Watford City, North Dakota

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Watford City, North Dakota
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto = "Come be our guest"


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in North Dakota


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = North Dakota
subdivision_name2 = McKenzie
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Kent Pelton
established_title = Founded
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date = 1914
established_date2 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 1.5
area_total_km2 = 1.5
area_land_sq_mi = 1.5
area_land_km2 = 3.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_km2 = 0
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 1435
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 371.9
population_density_sq_mi = 964.8
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 47 |latm = 48 |lats = 9 |latNS = N
longd = 103 |longm = 16 |longs = 50 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 646
elevation_ft = 2119
website = http://www.4eyes.net/VisitorInformation/default.aspx
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 58854
area_code = 701
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 38-83860GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1032701GR|3
footnotes =

Watford City is a city in McKenzie County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of McKenzie CountyGR|6. The population was 1,435 at the 2000 census. Watford City was founded in 1914.

The local newspaper is the "McKenzie County Farmer" and Watford City is the location of the main offices for the First International Bank and Trust. It is also the headquarters for McKenzie Electric Cooperative.

History

Watford City's namesake is Watford, Ontario. The former was named after the latter by Dr. Vaughan G. Morris, a Watford, Ontario native who homesteaded near Schafer, North Dakota (now a ghost town) before resettling in Watford City, North Dakota. Born in 1879, Morris graduated from Wayne State University and was Watford City's first doctor. He eventually moved to Beach, North Dakota and is buried in a cemetery between Watford City and Schafer.

Geography

Watford City is located at coor dms|47|48|9|N|103|16|50|W|city (47.802603, -103.280505)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1920= 260
1930= 769
1940= 1023
1950= 1371
1960= 1865
1970= 1768
1980= 2119
1990= 1784
2000= 1435
estimate= 1
estyear= 2006
estref=As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,435 people, 619 households, and 378 families residing in the city. The population density was 964.8 people per square mile (371.9/km²). There were 790 housing units at an average density of 531.2/sq mi (204.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.91% White, 0.21% African American, 3.83% Native American, 0.07% Asian, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

There were 619 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,688, and the median income for a family was $36,850. Males had a median income of $32,250 versus $21,193 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,084. About 9.8% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

*Watford City Elementary School
*Watford City High School

ites of interest

*Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit)
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/dakotaprairie/mdhtl.htm Maah Daah Hey Trail]
* [http://www.4eyes.net/heritage/default.htm McKenzie County Heritage Park]
*Watford City Golf Club - a nine-hole golf course located three miles (5 km) east of Watford City. It measures convert|5881|yd from the back tees.
* [http://www.4eyes.net/VisitorInformation/Attraction.aspx Long X Trading Post Visitor Center]
*Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County

References

External links

* [http://www.4eyes.net/WatfordCity/default.aspx Watford City, North Dakota official website]
* [http://www.watfordcitynd.com/ "McKenzie County Farmer" website]