Maps of North Dakota are a very helpful part of ancestral and family history research, especially in the event that you live far from where your ancestor lived.
Given that North Dakota’s political boundaries have sometimes changed over the years, historic maps are essential in helping you find out the exact location of your ancestor’s hometown, exactly what land they owned, exactly who his or her neighbors ended up being, and much more besides.
Maps of North Dakota are an exceptional resource for getting started with your own research since they provide fascinating information and facts immediately and present them in a clearly understandable format.
North Dakota’s 10 largest cities are Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo, Mandan, Dickinson, Jamestown, Williston, and Wahpeton.
Learn more historical facts about North Dakota counties here.
Interactive Map of North Dakota County Formation History
AniMap Plus 3.0, with the permission of the Goldbug Company
List of Every North Dakota County
Adams County
Established in 1907, Adams County has a population of around 2,300 people and is located in the southwestern part of the state.
Barnes County
Located in the southeast region of North Dakota, Barnes County was established in 1875 and has a population of approximately 10,400.
Benson County
Benson County was founded in 1884 and is located in the north-central part of the state. Its population is around 6,800.
Billings County
With a population of just over 900 people, Billings County is one of the smallest counties in North Dakota. It was established in 1879 and is situated in the western part of the state.
Bottineau County
Established in 1884, Bottineau County has around 6,400 residents and is located in the north-central part of the state.
Bowman County
Located in the southwestern part of North Dakota, Bowman County was founded in 1883 and is home to approximately 3,100 people.
Burke County
Burke County is situated in the northwestern part of North Dakota and was established in 1910. Its population is around 2,200.
Burleigh County
With a population of approximately 96,000, Burleigh County is the second most populous county in North Dakota. It was founded in 1873 and is located in the central part of the state.
Cass County
Cass County is the most populous county in North Dakota with around 186,000 residents. It was established in 1873 and is located in the southeast part of the state.
Cavalier County
Founded in 1873, Cavalier County is situated in the northeastern part of North Dakota and has a population of approximately 3,900.
Dickey County
Dickey County was established in 1882 and is located in the southeastern part of the state. Its population is around 5,100.
Divide County
With around 2,400 residents, Divide County is located in the northwestern part of North Dakota and was established in 1910.
Dunn County
Dunn County is situated in the western part of the state and was established in 1908. Its population is around 4,000.
Eddy County
Established in 1885, Eddy County is home to approximately 2,300 people and is located in the central part of North Dakota.
Emmons County
Emmons County was founded in 1883 and is located in the south-central part of North Dakota. Its population is around 3,500.
Foster County
Located in the southeastern part of North Dakota, Foster County was established in 1873 and has approximately 3,300 residents.
Golden Valley County
With a population of around 1,700, Golden Valley County is located in the southwestern part of North Dakota and was established in 1912.
Grand Forks County
Grand Forks County is situated in the northeastern part of North Dakota and was established in 1873. Its population is around 72,000.
Grant County
Founded in 1916, Grant County is located in the southwestern part of North Dakota and has a population of approximately 2,200 people.
Griggs County
Griggs County is situated in the southeastern part of North Dakota and was established in 1881. It is home to around 2,300 people.
Hettinger County
Hettinger County is located in the southwestern part of North Dakota and was established in 1883. Its population is around 2,500.
Kidder County
Established in 1873, Kidder County is located in the central part of North Dakota and has approximately 2,400 residents.
LaMoure County
LaMoure County is situated in the southeastern part of North Dakota and was established in 1873. Its population is around 4,000.
Logan County
With a population of around 1,900, Logan County is located in the south-central part of North Dakota and was founded in 1884.
McHenry County
Established in 1885, McHenry County is located in the north-central part of North Dakota and has a population of approximately 5,700.
McIntosh County
McIntosh County was established in 1884 and is located in the south-central part of North Dakota. It is home to around 2,500 people.
McKenzie County
McKenzie County is situated in the western part of North Dakota and was established in 1883. Its population has grown significantly in recent years and is now around 16,000.
