<P> This is a list of counties in North Dakota . There are 53 counties in the U.S. state of North Dakota . </P> <P> The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify states and counties, is provided with each entry . North Dakota's code is 38, which when combined with any county code would be written as 38XXX . The FIPS code for each county links to census data for that county . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> County </Th> <Th> FIPS code </Th> <Th> County seat </Th> <Th> Established </Th> <Th> Etymology </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th> Area </Th> <Th> Map </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Adams County </Td> <Td> 001 </Td> <Td> Hettinger </Td> <Td> 1885 </Td> <Td> John Quincy Adams, a railroad agent and cousin of the former president who was instrumental in having the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway built through North Dakota </Td> <Td> 7003234300000000000 ♠ 2,343 </Td> <Td> 7002988000000000000 ♠ 988 sq mi (7003255900000000000 ♠ 2,559 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Barnes County </Td> <Td> 003 </Td> <Td> Valley City </Td> <Td> 1875 </Td> <Td> Dakota Territory judge Alanson H. Barnes </Td> <Td> 7004110660000000000 ♠ 11,066 </Td> <Td> 7003149200000000000 ♠ 1,492 sq mi (7003386400000000000 ♠ 3,864 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Benson County </Td> <Td> 005 </Td> <Td> Minnewaukan </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator Bertil W. Benson </Td> <Td> 7003666000000000000 ♠ 6,660 </Td> <Td> 7003138900000000000 ♠ 1,389 sq mi (7003359700000000000 ♠ 3,597 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Billings County </Td> <Td> 007 </Td> <Td> Medora </Td> <Td> 1879 </Td> <Td> Frederick H. Billings (1823--1890), who was president of the Northern Pacific Railroad </Td> <Td> 7002783000000000000 ♠ 783 </Td> <Td> 7003115200000000000 ♠ 1,152 sq mi (7003298400000000000 ♠ 2,984 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bottineau County </Td> <Td> 009 </Td> <Td> Bottineau </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Named for frontiersman Pierre Bottineau </Td> <Td> 7003642900000000000 ♠ 6,429 </Td> <Td> 7003166900000000000 ♠ 1,669 sq mi (7003432300000000000 ♠ 4,323 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bowman County </Td> <Td> 011 </Td> <Td> Bowman </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator Edward M. Bowman </Td> <Td> 7003315100000000000 ♠ 3,151 </Td> <Td> 7003116200000000000 ♠ 1,162 sq mi (7003301000000000000 ♠ 3,010 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Burke County </Td> <Td> 013 </Td> <Td> Bowbells </Td> <Td> 1910 </Td> <Td> John Burke, tenth Governor of North Dakota </Td> <Td> 7003196800000000000 ♠ 1,968 </Td> <Td> 7003110400000000000 ♠ 1,104 sq mi (7003285900000000000 ♠ 2,859 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Burleigh County </Td> <Td> 015 </Td> <Td> Bismarck </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Walter A. Burleigh (1820--1896), territorial delegate to Congress </Td> <Td> 7004813080000000000 ♠ 81,308 </Td> <Td> 7003163300000000000 ♠ 1,633 sq mi (7003422900000000000 ♠ 4,229 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cass County </Td> <Td> 017 </Td> <Td> Fargo </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> George Washington Cass (1810--1888), who was the president of the Northern Pacific Railroad </Td> <Td> 7005149778000000000 ♠ 149,778 </Td> <Td> 7003176600000000000 ♠ 1,766 sq mi (7003457400000000000 ♠ 4,574 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cavalier County </Td> <Td> 019 </Td> <Td> Langdon </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Charles Cavalier, French fur trapper and one of the area's original settlers </Td> <Td> 7003399300000000000 ♠ 3,993 </Td> <Td> 7003148900000000000 ♠ 1,489 sq mi (7003385600000000000 ♠ 3,856 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dickey County </Td> <Td> 021 </Td> <Td> Ellendale </Td> <Td> 1881 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator George H. Dickey </Td> <Td> 7003528900000000000 ♠ 5,289 </Td> <Td> 7003113100000000000 ♠ 1,131 sq mi (7003292900000000000 ♠ 2,929 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Divide County </Td> <Td> 023 </Td> <Td> Crosby </Td> <Td> 1910 </Td> <Td> Named because it was created upon the division of Williams County </Td> <Td> 7003207100000000000 ♠ 2,071 </Td> <Td> 7003125900000000000 ♠ 1,259 sq mi (7003326100000000000 ♠ 3,261 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dunn County </Td> <Td> 025 </Td> <Td> Manning </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> John P. Dunn, an early civic leader of Bismarck, who opened the first drugstore in North Dakota </Td> <Td> 7003353600000000000 ♠ 3,536 </Td> <Td> 7003201000000000000 ♠ 2,010 sq mi (7003520600000000000 ♠ 5,206 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Eddy County </Td> <Td> 027 </Td> <Td> New Rockford </Td> <Td> 1885 </Td> <Td> Ezra B. Eddy, a Fargo banker and one of the territory's wealthiest citizens </Td> <Td> 7003238500000000000 ♠ 2,385 </Td> <Td> 7002632000000000000 ♠ 632 sq mi (7003163700000000000 ♠ 1,637 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Emmons County </Td> <Td> 029 </Td> <Td> Linton </Td> <Td> 1879 </Td> <Td> James Emmons, an early entrepreneur and businessman who operated the first steamboat across the Missouri River in Bismarck </Td> <Td> 7003355000000000000 ♠ 3,550 </Td> <Td> 7003151000000000000 ♠ 1,510 sq mi (7003391100000000000 ♠ 3,911 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Foster County </Td> <Td> 031 </Td> <Td> Carrington </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Either James S. Foster and George I. Foster, brother, and prominent farmers during the territorial days </Td> <Td> 7003334300000000000 ♠ 3,343 </Td> <Td> 7002635000000000000 ♠ 635 sq mi (7003164500000000000 ♠ 1,645 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Golden Valley County </Td> <Td> 033 </Td> <Td> Beach </Td> <Td> 1912 </Td> <Td> Named for either promotional reasons or for the Golden Valley Land and Cattle Company </Td> <Td> 7003168000000000000 ♠ 1,680 </Td> <Td> 7003100200000000000 ♠ 1,002 sq mi (7003259500000000000 ♠ 2,595 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Grand Forks County </Td> <Td> 035 </Td> <Td> Grand Forks </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Named for Grand Forks, North Dakota, which in turn was named for its location at the intersection of the Red Lake River and the Red River of the North </Td> <Td> 7004668610000000000 ♠ 66,861 </Td> <Td> 7003143800000000000 ♠ 1,438 sq mi (7003372400000000000 ♠ 3,724 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Grant County </Td> <Td> 037 </Td> <Td> Carson </Td> <Td> 1916 </Td> <Td> Ulysses S. Grant (1822--1885), eighteenth U.S. President </Td> <Td> 7003239400000000000 ♠ 2,394 </Td> <Td> 7003166000000000000 ♠ 1,660 sq mi (7003429900000000000 ♠ 4,299 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Griggs County </Td> <Td> 039 </Td> <Td> Cooperstown </Td> <Td> 1881 </Td> <Td> Alexander Griggs, a steamboat captain and founder of Grand Forks, North Dakota </Td> <Td> 7003242000000000000 ♠ 2,420 </Td> <Td> 7002708000000000000 ♠ 708 sq mi (7003183400000000000 ♠ 1,834 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hettinger County </Td> <Td> 041 </Td> <Td> Mott </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> Mathias K. Hettinger, the father - in - law of Erastus A. Williams, the North Dakota Speaker of the House during that session </Td> <Td> 7003247700000000000 ♠ 2,477 </Td> <Td> 7003113200000000000 ♠ 1,132 sq mi (7003293200000000000 ♠ 2,932 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kidder County </Td> <Td> 043 </Td> <Td> Steele </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Jefferson Parrish Kidder, territorial delegate to the 44th Congress and 45th Congresses </Td> <Td> 7003243500000000000 ♠ 2,435 </Td> <Td> 7003135200000000000 ♠ 1,352 sq mi (7003350200000000000 ♠ 3,502 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> LaMoure County </Td> <Td> 045 </Td> <Td> LaMoure </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator and North Dakota state legislator Judson LaMoure </Td> <Td> 7003413900000000000 ♠ 4,139 </Td> <Td> 7003114700000000000 ♠ 1,147 sq mi (7003297100000000000 ♠ 2,971 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Logan County </Td> <Td> 047 </Td> <Td> Napoleon </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Illinois U.S. Senator John A. Logan (1826--1886) </Td> <Td> 7003199000000000000 ♠ 1,990 </Td> <Td> 7002993000000000000 ♠ 993 sq mi (7003257200000000000 ♠ 2,572 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> McHenry County </Td> <Td> 049 </Td> <Td> Towner </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> James McHenry, one of the area's original settlers </Td> <Td> 7003539500000000000 ♠ 5,395 </Td> <Td> 7003187400000000000 ♠ 1,874 sq mi (7003485400000000000 ♠ 4,854 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> McIntosh County </Td> <Td> 051 </Td> <Td> Ashley </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> Edward H. McIntosh, a