North Dakota

Billings

945
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Billings

Billings, North Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 1,323. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 945.

Its recorded population peaked at 10,186 in 1910, and has since declined by roughly 91 percent.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Crow Creek-equivalent Northern Plains Massacre (Fagerberg Site), Battle of the Badlands — Skirmishes in the Little Missouri Breaks, Battle of the Badlands 1864, and 11 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020945
2010783
2000888
19901,108
19801,138
19701,198
19601,513
19501,777
19402,531
19303,140
19203,126
191010,186
1900975
1890170
18801,323
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Billings

Military engagements that took place in Billings, North Dakota.

Crow Creek-equivalent Northern Plains Massacre (Fagerberg Site)
1400
Battle of the Badlands — Skirmishes in the Little Missouri Breaks
1864
Battle of the Badlands 1864
1864
Battle of the Little Missouri 1864
1864
Battle of the Badlands Aug 1864
1864
Battle of the Badlands 1864 — Sully's Pursuit
1864
Battle of the Badlands (Sully 1864)
1864
Sully's Badlands Fighting — Little Missouri River (August 1864)
1864
Theodore Roosevelt — Little Missouri Boat Thief Pursuit ND
1886

Historic places in Billings

National Register of Historic Places listings in Billings, North Dakota.

Chateau de Mores
Medora
Myers School Timbered Lodge (32BI401)
Medora
Custer Military Trail Historic Archeological District
Medora
Billings County Courthouse
Medora
Von Hoffman House
Medora
Initial Rock
Medora
Roosevelt's, Theodore, Elkhorn Ranch and Greater Elkhorn Ranchlands
Medora
Peaceful Valley Ranch
Medora
De Mores Packing Plant Ruins
Medora
Browse all North Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Dakota

Explore census history and historic records for more North Dakota counties.

TownerTraillWallaceWalletteWalshWardWellsWilliamsAdamsBarnesBensonBottineauBowmanBufordBurkeBurleighCassCavalierChurchDickey
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Billings County, North Dakota

This page charts the census history of Billings County, North Dakota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Billings County, North Dakota report
Or see a real report first

Explore North Dakota records

North Dakotahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Dakota›

Frequently asked about Billings

When does Billings first appear in the US census?
Billings, North Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 1,323.
What is the population of Billings?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Billings had a recorded population of 945.
When did Billings's population peak?
Billings's recorded population peaked at 10,186 in 1910.
Were any battles fought in Billings?
9 documented military engagements took place in Billings, including Crow Creek-equivalent Northern Plains Massacre (Fagerberg Site), Battle of the Badlands — Skirmishes in the Little Missouri Breaks, Battle of the Badlands 1864.
How many historic places are in Billings?
11 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Billings, North Dakota.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report