Williston

Williston was founded in 1887 by railroad owner James J. Hill, and was named after Daniel Willis James, who served on the board of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company.

It is located in northwestern North Dakota, just an hour from the Canadian border and 18 miles from the Montana border. Thanks in large part to the development of the Bakken Formation oil and gas play, Williston has grown to a population of over 30,000 people. It is near the confluence of the Yellowstone River and the Missouri River, at the upper end of the Lake Sakakawea reservoir, where Lewis and Clark reunited on their way back to St. Louis after their expedition. Lake Sakakawea, located 16 miles east of the city, is the largest man-made lake in the country, and is regarded as one of the premier walleye fishing lakes in the world. It’s the variety of activities in Williston that contribute to a quality of life that is unmatched. Williston hosts the entertainment packed Miss North Dakota Scholarship Pageant and many other family oriented functions throughout the year, such as the Band Day, Fort Union Rendezvous, Old Fashioned Fourth of July, and Chokecherry Festival.