Williston (North Dakota)

Williston was founded as a Northern Pacific Railroad stop in 1887 and named for Daniel Willis James. It was chosen over the nearby town of Buford as the site of a turntable which led to its early growth. In 1951, oil was first discovered in the Williston Basin. Williston experienced rapid growth during its first oil boom in the 1980s. After the boom died down, the population shrank to about 13,000. Geologists recently discovered 4.3 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the Bakken Formation. The Three Forks Salish Formation also contains recoverable oil. With these recent discoveries, Williston experienced another oil boom and rapidly increased in size. While the rest of the country remained in a recession, Williston boasted a strong economy, one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, plenty of jobs, and the highest wages in North Dakota. Following a sharp decline in oil prices in the second half of 2014, the boom ended (at least for the time being).
Despite the recent growth, Williston still maintains a small town atmosphere. Most residents are friendly and will happily give visitors directions.
Williston news and weather.

By car

US Highway 2 runs east-west, intersecting with Interstate 29 in Grand Forks and Interstate 15 in Shelby, Montana.
US Highway 85 runs north-south, intersecting with Interstate 94 west of Dickinson.

By plane

• Sloulin Field International AirportU.S. customs service is available to handle private flights from Canada.

• Delta Air Lines has nonstop service to Minneapolis/St. Paul.
• United Express has nonstop service to Denver.

By train

• Amtrak, 1 S Main St. Service on the Empire Builder, which travels between Chicago and Seattle/Portland daily.

• Basin Cab

  phone: +1 701-577-1957
  address: 1804 2nd St W

• Fort Buford Historic Site

  phone: +1 701 572-9034

• Knife River Indian Villages

• Cut Bluff OverlookA historic sight located about two miles (3 km) east of Williston on the south side of Highway 1804. Commemorating Lewis and Clark's campsite near Cut Bluff on the south banks of the Missouri River.

• Writing Rock State Historic Site

  phone: +1 701-572-9034
  The site of two granite boulders carved with petroglyphs of thunderbirds, mythical Native American creatures. Dates between 1000-1700 AD.

• Lewis and Clark State Park

  phone: +1 701-859-3071
  address: 4904 119th Road NW Epping, ND 58843
  A beautiful park situated between rugged bluffs on the shore of Lake Sakakawea.

• Plainsman Studio

  phone: +1 701-572-1110
  address: 3 4th Street East, Suite 103, Williston, ND 58801
  A recent addition to downtown Williston, in the historic Plainsman Building

• Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center

  phone: +1 701 572-9034

• Cottonwood LakeFishing for pike and perch.

• Hunting.
• Birding.
• Gaming, Williston State College Foundation Gaming located at DK's Lounge, The River's Edge, The New 4-Mile Bar, Travel Host Lounge, Super 8 Lounge, Whispers and The Sports Den.

• Skunk Hollow Shooting RangeWell-known by the locals, Skunk Hollow not only offers a rarely crowded shooting range, but also excellent hiking, hunting, and fishing opportunities. 2 miles from Cut Bluff, the site of a campsite used by Lewis and Clark.

• Grand Theatre

  phone: +1 701-572-2232
  address: 211 Main St
  Catch the latest movie.

• Little Muddy Canoe TrailThompson site and White Bridge are the access points. The trail is six miles long and travel time is 1.5-2 hours.

• Million Dollar Lanes Bowling

  phone: +1 701-572-3344
  address: 1804 2nd Ave. W

• Spring Lake Park

  phone: +1 701-577-5141
  address: North on Highway 85
  Enjoy swinming, fishing, playground equipment, walking trails, and fireworks on the 4th of July

• Thunder Valley Go-Cart Track

  phone: +1 701-770-0222

• Williston Skate Park

  phone: +1 701-577-5141
  address: Corner of 2nd Ave. & 11th Street
  Skateboarding, rollerblading, and biking

• Williston Municipal Golf Course

  phone: +1 701-774-1321
  9 hole course featuring a clubhouse, practice range, and trap range.

• Eagle Ridge Golf Course

  phone: +1 701-572-6500
  Featured in the top 100 golf courses of America, this 18 hole course boasts a clubhouse, practice range and Italian restaurant

• 78th Annual Band Day

  address: Main St
  May 8th, 2010. Parade starts at 10AM with bands from all over. Concerts and vendors are set-up in Harmon Park for an afternoon of music enjoyment and family fun.

Downtown Williston offers many shopping opportunities.

• Hedderich's

  phone: +1 701-572-1412
  address: 122 Main St
  Offers antiques, locomotive sets, Native American artifacts, and a large selection of used books

• Books on Broadway

  address: 12 1/2 W Broadway
  Full Line Bookstore, Gift Items, Greeting Cards, Mail Service, Special Orders, Specializing In Regional History & Unique Children's Books & Toys, Coffee Bar

• Second Page Books

  phone: +1 701-770-0968
  address: 501 Main Street Suite #3
  Almost-New Books: Classics, Fiction and Non-fiction, Large Print, Children's, Audiobooks on Tape & CD, Textbooks and Home School Materials. Where Every Good Book Deserves A Second Look!

