Welcome!

Williams County NDGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the county. It is a member of NDGenWeb, which is a member of USGenWeb®. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Williams County ancestors.

What's New at Williams County NDGenWeb since your last visit
Search Williams County NDGenWeb for a specific name

Please consider contributing your pieces of Williams county family history. Corrections, updates, and additions to this site are always welcome. Our combined efforts can keep this a great site for all who visit!

County Coordinator: YOU? Williams County NDGenWeb is Available for Adoption. Are you familiar with the area? Do you have a family tree connection to the county? Are you experienced at researching in Williams County? If your answer to any one of these questions is "YES," please consider volunteering to be the County Coordinator. For more information about the position, review Helps and Resources for CCs and contact the State Coordinator.

State Coordinator: Michelle Savre

Assistant State Coordinator: Linda Ziemann

COUNTY FORMATION

Williams county was created by act of legislature January 8, 1873. In 1885 its boundaries were changed, parts of it going to Mercer, Dunn and Wallace counties."
Compendium History and Biography of North Dakota, 1900, page 115

Over a period of 10 years Bottineau, Burleigh, De Smet, Gingras, Kidder, Logan, Mountrail, Renville, Rolette, Sheridan, Stevens, Stutsman, Wallette and Wells counties were formed from Buffalo County. Wallette County was established 08 Jan 1873 (the area in which today's Divide and Williams Counties exist) in Dakota territory, it was never organized due to a lack of settlers. In 1883 Wallette County split creating two unorganized counties, Buford County on the West and Flannery County on the East. In 1891 they became Williams County. In 1910 Williams was divided into Williams and Divide County after a vote of the citizens.

Williams County was named in honor of Erastus Appleman Williams (1850-1930). He was a legislator when North Dakota was a territory, and he was a former mayor of Bismarck.

The County Seat is Williston.