McLean County
McLean County is situated in the central part of North Dakota and was founded in 1883. It has around 9,300 residents.
Mercer County
Established in 1875, Mercer County is located in the western part of North Dakota and has a population of approximately 8,400.
Morton County
Morton County is situated in the south-central part of North Dakota and was established in 1873. It is home to around 31,000 people.
Mountrail County
Located in the northwestern part of North Dakota, Mountrail County was established in 1873 and has a population of around 11,000.
Nelson County
Nelson County is located in the northeastern part of North Dakota and was founded in 1883. Its population is around 2,900.
Oliver County
With a population of around 1,800, Oliver County is situated in the central part of North Dakota and was established in 1885.
Pembina County
Pembina County is located in the northeastern part of North Dakota and was established in 1867. It is home to around 7,000 people.
Pierce County
Founded in 1887, Pierce County is situated in the north-central part of North Dakota and has a population of approximately 4,200.
Ramsey County
Ramsey County is located in the northeastern part of North Dakota and was established in 1873. Its population is around 11,000.
Ransom County
With a population of around 5,100 people, Ransom County is situated in the southeastern part of North Dakota and was established in 1873.
Renville County
Renville County is located in the north-central part of North Dakota and was established in 1910. It has around 2,400 residents.
Richland County
Richland County is situated in the southeastern part of North Dakota and was founded in 1873. Its population is around 16,000.
Rolette County
Located in the north-central part of North Dakota, Rolette County was established in 1910 and has a population of approximately 14,000.
Sheridan County
Sheridan County is situated in the north-central part of North Dakota and was founded in 1875. Its population is around 1,300.
Sioux County
Sioux County is located in the southwestern part of North Dakota and was established in 1914. It is home to around 4,400 people.
Slope County
Established in 1915, Slope County is located in the southwestern part of North Dakota and has a population of approximately 700.
Stark County
Stark County is situated in the western part of North Dakota and was established in 1879. It has around 33,000 residents.
Steele County
Located in the southeastern part of North Dakota, Steele County was established in 1883 and has a population of around 1,900.
Stutsman County
Stutsman County is situated in the central part of North Dakota and was established in 1873. Its population is around 20,000.
Towner County
Towner County is located in the northeastern part of North Dakota and was founded in 1883. It is home to around 2,200 people.
Traill County
Established in 1875, Traill County is situated in the eastern part of North Dakota and has a population of approximately 8,000.
Walsh County
Walsh County is located in the northeastern part of North Dakota and was established in 1881. Its population is around 10,500.
Ward County
Ward County is situated in the north-central part of North Dakota and was established in 1885. Its population is around 67,000, making it one of the most populous counties in the state.
Wells County
Located in the central part of North Dakota, Wells County was established in 1873 and has around 3,700 residents.
Williams County
Williams County is situated in the northwestern part of North Dakota and was established in 1891. Its population has grown significantly in recent years due to the state’s oil boom and is now around 38,000 people.
Old Antique Atlases & Maps of North Dakota
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
- 1866 Dakota Territory– The territory is largely unsurveyed. Surveying has only been completed in a few townships right along the Missouri River. The map shows the treaty line of July 23, 1851.
- 1880 Territory of Dakota– Shows counties, Indian reservations, settlements, railroads, rivers, etc.
North Dakota Map Links
- North Dakota State Park Map (mapofus.org)
- North Dakota Lakes and Rivers Map (mapofus.org)
- North Dakota Map With Cities and Highways (mapofus.org)
- North Dakota Digital Map Library (usgwarchives.net)
- Old Historical Maps of North Dakota (alabamamaps.ua.edu)
- North Dakota Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers (ancestry.com)
- North Dakota Maps – The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection (lib.utexas.edu)
- U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918 (ancestry.com)
- American Memory Map Collection: 1500-2004 (memory.loc.gov)
- North Dakota USGenWeb Archives Digital Map Library (usgwarchives.net)
- North Dakota Map Books (amazon.com)