County · code 38053
McKenzie CountyNorth Dakota
McKenzie County is in North Dakota and was fully organized in 1905 with Watford City as its seat.
- Founded1905
- County seatWatford City
- Named forAlexander McKenzie
- Land area2,760 sq mi + 100 sq mi water
- Population14,704 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped18,831 checked 16 October 2026
Where it is
McKenzie on the map of North Dakota
North Dakota has 53 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Founded in 1905
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
McKenzie County was created on November 2, 1889, when North Dakota became a state, but initially lost territory to Dunn County in 1885. The county was eliminated in 1896 when it lost all territory to Billings County, but the North Dakota Supreme Court overturned this in 1901, re-creating McKenzie County. In 1905, McKenzie gained the entire territories of Allred and Wallace counties and was fully organized as an independent county.
- 1885
- 1889Became part of North Dakota McKenzie became a county in the state of North Dakota. · U.S. Stat., vol. 25, ch. 180[1889]/pp. 676-684 and vol. 26, no. 5/pp. 1548-1549; Swindler, 7:526-527; Van Zandt, 134
- 1901McKenzie County created McKenzie re-created from Billings when the North Dakota Supreme Court overturned the act of 9 March 1899 and confirmed its decision of 18 May 1899 that overturned act of 3 November 1896. · "Henry B. Schaffner v. John Young," in N. Dak. Rpts., 10:245-254; Hall, 232-233
- 1903Changed McKenzie attached to Stark "for judicial purposes." · N. Dak. Laws 1903, 8th sess., ch. 70/p. 80
- 1905Gained territory McKenzie gained all of Allred and Wallace; Allred and Wallace eliminated.from Allredfrom Wallace· N. Dak. Laws 1905, 9th sess., ch. 73/p. 155; Hall, 236
Show all 8 changes
- 1885
- 1889Became part of North Dakota McKenzie became a county in the state of North Dakota. · U.S. Stat., vol. 25, ch. 180[1889]/pp. 676-684 and vol. 26, no. 5/pp. 1548-1549; Swindler, 7:526-527; Van Zandt, 134
- 1891
- 1896Lost territory McKenzie lost all territory to Billings; McKenzie eliminated. Act was overturned by the North Dakota Supreme Court, 24 May 1901. · N. Dak. Laws 1895, 4th sess., ch. 25/pp. 21-23; Hall, 229-233
- 1901McKenzie County created McKenzie re-created from Billings when the North Dakota Supreme Court overturned the act of 9 March 1899 and confirmed its decision of 18 May 1899 that overturned act of 3 November 1896. · "Henry B. Schaffner v. John Young," in N. Dak. Rpts., 10:245-254; Hall, 232-233
- 1903Changed McKenzie attached to Stark "for judicial purposes." · N. Dak. Laws 1903, 8th sess., ch. 70/p. 80
- 1905Gained territory McKenzie gained all of Allred and Wallace; Allred and Wallace eliminated.from Allredfrom Wallace· N. Dak. Laws 1905, 9th sess., ch. 73/p. 155; Hall, 236
- 1905
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in McKenzie
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 18,831 parcels from McKenzie County. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 16 October 2026 -
Address points Official
One point per address, 15,832 in all from State of North Dakota — NDGISHUB / ND Department of Emergency Services (owner NDGISHDP-DES).
edited 12 October 2026 · checked 13 October 2026 -
Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
McKenzie by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
McKenzie County's official site
We have found the county's site but not its offices yet; start there.
County government
- County government
The official website of McKenzie County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open McKenzie County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about McKenzie County
- When was McKenzie County founded?
- McKenzie County was founded in 1905, and named after Alexander McKenzie.
- What is the county seat of McKenzie County?
- The county seat of McKenzie County is Watford City.
- Is there an online parcel map for McKenzie County?
- Yes. McKenzie County publishes a parcel map of 18,831 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has McKenzie County's boundary or name changed?
- McKenzie County was created in 1901. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 6 later changes, chiefly involving Stark County, Allred County and Billings County.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for McKenzie County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby