The Bakken oil boom dwarfs previous oil production expansions in Montana and North Dakota. Explore a range of economic, demographic and financial data for the Bakken, and learn about factors driving jobs and other forms of development in the oil patch of North Dakota and Montana.
Data Dashboard
Deposits (billions)
| Fourth Quarter 2012 | Pct. change from a year earlier | |
|---|---|---|
| Bakken Oil Counties | $3.97 | 15.0% |
| Rest of Montana | $20.24 | 8.4% |
| Rest of North Dakota | $15.00 | 11.2% |
Summary
Total deposits for Bakken area banks began increasing more rapidly than those for other banks in Montana and North Dakota around mid-year 2010. However, the rate of deposit growth has slowed since first quarter 2012.
Data Dashboard
Construction & Land Development Loans (billions)
| Fourth Quarter 2012 | Pct. change from a year earlier | |
|---|---|---|
| Bakken Oil Counties | $0.19 | 69.0% |
| Rest of Montana | $1.31 | -8.4% |
| Rest of North Dakota | $0.58 | -2.0% |
Summary
Growth in construction and land development loans (loans secured by real estate to fund land improvements and construction) in the Bakken area has historically been similar to growth in the rest of North Dakota. However during the past two years construction and land development loans in the Bakken picked up while decreasing in the rest of North Dakota.
Data Dashboard
Incidence of severe mortgage problems
| Jan 2013 | Pct. point change from a year earlier | |
|---|---|---|
| Bakken Oil Counties | 0.56% | -0.38% |
| Rest of Montana | 3.05% | -0.47% |
| Rest of North Dakota | 1.78% | -0.36% |
Summary
The incidence of serious mortgage problems in the Bakken paralleled mortgage problems in the rest of Montana and North Dakota relatively closely until 2010, when it dropped sharply compared with more modest declines elsewhere.
Note: Mortgages that are 90+ days delinquent, in foreclosure, or post-foreclosure but associated with real estate owned (REO) by lenders, as a percentage of outstanding mortgages. Unlike other data in the Banking section, these data are not restricted to mortgages made or held by Bakken-based banks.
Slideshow of maps showing the historical county unemployment rate in the Bakken area
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12-month moving average
<3% 3 to 4% 4 to 5% 5 to 6% 6 to 7% >7%
Slideshow of maps showing the county employment rate change in the Bakken area
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12-month moving average
<-4% -4% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% to 2% >2%
Detailed map of the oil patch in the Ninth District
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Definition for oil production: North Dakota production is from Bakken, Sanish, Three Forks and Bakken/Three Forks Pools as reported by the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources. Montana production is total production from Richland, Roosevelt and Sheridan counties.
Definition for economic indicators: North Dakota counties: Billings, Burke, Divide, Dunn, Golden Valley, McKenzie, Mountrail, Stark, and Williams. Montana counties: Richland, Roosevelt, and Sheridan.

Recent Trends in the Bakken [pdf]
Full Report [pdf]
Data on demographic, economic and financial activity in the Bakken as of December 20, 2012
Bakken activity: How wide is the ripple effect?
fedgazette, May 7, 2013
Working on the railroad - and the pipeline
fedgazette, April 23, 2013
Dealing with gas
fedgazette, April 23, 2013
Booming sales in North Dakota
fedgazette, February 8, 2013
Frac sand mining spurs rural rail
fedgazette Roundup, July 19, 2012
Sand surge
fedgazette, July 16, 2012
Desperately seeking workers in the oil patch
fedgazette, April 18, 2012
No room at the inn
fedgazette, April 18, 2012
Faces and places from the oil patch
fedgazette, April 18, 2012
After the oil rush
fedgazette, September 1, 2009
Video: fedgazette Senior Writer Phil Davies talks about jobs in the oil patch