | Strasburg | 364 |
| 122 | Stanton | 362 |
| 123 | Buxton | 349 |
| 124 | Neche | 338 |
| 125 | Fairmount | 336 |
| 126 | Hunter | 327 |
| 127 | Arthur | 324 |
| 128 | Max | 323 |
| 129 | McClusky | 319 |
| 130 | St. John | 313 |
| 131 | St. Thomas | 312 |
| 132 | Sawyer | 307 |
| 132 | Alexander | 307 |
| 134 | Bowbells | 285 |
| 135 | Gackle | 282 |
| 136 | White Shield | 277 |
| 136 | Hope | 277 |
| 136 | Drake | 277 |
| 139 | Tower City | 275 |
| 140 | Arnegard | 272 |
| 141 | Gladstone | 271 |
| 142 | Reynolds | 268 |
| 142 | Walcott | 268 |
| 144 | Medina | 265 |
| 145 | Michigan City | 259 |
| 146 | Abercrombie | 258 |
| 147 | Davenport | 254 |
| 148 | Scranton | 248 |
| 149 | Leonard | 244 |
| 149 | Hoople | 244 |
| 151 | Carson | 240 |
| 151 | Gilby | 240 |
| 153 | Aneta | 237 |
| 154 | Lansford | 235 |
| 155 | Halliday | 230 |
| 156 | Dunn Center | 227 |
| 157 | Granville | 225 |
| 158 | Taylor | 224 |
| 158 | Zap | 224 |
| 160 | Riverdale | 223 |
| 161 | Hazelton | 219 |
| 162 | Anamoose | 217 |
| 163 | Flasher | 215 |
| 164 | Grenora | 214 |
| 165 | Tappen | 211 |
| 166 | New Leipzig | 207 |
| 167 | Plaza | 204 |
| 168 | Colfax | 202 |
| 168 | Fordville | 202 |
| 170 | Four Bears Village | 200 |
| 171 | Grandin | 195 |
| 172 | Edinburg | 194 |
| 173 | Frontier | 193 |
| 174 | Harmon | 192 |
| 175 | Apple Valley | 191 |
| 176 | Page | 189 |
| 176 | Sherwood | 189 |
| 178 | Buffalo | 188 |
| 178 | Golden Valley | 188 |
| 180 | Minnewaukan | 187 |
| 181 | Munich | 186 |
| 182 | Des Lacs | 183 |
| 183 | Sheyenne | 178 |
| 184 | Wimbledon | 176 |
| 185 | Mooreton | 173 |
| 186 | Regent | 166 |
| 186 | Fort Yates | 166 |
| 188 | Litchville | 165 |
| 189 | Logan | 164 |
| 190 | Binford | 163 |
| 191 | Sanborn | 162 |
| 192 | Rutland | 160 |
| 193 | Petersburg | 159 |
| 194 | Rhame | 156 |
| 195 | Medora | 155 |
| 196 | Christine | 151 |
| 197 | Willow City | 149 |
| 198 | Streeter | 148 |
| 199 | Kensal | 147 |
| 200 | Makoti | 145 |
| 201 | Bowdon | 139 |
| 202 | Carpio | 138 |
| 202 | Edmore | 138 |
| 204 | Lignite | 136 |
| 204 | Porcupine | 136 |
| 206 | East Fairview | 134 |
| 206 | Noonan | 134 |
| 208 | Tolna | 131 |
| 208 | Wing | 131 |
| 208 | Columbus | 131 |
| 211 | Upham | 130 |
| 212 | Pick City | 128 |
| 213 | Gardner | 127 |
| 214 | Mercer | 125 |
| 215 | Reeder | 124 |
| 215 | Marion | 124 |
| 217 | Hannaford | 123 |
| 218 | Adams | 122 |
| 218 | Palermo | 122 |
| 220 | McGregor | 121 |
| 220 | McLeod | 121 |
| 222 | Portal | 119 |
| 222 | Brooktree Park | 119 |
| 224 | Selfridge | 118 |
| 225 | Crary | 112 |
| 225 | Galesburg | 112 |
| 227 | Forest River | 111 |
| 227 | Crystal | 111 |
| 229 | Wildrose | 110 |
| 229 | Goodrich | 110 |
| 231 | Oriska | 108 |
| 232 | Blacktail | 107 |
| 233 | Ruthville | 103 |
| 233 | Ryder | 103 |
| 233 | Lankin | 103 |
| 233 | Osnabrock | 103 |
| 237 | Bisbee | 100 |
| 238 | Sykeston | 99 |
| 239 | Fort Ransom | 98 |
| 239 | Almont | 98 |
| 241 | Starkweather | 97 |
| 242 | Marmarth | 95 |
| 242 | Menoken | 95 |
| 242 | Glenfield | 95 |
| 245 | Newburg | 94 |
| 246 | Sheldon | 93 |
| 246 | Oberon | 93 |
