McKenzie county is located in western North Dakota and uses Watford City as its county seat. The county population on July 1, 1999, was 5,541, a decrease of 842 over the 1990 census.

This sizeable county (1.17 million acres) is situated on the northern end of the North Dakota Badlands and the Little Missouri National Grassland. Its northern county line is formed by the Missouri River/Lake Sakakawea.

County attractions include the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (north unit) to the south and Four Bears Memorial Park to the northeast.