North Dakota: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries

2 November 1889

The state of North Dakota was created from the Dakota Territory; Dakota Territory was eliminated. The following fifty-three counties became part of the state of North Dakota:

ALLRED (extinct), BARNES, BENSON, BILLINGS, BOTTINEAU, BOWMAN, BUFORD (extinct), BURLEIGH, CASS, CAVALIER, CHURCH (extinct), DICKEY, DUNN, EDDY, EMMONS, FLANNERY (extinct), FOSTER, GARFIELD (extinct), GRAND FORKS, GRIGGS, HETTINGER, KIDDER. LA MOURE, LOGAN, McHENRY, McINTOSH, McKENZIE, McLEAN, MERCER, MORTON, MOUNTRAIL, NELSON, OLIVER, PEMBINA, PIERCE, RAMSEY, RANSOM, RENVILLE, RICHLAND, ROLETTE, SARGENT, SHERIDAN, STARK, STEELE, STEVENS (extinct), STUTSMAN, TOWNER, TRAILL, WALLACE (extinct), WALSH, WARD, WELLS, and WILLIAMS (original, extinct). Non-County Areas 17, 18, 20, and 21 became part of the State of North Dakota. Non-County Area 9 became part of the state of North Dakota and gained from BOREMAN (S.D., extinct), EWING (S.D., extinct), MARTIN (S.D., extinct), SCHNASSE (S.D., extinct), and WAGNER (S.D., extinct) when the boundary between North Dakota and South Dakota was set at the seventh standard parallel. That part of Non-County Area 9 east of 102 degrees west longitude was part of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. (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)

4 November 1890

RAMSEY gained all of Non-County Area 18; Non-County Area 18 eliminated. Act passed 11 March 1890; took effect 4 November 1890 when voters in the area agreed to become part of RAMSEY. (N. Dak. Laws 1889, 1st sess., ch. 201/p. 549)

21 February 1891

BUFORD (extinct), FLANNERY (extinct), GARFIELD (extinct), MOUNTRAIL, RENVILLE, and STEVENS (extinct) attached to WARD "for judicial and other purposes.” (N. Dak. Laws 1891, 2d sess., ch. 77/p. 219)

CHURCH (extinct) attached to McHENRY "for judicial and other purposes." (N. Dak. Laws 1891, 2d sess., ch. 78/p. 219)

2 March 1891

WILLIAMS created from all of BUFORD and all of FLANNERY; BUFORD and FLANNERY eliminated, ending their attachment to WARD. WILLIAMS not fully organized, not attached. WILLIAMS (original, extinct) continued to exist until 8 November 1892 in another part of the state.

Legislature authorized STARK and MERCER to gain all of WILLIAMS (original, extinct), dependent on a referendum to be held at the next general election [no change; see 8 November 1892].

Legislature authorized BILLINGS to gain all of ALLRED (extinct), and part of BOWMAN, McKENZIE, WALLACE (extinct), and part of Non-County Area 9.

Legislature authorized STARK to gain all of DUNN and HETTINGER, and part of BILLINGS, BOWMAN, McKENZIE, WALLACE (extinct), WILLIAMS (original, extinct), and part of Non-County Area 9; gains did not take effect [no change].

Legislature authorized MORTON to gain part of Non-County Area 9 [Standing Rock Indian Reservation], dependent on local referendum. Vote was 370 to 83 against the gain [no change]. (N. Dak. Laws 1891, 2d sess., ch. 50, secs. 6–11/pp. 130–132; HRS N. Dak., Williams, 3–5; Hall, 226–229)

4 March 1891

RAMSEY boundaries clarified; confirmed gain of 4 November 1890 [no change]. (N. Dak. Laws 1891, 2d sess., ch. 129/p. 328)

6 March 1891

Legislature authorized RAMSEY to gain from BENSON; gain did not take effect [no change]. (N. Dak. Laws 1891, 2d sess., ch. 130/p. 329)

8 December 1891

WILLIAMS fully organized. (HRS N. Dak., Williams, 4–5; Williams County Historical Society, 1:92)

8 November 1892

The legislature passed a single law altering the boundaries of multiple county and non-county areas; resulting in the following changes. (N. Dak. Laws 1891, 2d sess., ch. 50, secs. 1–5, 10–11/pp. 129–132; Hall, 224–229)

BOTTINEAU gained from RENVILLE.

McHENRY gained part of CHURCH.

McLEAN gained from CHURCH, GARFIELD, STEVENS, and gained all of SHERIDAN.

MERCER gained from WILLIAMS (original, extinct) and gained all of Non-County Area 21.

PIERCE gained part of CHURCH.

WARD gained from GARFIELD, RENVILLE, STEVENS, and gained all of MOUNTRAIL, and all of Non-County Area 17 and Non-County Area 20.