| 246 | White Earth | 93 |
| 249 | Spiritwood Lake | 92 |
| 250 | Ross | 90 |
| 250 | Rocklake | 90 |
| 250 | Fingal | 90 |
| 250 | Deering | 90 |
| 254 | Douglas | 89 |
| 255 | Esmond | 88 |
| 256 | Pisek | 87 |
| 257 | Montpelier | 86 |
| 257 | Maxbass | 86 |
| 257 | Dodge | 86 |
| 260 | Karlsruhe | 85 |
| 260 | Golva | 85 |
| 260 | Sharon | 85 |
| 263 | Buchanan | 84 |
| 263 | Amenia | 84 |
| 265 | Zeeland | 82 |
| 265 | Lehr | 82 |
| 267 | Manning | 79 |
| 267 | Epping | 79 |
| 269 | Dwight | 78 |
| 270 | Dazey | 75 |
| 271 | Dawson | 73 |
| 271 | Donnybrook | 73 |
| 273 | Pekin | 72 |
| 274 | Selz | 71 |
| 275 | Cogswell | 70 |
| 276 | Mountain | 68 |
| 276 | Caledonia | 68 |
| 276 | Mantador | 68 |
| 276 | Butte | 68 |
| 276 | Havana | 68 |
| 281 | Benedict | 66 |
| 282 | Coleharbor | 65 |
| 282 | Hague | 65 |
| 282 | Solen | 65 |
| 285 | Kathryn | 64 |
| 286 | Jud | 63 |
| 286 | Sentinel Butte | 63 |
| 286 | McHenry | 63 |
| 289 | Cleveland | 61 |
| 289 | Martin | 61 |
| 289 | Flaxton | 61 |
| 292 | Hurdsfield | 60 |
| 292 | Balta | 60 |
| 294 | Verona | 58 |
| 294 | Pettibone | 58 |
| 294 | Tuttle | 58 |
| 297 | Fullerton | 57 |
| 298 | North River | 56 |
| 299 | Prairie Rose | 55 |
| 300 | Briarwood | 53 |
| 300 | Grace City | 53 |
| 300 | Alamo | 53 |
| 303 | Driscoll | 52 |
| 304 | Great Bend | 51 |
| 305 | Warwick | 50 |
| 305 | Dickey | 50 |
| 307 | Bathgate | 48 |
| 307 | Nome | 48 |
| 307 | Foxholm | 48 |
| 307 | Rogers | 48 |
| 311 | Woodworth | 45 |
| 312 | Erie | 44 |
| 313 | Pingree | 43 |
| 313 | Wolford | 43 |
| 313 | Voltaire | 43 |
| 316 | Niagara | 42 |
| 316 | Barney | 42 |
| 316 | Hamilton | 42 |
| 316 | Tolley | 42 |
| 320 | Alice | 41 |
| 320 | Heimdal | 41 |
| 322 | Milton | 40 |
| 322 | Sutton | 40 |
| 324 | Souris | 39 |
| 325 | Cayuga | 38 |
| 325 | Wheatland | 38 |
| 325 | Fredonia | 38 |
| 325 | Landa | 38 |
| 325 | Forbes | 38 |
| 330 | Inkster | 37 |
| 330 | Courtenay | 37 |
| 332 | Robinson | 35 |
| 333 | Regan | 34 |
| 334 | Ardoch | 33 |
| 335 | Alsen | 32 |
| 335 | Springbrook | 32 |
| 337 | Canton City (Hensel) | 31 |
| 337 | Brocket | 31 |
| 339 | Nekoma | 30 |
| 339 | Egeland | 30 |
| 339 | Berlin | 30 |
| 342 | Fortuna | 29 |
| 342 | Monango | 29 |
| 342 | Brinsmade | 29 |
| 342 | Clifford | 29 |
| 346 | Fairdale | 27 |
| 346 | Hampden | 27 |
| 348 | Luverne | 26 |
| 348 | Leith | 26 |
| 350 | Dahlen | 25 |
| 351 | Kramer | 24 |
| 351 | Leal | 24 |
| 351 | Spiritwood | 24 |
| 354 | Long Creek | 23 |
| 354 | Gardena | 23 |
| 354 | Amidon | 23 |
| 357 | Elliott | 22 |
| 358 | Cathay | 21 |
| 358 | Antler | 21 |
| 358 | De Lamere | 21 |
| 361 | Venturia | 20 |
| 361 | Knox | 20 |
| 363 | Sibley | 19 |
| 363 | Gascoyne | 19 |
| 365 | Mylo | 18 |
| 366 | Ludden | 17 |
| 366 | Ambrose | 17 |
| 366 | Lawton | 17 |
| 366 | Braddock | 17 |
| 370 | Pillsbury | 16 |
| 370 | Sarles | 16 |
| 372 | Hansboro | 15 |
| 372 | Bucyrus | 15 |
| 372 | Balfour | 15 |
| 372 | Haynes | 15 |
| 372 | Embden | 15 |
| 377 | Conway | 14 |
| 377 | York | 14 |
| 379 | Calvin | 13 |
| 379 | Denhoff | 13 |
| 379 | Auburn | 13 |
