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. However, its history spans a few thousand years, with Native American tribes such as the Mandan and Sioux followed by European exploration in the 18th century. However, it wasn’t until the 9th century that the state started taking shape into what we know today, especially with the establishment of railroads and agriculture as its economic backbone.
As of the writing, North Dakota has a unique municipal framework with 53 counties, 357 cities, and 1,314 townships. Like many other states, municipalities in North Dakota are also classified as cities or townships based on their population thresholds and how they govern themselves. For example, the state law classifies cities as incorporated territories with populations exceeding 500 residents. At the same time, townships serve rural areas with smaller populations.
State Information Overview
Category | Data |
---|---|
Total Municipalities | 1,671 |
Number of Cities | 357 |
Number of Townships | 1,314 |
Counties | 53 |
Largest City (Population) | Fargo (125,990) |
State Land Area | ~70,700 sq mi |
Population (2025 Estimate) | ~780,000 |
Cities and Towns by Alphabetical Letter
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