Map of Wells County, North Dakota

Wells County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,982. Its county seat is Fessenden.

Wells County overview:
Name:	Wells County
FIPS code:	38-103
State:	North Dakota
Founded:	1873
Named for:	Edward Payson Wells
Seat:	Fessenden
Largest city:	Harvey
Total Area:	1,290 sq mi (3,300 km²)
Land Area:	1,271 sq mi (3,290 km²)
Total Population:	3,982
Population Density:	3.1/sq mi (1.2/km²)
Time zone:	UTC−6 (Central)
Summer Time Zone (DST):	UTC−5 (CDT)
Website:	www.wellscountynd.com

Wells County location map. Where is Wells County?

Wells County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Wells County. — Location of Wells County in the the United States.

Wells County location on the North Dakota map. Where is Wells County. — Location of Wells County in North Dakota.

History

The Dakota Territory legislature created the county on January 4, 1873. Its government was not organized at that time, nor was it attached for administrative or judicial purposes to another county. It was named Gingras County; this name continued until February 26, 1881, when the name was changed to Wells County, named for Edward Payson Wells, a Jamestown banker, early promoter of the James River Valley, and member of the legislature in 1881.

The county government was organized on August 28, 1884, with Sykeston as the county seat. In 1894 the county seat was transferred to Fessendon. The county boundary was altered in 1883 when a parcel was transferred to Foster County, and again in 1885 when it received land from Foster County. Its boundary has remained unchanged since 1885.

The center of population of North Dakota is located in the extreme southeastern corner of Wells County, about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Sykeston.

Wells County Road Map

Wells CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Wells County, North Dakota. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Wells CountyMap — Wells Countypolitical map.

Geography

The James River flows east-northeasterly through Wells County. The county terrain consists of rolling hills with occasional protuberances, dotted with lakes and ponds in its SW portion. The terrain slopes to the east and north; its highest point is a protuberance near the southwestern corner, at 2,182′ (665m) ASL. Ihe county has a total area of 1,290 square miles (3,300 km), of which 1,271 square miles (3,290 km) is land and 19 square miles (49 km) (1.5%) is water.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 52
North Dakota Highway 3
North Dakota Highway 15
North Dakota Highway 30
North Dakota Highway 91
North Dakota Highway 200
County 1
County 5
County 52

Adjacent counties

Benson County – north
Eddy County – east
Foster County – east
Stutsman County – southeast
Kidder County – south
Sheridan County – west
Pierce County – northwest

Protected areas

Source:

Karl T. Frederick State Game Management Area
Upland State Game Refuge

Lakes