| 382 | Ypsilanti | 12 |
| 382 | Englevale | 12 |
| 382 | Hamberg | 12 |
| 385 | Bergen | 11 |
| 385 | Ayr | 11 |
| 387 | Loraine | 10 |
| 387 | Overly | 10 |
| 387 | Grano | 10 |
| 390 | Wales | 9 |
| 390 | Nash | 9 |
| 390 | Raleigh | 9 |
| 393 | Heil | 8 |
| 393 | Kief | 8 |
| 393 | Loma | 8 |
| 396 | Hannah | 7 |
| 397 | Churchs Ferry | 5 |
| 397 | Bantry | 5 |
| 397 | Larson | 5 |
| 397 | Ruso | 5 |
| 397 | Calio | 5 |
| 397 | Perth | 5 |
| 403 | Jessie | 3 |
Cities and Towns by Alphabetical Letter In North Dakota
Cities in North Dakota that start with A
- Abercrombie
- Adams
- Alamo
- Alexander
- Alice
- Almont
- Alsen
- Ambrose
- Amenia
- Amidon
- Anamoose
- Aneta
- Antler
- Apple Valley
- Ardoch
- Argusville
- Arnegard
- Arthur
- Ashley
- Auburn
- Ayr
Cities in North Dakota that start with B
- Balfour
- Balta
- Bantry
- Barney
- Bathgate
- Beach
- Belcourt
- Belfield
- Benedict
- Bergen
- Berlin
- Berthold
- Beulah
- Binford
- Bisbee
- Bismarck
- Blacktail
- Bottineau
- Bowbells
- Bowdon
- Bowman
- Braddock
- Briarwood
- Brinsmade
- Brocket
- Brooktree Park
- Buchanan
- Bucyrus
- Buffalo
- Burlington
- Butte
- Buxton
Cities in North Dakota that start with C
- Caledonia
- Calio
- Calvin
- Cando
- Cannon Ball
- Canton City (Hensel)
- Carpio
- Carrington
- Carson
- Casselton
- Cathay
- Cavalier
- Cayuga
- Center
- Christine
- Churchs Ferry
- Cleveland
- Clifford
- Cogswell
- Coleharbor
- Colfax
- Columbus
- Conway
- Cooperstown
- Courtenay
- Crary
- Crosby
- Crystal
Cities in North Dakota that start with D
- Dahlen
- Davenport
- Dawson
- Dazey
- Deering
- De Lamere
- Denhoff
- Des Lacs
- Devils Lake
- Dickey
- Dickinson
- Dodge
- Donnybrook
- Douglas
- Drake
- Drayton
- Driscoll
- Dunn Center
- Dunseith
- Dwight
Cities in North Dakota that start with E
- East Dunseith
- East Fairview
- Edgeley
- Edinburg
- Edmore
- Egeland
- Elgin
- Ellendale
- Elliott
- Embden
- Emerado
- Enderlin
- Englevale
- Epping
- Erie
- Esmond
Cities in North Dakota that start with F
- Fairdale
- Fairmount
- Fargo
- Fessenden
- Fingal
- Finley
- Flasher
- Flaxton
- Forbes
- Fordville
- Forest River
- Forman
- Fort Ransom
- Fort Totten
- Fortuna
- Fort Yates
- Four Bears Village
- Foxholm
- Fredonia
- Frontier
- Fullerton
Cities in North Dakota that start with G
- Gackle
- Galesburg
- Gardena
- Gardner
- Garrison
- Gascoyne
- Gilby
- Gladstone
- Glenburn
- Glenfield
- Glen Ullin
- Golden Valley
- Golva
- Goodrich
- Grace City
- Grafton
- Grand Forks
- Grand Forks AFB
- Grandin
- Grano
- Granville
- Great Bend
- Green Acres
- Grenora
- Gwinner
Cities in North Dakota that start with H
- Hague
- Halliday
- Hamberg
- Hamilton
- Hampden
- Hankinson
- Hannaford
- Hannah
- Hansboro
- Harmon
- Harvey
- Harwood
- Hatton
- Havana
- Haynes
- Hazelton
- Hazen
- Hebron
- Heil
- Heimdal
- Hettinger
- Hillsboro
- Hoople
- Hope
- Horace
- Hunter
- Hurdsfield
Cities in North Dakota that start with I
- Inkster
Cities in North Dakota that start with J
- Jamestown
- Jessie
- Jud
Cities in North Dakota that start with K
- Karlsruhe
- Kathryn
- Kenmare
- Kensal
- Kief
- Killdeer
- Kindred
- Knox
- Kramer
- Kulm
