In the heart of the Great Plains, North Dakota emerges as a dynamic landscape of growth, with certain counties experiencing remarkable surges in population and development. As we jump into the demographic tapestry of the Peace Garden State, we will focus on the five fastest-growing counties that have become hotbeds for economic expansion, job opportunities, and an influx of residents seeking a vibrant quality of life.  From the Bakken oil boom to agricultural resilience, these counties exemplify North Dakota's ability to foster prosperity in diverse ways, making them intriguing case studies in the ongoing narrative of the state's evolution.

KEYZ AM 660 logo
Get our free mobile app

Here are the top 5 according to Stacker.com.

googlemaps.com
googlemaps.com
loading...
McKenzie County

#5. McKenzie County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +8,344
--- #475 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +131.2%
--- #1 among counties in North Dakota, #1 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 14,704
--- #10 largest county in North Dakota, #2,106 largest county nationwide
googlemaps.com
googlemaps.com
loading...
Stark County

#4. Stark County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,447
--- #442 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +39.0%
--- #3 among counties in North Dakota, #18 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 33,646
--- #6 largest county in North Dakota, #1,338 largest county nationwide
loading...

#3. Burleigh County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +17,150
--- #319 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +21.1%
--- #7 among counties in North Dakota, #98 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 98,458
--- #2 largest county in North Dakota, #617 largest county nationwide
googlemaps.com
googlemaps.com
loading...
Williams County

#2. Williams County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +18,552
--- #308 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +82.8%
--- #2 among counties in North Dakota, #2 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 40,950
--- #5 largest county in North Dakota, #1,162 largest county nationwide
loading...

#1. Cass County

- 2010 to 2020 population change: +34,747
--- #183 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +23.2%
--- #5 among counties in North Dakota, #84 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 184,525
--- #1 largest county in North Dakota, #363 largest county nationwide
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in North Dakota using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020, based on the U.S. Decennial Census. Even though these numbers are from 2020, it is still encouraging to see people coming to western North Dakota!

LOOK: Best counties to raise a family in North Dakota

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in North Dakota.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

KEYZ AM 660 logo
Get our free mobile app

LOOK: Here's where people in every state are moving to most

Stacker analyzed the Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey data to determine the three most popular destinations for people moving out of each state.

Gallery Credit: Amanda Silvestri

More From KEYZ AM 660