McKenzie County

Also known as McKenzie County, North Dakota, McKenzie County, ND

county in North Dakota, United States

Key facts

Country: United States
State: North Dakota
Founded: March 9, 1883 (created), April 20, 1905 (organized)
Named after: Alexander McKenzie
Seat: Watford City
Largest city: Watford City
Total: 2,860.566 sq mi (7,408.83 km )
Land: 2,760.133 sq mi (7,148.71 km )
Water: 100.433 sq mi (260.12 km ) 3.51%
Estimate 2025: 15,192
Northern portion: UTC−6 ( Central )
Summer dst: UTC−5 ( CDT )
Southern portion

Article

McKenzie County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,704, and was estimated to be 15,192 in 2025, The county seat and largest city is Watford City. McKenzie County is also the largest county in North Dakota by land area, and is home to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The county lies immediately adjacent to the Williston Micropolitan Statistical Area, although the Census Bureau does not include McKenzie County in that grouping.