More historic than 7% of U.S. towns · #19 of 23 in North Dakota. What drives it
Most of Watford City was built recently: 2% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 2013. Below: maps from 1953 on and the census since 1920.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1900.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Watford City’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Watford City is more historic than 7% of U.S. towns, #19 of 23 in North Dakota. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Watford City’s overall grade.
North Dakota towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical North Dakota town has 2.8 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Watford City’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (22% of North Dakota towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to D. The pre-1940 share (±1.8 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1914.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Watford City’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
In 1913, a few prospective businessmen located on the townsite of the future Watford City in anticipation of the arrival of the first Great Northern Railroad train from Fairview, Montana. The Northern Land and Townsite Company, a division of the Great Northern, platted the town and sold lots in June 1914. Building began immediately, and many businesses and homes were moved from Schafer, which eventually became a ghost town. Watford, incorporated in June 1915, was named by Vaughan G. Morris (1879–1940) for his hometown of Watford, Ontario. A year later, the town added "City" to its name to differentiate itself from Wolford in Pierce County.
In 1914, according to Wikidata. Watford City’s post office opened in 1900, and the census of 1920 counted 260 people here.
How does Watford City rank for history?
Watford City is more historic than 7% of U.S. towns, #19 of 23 in North Dakota. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Watford City?
2% of Watford City’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.8 points), against a typical 7.2% for a North Dakota town; the median home was built in 2013.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (3), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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