Skip to Content

Oil boom remakes N. Dakota county with fastest growth in US

<i></i><br/>
KMIZ

By MATTHEW BROWN
Associated Press

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) — The fastest-growing county in the U.S. is in the oil fields of North Dakota. That’s according to new figures from the Census Bureau. The first newcomers to arrive in McKenzie County were oil workers drawn by the drilling boom. Soon they brought families who needed housing, schools and places to shop. Before long the community was transformed from a quiet farming region to a bustling center of the energy industry. The growth shattered the county’s rural innocence as crime rates and fatal road accidents increased. But it also brought youth, diversity and better wages. The additional residents breathed new life into somnolent towns that had been losing population since the 1930s.

Article Topic Follows: AP National Business

Jump to comments ↓

Associated Press

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

ABC 17 News is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content