member of the Territorial Legislature </Td> <Td> 7003280900000000000 ♠ 2,809 </Td> <Td> 7002975000000000000 ♠ 975 sq mi (7003252500000000000 ♠ 2,525 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> McKenzie County </Td> <Td> 053 </Td> <Td> Watford City </Td> <Td> 1905 </Td> <Td> Alexander McKenzie, party boss known in the state as "the senator - maker" </Td> <Td> 7003636000000000000 ♠ 6,360 </Td> <Td> 7003274200000000000 ♠ 2,742 sq mi (7003710200000000000 ♠ 7,102 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> McLean County </Td> <Td> 055 </Td> <Td> Washburn </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> John A. McLean, first mayor of Bismarck, North Dakota </Td> <Td> 7003896200000000000 ♠ 8,962 </Td> <Td> 7003211000000000000 ♠ 2,110 sq mi (7003546500000000000 ♠ 5,465 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mercer County </Td> <Td> 057 </Td> <Td> Stanton </Td> <Td> 1875 </Td> <Td> William Henry Harrison Mercer, an early settler </Td> <Td> 7003842400000000000 ♠ 8,424 </Td> <Td> 7003104500000000000 ♠ 1,045 sq mi (7003270700000000000 ♠ 2,707 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Morton County </Td> <Td> 059 </Td> <Td> Mandan </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Governor of Indiana Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton </Td> <Td> 7004274710000000000 ♠ 27,471 </Td> <Td> 7003192600000000000 ♠ 1,926 sq mi (7003498800000000000 ♠ 4,988 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mountrail County </Td> <Td> 061 </Td> <Td> Stanley </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Joseph Mountraille, Metis voyageur and early explorer </Td> <Td> 7003767300000000000 ♠ 7,673 </Td> <Td> 7003182400000000000 ♠ 1,824 sq mi (7003472400000000000 ♠ 4,724 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nelson County </Td> <Td> 063 </Td> <Td> Lakota </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator Nelson E. Nelson </Td> <Td> 7003312600000000000 ♠ 3,126 </Td> <Td> 7002982000000000000 ♠ 982 sq mi (7003254300000000000 ♠ 2,543 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oliver County </Td> <Td> 065 </Td> <Td> Center </Td> <Td> 1885 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator Harry S. Oliver </Td> <Td> 7003184600000000000 ♠ 1,846 </Td> <Td> 7002724000000000000 ♠ 724 sq mi (7003187500000000000 ♠ 1,875 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pembina County </Td> <Td> 067 </Td> <Td> Cavalier </Td> <Td> 1867 </Td> <Td> Named for the high - bush cranberries which grew wild in the area . Pembina may be from an Ojibwa phrase, anepeminan sipi, referring to the berries, as they grew in abundance around the Redberry River; it may also be from an Ojibwa word meaning meeting place . The name originally applied to the old Pembina Territory </Td> <Td> 7003741300000000000 ♠ 7,413 </Td> <Td> 7003111900000000000 ♠ 1,119 sq mi (7003289800000000000 ♠ 2,898 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pierce County </Td> <Td> 069 </Td> <Td> Rugby </Td> <Td> 1887 </Td> <Td> Gilbert Ashville Pierce, a Governor of Dakota Territory and later a U.S. Senator from North Dakota </Td> <Td> 7003435700000000000 ♠ 4,357 </Td> <Td> 7003101800000000000 ♠ 1,018 sq mi (7003263700000000000 ♠ 2,637 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ramsey County </Td> <Td> 071 </Td> <Td> Devils Lake </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Minnesota U.S. Senator Alexander Ramsey </Td> <Td> 7004114510000000000 ♠ 11,451 </Td> <Td> 7003118600000000000 ♠ 1,186 sq mi (7003307200000000000 ♠ 3,072 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ransom County </Td> <Td> 073 </Td> <Td> Lisbon </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Named for locally situated Fort Ransom </Td> <Td> 7003545700000000000 ♠ 5,457 </Td> <Td> 7002863000000000000 ♠ 863 sq mi (7003223500000000000 ♠ 2,235 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Renville County </Td> <Td> 075 </Td> <Td> Mohall </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Joseph Renville, missionary and interpreter for Dakota Native Americans </Td> <Td> 7003247000000000000 ♠ 2,470 </Td> <Td> 7002875000000000000 ♠ 875 sq mi (7003226600000000000 ♠ 2,266 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Richland County </Td> <Td> 077 </Td> <Td> Wahpeton </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Morgan T. Rich, early settler </Td> <Td> 7004163210000000000 ♠ 16,321 </Td> <Td> 7003143700000000000 ♠ 1,437 sq mi (7003372200000000000 ♠ 3,722 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rolette County </Td> <Td> 079 </Td> <Td> Rolla </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Joseph Rolette, Jr. (1820--1871), a prominent fur trapper and local political organizer </Td> <Td> 7004139370000000000 ♠ 13,937 </Td> <Td> 7002902000000000000 ♠ 902 sq mi (7003233600000000000 ♠ 2,336 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sargent County </Td> <Td> 081 </Td> <Td> Forman </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> Homer E. Sargent, a general manager of the Northern Pacific Railroad </Td> <Td> 7003382900000000000 ♠ 3,829 </Td> <Td> 7002859000000000000 ♠ 859 sq mi (7003222500000000000 ♠ 2,225 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sheridan County </Td> <Td> 083 </Td> <Td> McClusky </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> American Civil War officer Philip Henry Sheridan (1831--1888) </Td> <Td> 7003132100000000000 ♠ 1,321 </Td> <Td> 7002972000000000000 ♠ 972 sq mi (7003251700000000000 ♠ 2,517 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sioux County </Td> <Td> 085 </Td> <Td> Fort Yates </Td> <Td> 1915 </Td> <Td> The Native American Sioux people </Td> <Td> 7003415300000000000 ♠ 4,153 </Td> <Td> 7003109400000000000 ♠ 1,094 sq mi (7003283300000000000 ♠ 2,833 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Slope County </Td> <Td> 087 </Td> <Td> Amidon </Td> <Td> 1915 </Td> <Td> Topographical feature within the county known as the Missouri Slope </Td> <Td> 7002727000000000000 ♠ 727 </Td> <Td> 7003121800000000000 ♠ 1,218 sq mi (7003315500000000000 ♠ 3,155 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stark County </Td> <Td> 089 </Td> <Td> Dickinson </Td> <Td> 1879 </Td> <Td> George Stark, a vice president of the Northern Pacific Railroad </Td> <Td> 7004241990000000000 ♠ 24,199 </Td> <Td> 7003133800000000000 ♠ 1,338 sq mi (7003346500000000000 ♠ 3,465 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Steele County </Td> <Td> 091 </Td> <Td> Finley </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> Edward H. Steele, secretary - treasurer of the Red River Land Company </Td> <Td> 7003197500000000000 ♠ 1,975 </Td> <Td> 7002712000000000000 ♠ 712 sq mi (7003184400000000000 ♠ 1,844 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stutsman County </Td> <Td> 093 </Td> <Td> Jamestown </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Dakota Territorial Legislator Enos Stutsman </Td> <Td> 7004211000000000000 ♠ 21,100 </Td> <Td> 7003222200000000000 ♠ 2,222 sq mi (7003575500000000000 ♠ 5,755 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Towner County </Td> <Td> 095 </Td> <Td> Cando </Td> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator Oscar M. Towner </Td> <Td> 7003224600000000000 ♠ 2,246 </Td> <Td> 7003102500000000000 ♠ 1,025 sq mi (7003265500000000000 ♠ 2,655 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Traill County </Td> <Td> 097 </Td> <Td> Hillsboro </Td> <Td> 1875 </Td> <Td> Walter John Strickland Traill, early settler </Td> <Td> 7003812100000000000 ♠ 8,121 </Td> <Td> 7002862000000000000 ♠ 862 sq mi (7003223300000000000 ♠ 2,233 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Walsh County </Td> <Td> 099 </Td> <Td> Grafton </Td> <Td> 1881 </Td> <Td> George H. Walsh, early settler and one of the founders of the University of North Dakota </Td> <Td> 7004111190000000000 ♠ 11,119 </Td> <Td> 7003128200000000000 ♠ 1,282 sq mi (7003332000000000000 ♠ 3,320 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ward County </Td> <Td> 101 </Td> <Td> Minot </Td> <Td> 1888 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator Mark Ward (1844--1902) </Td> <Td> 7004616750000000000 ♠ 61,675 </Td> <Td> 7003201300000000000 ♠ 2,013 sq mi (7003521400000000000 ♠ 5,214 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wells County </Td> <Td> 103 </Td> <Td> Fessenden </Td> <Td> 1873 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator Edward Payson Wells </Td> <Td> 7003420700000000000 ♠ 4,207 </Td> <Td> 7003127100000000000 ♠ 1,271 sq mi (7003329200000000000 ♠ 3,292 km) </Td> <Td> <P> </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Williams County </Td> <Td> 105 </Td> <Td> Williston </Td> <Td> 1890 </Td> <Td> Dakota territorial legislator Erastus Appelman Williams </Td> <Td> 7004223980000000000 ♠ 22,398 </Td> <Td> 7003207100000000000 ♠ 2,071 sq mi (7003536400000000000 ♠ 5,364 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> County </Th> <Th> FIPS code </Th> <Th> County seat </Th> <Th> Established </Th> <Th> Etymology </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th> Area </Th> <Th> Map </Th> </Tr>

What is the largest county in north dakota