McKenzie County is named for Alexander McKenzie of Bismarck, North Dakota ( 1851-1922 ), credited with helping to engineer the removal of the capital of the Dakota Territory from Yankton, South Dakota to Bismarck, and a political leader.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Williams County
E – Mountrail County and Dunn County
S – Dunn County, Billings County and Golden Valley County
W – Wibaux County, Montana and Richland County, Montana
Created: May 24, 1901 
County Seat:
Alexander 1905 – 1907
Schafer 1907 – 1941
Watford City 1941 – present
County Courthouse – Watford City
Location: 201 5th Street Northwest / 2nd Avenue Southeast
Built: 1973 – 1974
Style: Modern
Architect: Kielhack & Fougner of Minot
Contractor: F & J Construction of Dickenson
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red-brown colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Watford City. . Along the east front are white colored vertical dividers. The east front has a small portico of red colored brick. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County District Court of the Northwest Judicial District. The building was enlarged in 2015. The architect was ICON and the contractor was Construction Engineers.
History: The county was created in 1901 and Alexander became the county seat in 1905 when the county was organized. The county seat was moved to Schafer in 1907. The first courthouse was a wood frame structure built in 1907 and enlarged in 1906. The county seat was moved to Watford City in 1940. In 1941, an old hospital was converted to serve as the courthouse. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1973 to 1974.
County Courthouse – Watford City
Photos taken 2007