• Hansen's Unlimited Ceramics & Gifts

  phone: +1 701-774-3966
  address: 113 1st Ave. E.
  Paint your own pottery to display or use!!

• Castle Gift Shop

  phone: +1 701-572-6722
  address: 313 Main St
  Fenton Art Glass, Crystal, & gifts

• Cedar Chest

  phone: +1 701-572-5977
  address: 201 Main St
  Gifts and items for country-style decor

• Collector's Corner

  phone: +1 701-577-5252
  address: 109 Main St
  Oak Furniture, Parlor Stoves, General Antiques, Collectibles, Furniture Stripping & Refinishing

• Judy's Cupboard

  phone: +1 701-572-0616
  address: 224 Main St
  Kitchen items, Dakota made prducts and gift registry available

• Larry Lynne Antiques

  phone: +1 701-572-3586
  address: 10 West Broadway
  Quality antiques at affordable prices. A general line of furniture, glassware, pictures, etc.

• Silver Dollar Antiques

  phone: +1 701-774-8951
  address: 10 1st Ave East
  Glass, Depression Glass, Pottery, "Special Things" BUY & SELL

• Airport International Inn

  phone: +1 701 774-0241

• Burger Queen & Pizza

  phone: +1 701 572-1840
  address: 2516 2nd Ave West

• China Sun

  phone: +1 701 572-3388
  address: 1804 2nd Ave West

• Courthouse Cafe

  phone: +1 701 572-1754
  address: 205 E Broadway

• Dakota Family Farms

  phone: +1 701 572-4480
  address: 1906 2nd Ave West

• Economart Lunch Counter

  phone: +1 701 572-2927
  address: 300 West 11th St

• Ginger's Cafe

  phone: +1 701 774-9792
  address: 216 Main St

• Gramma Sharon's Cafe

  phone: +1 701 572-1412
  address: 150 16th St. West

• Hedderich's Soda Shop

  phone: +1 701 774-0152
  address: 122 Main St

• The Lunch Box

  phone: +1 701 572-8559
  address: 20 W Broadway

• Pierce's Homesteak Dining Co.

  phone: +1 701 572-0030
  address: 18 2nd St West

• Castle Cafe

  phone: +1 701 572-6721
  address: 313 Main St

• Trapper's Kettle

  phone: +1 701 774-2831
  address: 3901 2nd Ave West

• We Be Pizza

  phone: +1 701 572-9323
  address: 819 West 11th St

• Avalanche Bar & Grill

  phone: +1 701 774-2062
  address: 1002 2nd Street West

• Chuck's Lounge

  phone: +1 701 572-2679
  address: 218 Main St

• Million Dollar Lanes/Sports Den

  phone: +1 701 572-3344
  address: 1804 2nd Ave W
  Bowling.

• P. Nuttz

  phone: +1 701 572-7688
  address: 3712 4th Ave West

• Travel Host Lounge

  phone: +1 701 774-0041
  address: 2nd Ave. W

The oil boom in Williston resulted in a severe housing shortage, but the situation has changed with the boom going bust. Many developments built to house workers during the boom now stand empty, and other developments were canceled. Booking a hotel room in Williston on short notice was difficult or impossible during the boom, with oil companies contracting with area hotels to house workers, but should now be considerably easier.
Note: Most motels are either clustered downtown or near the airport at the northern limit of town.

• Best Value Inn

  phone: +1 701 572-4242
  address: 213 35th St W

• Country Garden Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 701 774-9643
  address: 805 1st Ave West

• El Rancho Motor Hotel

  phone: +1 701 572-6321
  address: 1623 2nd. Avenue West

• Marquis Plaza and Suites

  phone: +1 701 774-3250
  address: 1525 9th Ave NW

• Super 8 Lodge

  phone: +1 701 572-8371
  address: 2324 2nd. Ave West

• The Vegas

  phone: +1 701 572-2574
  address: 2420 2nd Ave W

• Travel Host Motel

  phone: +1 701 774-0041
  address: 3801 2nd Ave. W

North Dakota has one of the lowest crime rates in North America, and Williston has one of the lowest of North Dakota. Most residents do not lock their doors, and in wintertime many people leave their cars running in parking lots as they run their errands.
Violent crime and rape are rare, and usually occur due to the influence of alcohol. However, women should use common sense when walking alone near bars at night. Most residents and police officers will pull over and offer rides to people walking at night or in the winter. The biggest threat are drunk drivers. If needed, the police can be reached at 701-577-1212.

• Theodore Roosevelt National Park - The park includes badlands, open prairie, hard wood draws. It is home to bison, prairie dogs and many other wildlife species.