GARFIELD, MOUNTRAIL, RENVILLE, STEVENS, and Non-County Areas 17, 20, and 21eliminated, ending the attachment of the four counties to WARD. CHURCH eliminated, ending its attachment to McHENRY. SHERIDAN eliminated.

Remainder of WILLIAMS (original) implicitly reverted to Non-County Area 23. This area was to have been part of STARK, but the gain did not take effect.; WILLIAMS (original) eliminated.

3 November 1896

BILLINGS gained all of ALLRED (extinct), BOWMAN, and McKENZIE; BILLINGS also gained part of WALLACE (extinct) and part of Non-County Area 9. MERCER gained most of Non-County Area 23. STARK gained all of DUNN and all of HETTINGER; STARK also gained part of WALLACE (extinct) and parts of Non-County Area 9 and Non-County Area 23.

ALLRED, BOWMAN, DUNN, HETTINGER, McKENZIE, WALLACE, and Non-County Area 23 eliminated. Remaining part of Non-County Area 9 encompassed the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Act was overturned by the North Dakota Supreme Court, 24 May 1901 [see also 9 March 1899 and 18 May 1899]. (N. Dak. Laws 1895, 4th sess., ch. 25/pp. 21–23; Hall, 229–233)

12 March 1897

Legislature authorized MORTON to gain all of Non-County Area 9 [Standing Rock Indian Reservation]; gain did not take effect [no change]. (N. Dak. Laws 1897, 5th sess., ch. 79/p. 122; Hall, 233)

9 March 1899

Legislature passed act declaring "all territory within the State of North Dakota over which any county has exercised jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters and which has for all intents and purposes been treated as a portion of such county…shall be and the same is hereby declared a part of such county…." Act was passed to circumvent the expected action of the North Dakota Supreme Court that declared unconstitutional the act of 3 November 1896 on 18 May 1899. North Dakota Supreme Court declared this act of 9 March 1899 unconstitutional on 24 May 1901. (N. Dak. Laws 1899, 6th sess., ch. 57/p. 67; Hall, 232)

18 May 1899

North Dakota Supreme Court overturned act of 3 November 1896, but the pre-1896 boundaries were not restored [see 24 May 1901; no change]. ("Wilson L. Richard v. Stark County," in N. Dak. Rpts., 8:392–395; Hall, 229–233)

24 May 1901

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; resulting in the following changes. ("Henry B. Schaffner v. John Young," in N. Dak. Rpts., 10:245–254; Hall, 232–233)

ALLRED (extinct) re-created from BILLINGS.

BOWMAN re-created from BILLINGS. BOWMAN implicitly gained part of Non-County Area 9 located between 46 degrees north latitude and the southern boundary of North Dakota, and gained a small strip along its eastern line, when the boundary was shifted from 103 degrees west longitude to the line between ranges 98 and 99. This placed the county boundaries on federal land survey lines.

DUNN re-created from STARK.

HETTINGER re-created from STARK. HETTINGER implicitly gained part of Non-County Area 9 between 46 degrees north latitude and the southern boundary of North Dakota, and lost a small area along its western boundary when the line was shifted from 103 degrees west longitude to the line between ranges 98 and 99, so that the county boundaries would run on federal land survey lines.

McKENZIE re-created from BILLINGS.

WALLACE (extinct) re-created from BILLINGS and STARK.

Non-County Area 23 re-created from MERCER and STARK.

10 March 1903

ALLRED (extinct) attached to WILLIAMS "for judicial purposes.” (N. Dak. Laws 1903, 8th sess., ch. 71/p. 81)

BOWMAN, DUNN, HETTINGER, McKENZIE, WALLACE (extinct) , and Non-County Area 23 were attached to STARK "for judicial purposes.” (N. Dak. Laws 1903, 8th sess., ch. 70/p. 80)

13 March 1903

Legislature authorized STARK to gain all of DUNN, and all of HETTINGER. MERCER and STARK were authorized to gain all of Non-County Area 23; gains did not take effect [no change]. Act was overturned by the North Dakota Supreme Court during the 1905 session. (N. Dak. Laws 1903, 8th sess., chs. 68–69/pp. 77–80; Hall, 233–236; "State of North Dakota v. Stark County," in N. Dak. Rpts., 14:368–375)

8 November 1904

BILLINGS gained all of BOWMAN; BOWMAN eliminated, ending its attachment to STARK. (N. Dak. Laws 1903, 8th sess., ch. 67/p. 76; North Dakota Blue Book, 447)

16 March 1905

McKENZIE gained all of ALLRED and WALLACE; ALLRED eliminated, ending its attachment to WILLIAMS. WALLACE eliminated, ending its attachment to STARK. (N. Dak. Laws 1905, 9th sess., ch. 73/p. 155; Hall, 236)

20 April 1905

McKENZIE fully organized, detached from STARK. (North Dakota Blue Book, 449)

