North Dakota

Williams

40,950
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Williams

Williams, North Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 14. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 40,950.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Hunkpapa Attack on Fort Union (1864), Sitting Bull Surrender, Sitting Bull's Surrender at Fort Buford (July 19, 1881), and 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202040,950
201022,398
200019,761
199021,129
198022,237
197019,301
196022,051
195016,442
194016,315
193019,553
192017,980
191014,234
19001,530
1890109
188014
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Williams

Military engagements that took place in Williams, North Dakota.

Hunkpapa Attack on Fort Union (1864)
1864
Sitting Bull Surrender
1881
Sitting Bull's Surrender at Fort Buford (July 19, 1881)
1881
Sitting Bull's Surrender at Fort Buford 1881
1881

Historic places in Williams

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

Fort Buford State Historic Site
Williston
Williston High School
Williston
Creaser Building
Williston
James Memorial Library
Williston
Old US Post Office
Williston
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site Historic District Additional Documentation)
Williston
Old Armory
Williston
Browse all North Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Dakota

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

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Everything a full report reveals about Williams County, North Dakota

This page charts the census history of Williams 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.
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Frequently asked about Williams

When does Williams first appear in the US census?
Williams, North Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 14.
What is the population of Williams?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Williams had a recorded population of 40,950.
Were any battles fought in Williams?
4 documented military engagements took place in Williams, including Hunkpapa Attack on Fort Union (1864), Sitting Bull Surrender, Sitting Bull's Surrender at Fort Buford (July 19, 1881).
How many historic places are in Williams?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Williams, North Dakota.
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