Cities in North Dakota that start with L
- Lakota
- LaMoure
- Landa
- Langdon
- Lankin
- Lansford
- Larimore
- Larson
- Lawton
- Leal
- Leeds
- Lehr
- Leith
- Leonard
- Lidgerwood
- Lignite
- Lincoln
- Linton
- Lisbon
- Litchville
- Logan
- Loma
- Long Creek
- Loraine
- Ludden
- Luverne
Cities in North Dakota that start with M
- Maddock
- Makoti
- Mandan
- Mandaree
- Manning
- Mantador
- Manvel
- Mapleton
- Marion
- Marmarth
- Martin
- Max
- Maxbass
- Mayville
- McClusky
- McGregor
- McHenry
- McLeod
- McVille
- Medina
- Medora
- Menoken
- Mercer
- Michigan City
- Milnor
- Milton
- Minnewaukan
- Minot
- Minot AFB
- Minto
- Mohall
- Monango
- Montpelier
- Mooreton
- Mott
- Mountain
- Munich
- Mylo
Cities in North Dakota that start with N
- Napoleon
- Nash
- Neche
- Nekoma
- Newburg
- New England
- New Leipzig
- New Rockford
- New Salem
- New Town
- Niagara
- Nome
- Noonan
- North River
- Northwood
Cities in North Dakota that start with O
- Oakes
- Oberon
- Oriska
- Osnabrock
- Overly
- Oxbow
Cities in North Dakota that start with P
- Page
- Palermo
- Park River
- Parshall
- Pekin
- Pembina
- Perth
- Petersburg
- Pettibone
- Pick City
- Pillsbury
- Pingree
- Pisek
- Plaza
- Porcupine
- Portal
- Portland
- Powers Lake
- Prairie Rose
Cities in North Dakota that start with R
- Raleigh
- Ray
- Reeder
- Regan
- Regent
- Reile’s Acres
- Reynolds
- Rhame
- Richardton
- Riverdale
- Robinson
- Rocklake
- Rogers
- Rolette
- Rolla
- Ross
- Rugby
- Ruso
- Ruthville
- Rutland
- Ryder
Cities in North Dakota that start with S
- Sanborn
- Sarles
- Sawyer
- Scranton
- Selfridge
- Selz
- Sentinel Butte
- Sharon
- Sheldon
- Shell Valley
- Sherwood
- Sheyenne
- Sibley
- Solen
- Souris
- South Heart
- Spiritwood
- Spiritwood Lake
- Springbrook
- Stanley
- Stanton
- Starkweather
- Steele
- St. John
- Strasburg
- Streeter
- St. Thomas
- Surrey
- Sutton
- Sykeston
Cities in North Dakota that start with T
- Tappen
- Taylor
- Thompson
- Tioga
- Tolley
- Tolna
- Tower City
- Towner
- Trenton
- Turtle Lake
- Tuttle
Cities in North Dakota that start with U
- Underwood
- Upham
Cities in North Dakota that start with V
- Valley City
- Velva
- Venturia
- Verona
- Voltaire
Cities in North Dakota that start with W
- Wahpeton
- Walcott
- Wales
- Walhalla
- Warwick
- Washburn
- Watford City
- West Fargo
- Westhope
- Wheatland
- White Earth
- White Shield
- Wildrose
- Williston
- Willow City
- Wilton
- Wimbledon
- Wing
- Wishek
- Wolford
- Woodworth
- Wyndmere
Cities in North Dakota that start with Y
- York
- Ypsilanti
Cities in North Dakota that start with Z
- Zap
- Zeeland
Note
North Dakota has no towns in alphabetical order, beginning with the letters Q and X
Interactive North Dakota Map
Questions & Answers
How many towns are in North Dakota?
North Dakota has 53 counties, 357 cities, and 1,314 townships.
What are the 10 biggest cities in North Dakota?
The 10 biggest cities in North Dakota are as follows:
- Fargo: 134,675
- Bismarck: 76,701
- Grand Forks: 59,890
- Minot: 49,153
- West Fargo: 40,764
- Williston: 29,817
- Dickinson: 26,351
- Mandan: 24,872
- Jamestown: 15,769
- Wahpeton: 8,026
