Big News for Williston North Dakota: City Named #1 Micropolitan in the U.S.

Big news is coming out of Williston. The City of Williston recently announced that our western North Dakota community has been named the #1 Micropolitan in the United States for 2025 by Site Selection magazine, a respected publication that tracks corporate investment and economic development across the country.

The recognition appears in the March 2026 edition of the magazine in an article titled “Williston Barrels Up To No. 1,” written by Ron Starner.

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Williston Surges to #1 After 21 Qualifying Investment Projects in 2025

The ranking is based on the number of qualifying corporate projects tracked in the Conway Projects Database by Conway Data Inc.. To qualify, projects must involve at least $1 million in investment, create 20 new jobs, or add 20,000 square feet of new facility space.

In 2025, Williams County recorded 21 qualifying corporate investment projects, enough to push Williston to the top of the national list. The city unseated longtime leader Findlay, which had held the number one position for 11 straight years. Just a year earlier, Williston wasn’t even in the Top 100.

Read More: Construction And Real Estate Shine In North Dakota’s Economy

Major Energy and Data Center Projects Highlight Williston’s Economic Expansion

Much of the growth is tied to the nearby Bakken Formation, which produces more than a million barrels of oil per day. According to Site Selection, 15 of the 21 projects were directly or indirectly connected to energy development.

Among the highlighted investments is a proposed $10 billion data center campus from Critical Data House LLC, a $3.2 billion gas-to-liquids facility from Cerilon GTL near Trenton, and major power investments from Basin Electric Power Cooperative.

Williston’s growth over the past decade has been significant. The city’s population has climbed from about 14,700 residents in 2010 to more than 28,500 today, making it one of the fastest-growing communities in the region.

For a city surrounded by prairie and oilfields, being named the top micropolitan in America is a pretty big deal—and another reminder that big opportunities can come from small places in western North Dakota.