Williston Fun Facts

About

  • Williston is is the county seat of Williams County, North Dakota.
  • The 2006 census lists Williston's population at 12,303.

History

  • Williston was founded in 1887.
  • Williston is named for Daniel Willis James, who served on the board of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Williston, North Dakota, was named for him by his friend and owner of the Northern Pacific Railroad, James J. Hill.

Did you know?

  • Williston is also the home of the Miss North Dakota Scholarship Pageant.
  • Phil Jackson - professional basketball player and coach (New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers). Jackson was born in Montana, but spent the later part of his childhood, including his teenage years, in Williston, and graduated from Williston High School. The Williston High School fieldhouse is named after Jackson. As a player he won championships with the Knicks in 1970 and 1973. He later coached the Bulls to championships from 1991-93 and 1996-98, and later, the Lakers from 2000-2002.
  • Virgil Hill - a silver medalist in boxing at the 1984 Olympics and a four-time world champion boxer, often winning and defending his titles in North Dakota cities, most notably Bismarck and Grand Forks. Hill spent his last year of high school at Williston High School.