December 1905

In December 1905, the North Dakota Supreme Court overturned the act of 13 March 1903 by which STARK was authorized to gain all of DUNN, all of HETTINGER, and part of Non-County Area 23 [no change]. ("State of North Dakota v. Stark County," in N. Dak. Rpts., 14:368–375)

17 April 1907

ADAMS created from HETTINGER; ADAMS not fully organized, not attached. (Hall, 237–238)

19 April 1907

HETTINGER fully organized, detached from STARK. (North Dakota Blue Book, 449)

24 April 1907

ADAMS fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 446)

10 June 1907

BOWMAN re-created from BILLINGS by proclamation of the governor; BOWMAN not fully organized, not attached. (North Dakota Blue Book, 447)

5 July 1907

BOWMAN fully organized. (Hall, 237; N. Dak. Rev. Code 1943, 1:495; North Dakota Blue Book, 447)

18 January 1908

DUNN gained nearly all of Non-County Area 23 and STARK gained a small portion of Non-County Area 23; Non-County Area 23 eliminated, ending its attachment to STARK. DUNN fully organized, detached from STARK. ("Dunn County," 2; Hall, 238–239)

3 November 1908

SHERIDAN re-created from McLEAN with somewhat different boundaries from the original SHERIDAN that was eliminated 8 November 1892. The vote in favor of re-creating SHERIDAN passed 1950 to 1650. SHERIDAN not fully organized, not attached. (Hall, 238–239)

24 December 1908

SHERIDAN fully organized. (Hall, 239; North Dakota Blue Book, 451)

16 January 1909

MOUNTRAIL re-created from WARD with somewhat different boundaries from the original MOUNTRAIL that was eliminated 8 November 1892. Vote authorizing the re-creation of MOUNTRAIL passed 4207 to 4024 in the general election held 3 November 1908. Litigation delayed this enactment until 16 January 1909 when the North Dakota Supreme Court upheld the vote. MOUNTRAIL not fully organized, not attached. ("State of North Dakota v. Alfred Blaisdell, et al." in N. Dak. Rpts., 18:31–44; Hall, 241–242)

29 January 1909

MOUNTRAIL fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 450)

12 July 1910

BURKE created from WARD, and RENVILLE re-created from WARD with somewhat different boundaries from the original RENVILLE that was eliminated 8 November 1892. Vote authorizing these creations was held 3 November 1908, but litigation delayed the enactment until a North Dakota Supreme Court ruling of 3 June 1910 upheld the election results. The governor's proclamation created BURKE and RENVILLE on 12 July 1910. BURKE and RENVILLE not fully organized, not attached. ("Fitzmaurice v. Willis," in N. Dak. Rpts., 20:372–392; Hall, 241–246; North Dakota Blue Book, 447, 451; Pioneers and Progress, 10)

15 July 1910

BURKE fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 447; Pioneers and Progress, 10)

20 July 1910

RENVILLE fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 451; Pioneers and Progress, 10)

8 November 1910

DIVIDE created from WILLIAMS; DIVIDE not fully organized, not attached. (Hall, 246; HRS N. Dak., Williams, 4; Williams County Historical Society, 1:93)

9 December 1910

DIVIDE fully organized. (Hall, 246; Williams County Historical Society, 1:93)

19 September 1912

GOLDEN VALLEY created from BILLINGS; vote authorizing this creation passed 837 to 756 in the general election held 8 November 1910, but litigation delayed this enactment until 19 September 1912 when the North Dakota Supreme Court upheld the vote. GOLDEN VALLEY not fully organized, not attached. (Hall, 246–248; HRS N. Dak., Golden Valley, 2; "Pederson v. Board of Commissioners of Billings County," in N. Dak. Rpts., 23:547–555)

13 November 1912

GOLDEN VALLEY fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 448)

3 September 1914

SIOUX created from all of Non-County Area 9 [Standing Rock Indian Reservation] by proclamation of the governor; Non-County Area 9 eliminated. SIOUX not fully organized, not attached. (Hall, 248)

12 September 1914

SIOUX fully organized. (Hall, 249)

3 November 1914

SLOPE created from BILLINGS; vote to create SLOPE passed 740 to 356. SLOPE not fully organized, not attached. (Hall, 248)

14 January 1915

SLOPE fully organized. (Hall, 248; North Dakota Blue Book, 452)

7 November 1916

GRANT created from MORTON; vote authorizing this creation passed 3136 to 1718. GRANT not fully organized, not attached. (Hall, 249)

28 November 1916

GRANT fully organized. (North Dakota Blue Book, 448)

25 August 1961

CASS gained small areas from CLAY (Minn.) when approximately twenty-two and one-half acres along the Red River, in townships 139 and 140 north, range 48 west, were transferred to North Dakota from Minnesota [not mapped]. (N. Dak. Laws 1961, 37th sess., ch. 318/p. 517; U.S. Stat., vol. 75, p. 399; Van Zandt, 134)