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

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County Coordinator: Norma Hass normahass01@gmail.com

Co-Coordinator: YOU? Stark County NDGenWeb needs a local co-coordinator. Are you familiar with the area? Do you have a family tree connection to the county? Are you experienced at researching in Stark County? If your answer to any one of these questions is "YES," please consider volunteering to be a Co-Coordinator.

COUNTY FORMATION

Stark County was created February 10, 1879, from southern tips of Howard and Williams, but mostly from unorganized areas. It was named in honor of George Stark, a vice president and general manager of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

In 1883, it lost a large southern portion to the formation of Hettinger County. In 1885, it lost a small western portion to Villard County, and a small northern portion to Dunn County. In 1887, a small eastern portion was lost to Morton County, but Stark County gained a small western portion from Villard County. In 1896, the boundaries of Wallace, Dunn, Stark, and Hettinger were redefined, but then in 1901 portions of Stark County were returned to Wallace, Dunn, and Hettiger. The county was slightly enlarged on January 18, 1908, by a small strip of land (due to a redefinition of county boundary lines), giving Stark County its present boundary lines.

Dickinson is the County Seat. (Dickinson was first known as Pleasant Valley Siding.)

The county terrain consists of semi-arid rolling hills, mostly devoted to agriculture. The south branch of the Heart River flows through the central part of Stark County.