The Bakken Oil Boom
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.
Last Updated September 29 2017
Data Dashboard
Construction
| 2016 | Pct. change from a year earlier | |
|---|---|---|
| Williston building permits | 35 | -70% |
Summary
Construction activity for commercial buildings and residential units began rising sharply in the city of Williston in 2010. Building activity subsided when oil prices started to drop in 2014.
Data Dashboard
Construction
| 2016 | Pct. change from a year earlier | |
|---|---|---|
| Stark county housing units authorized | 86 | -56% |
Summary
Stark County, which includes the city of Dickinson, posted rapid gains in housing units authorized in 2012. However, home building dropped to pre-boom levels after oil prices started to decrease in 2014.
County Unemployment Rate
Slideshow of maps showing the historical county unemployment rate in the Bakken area
12-month moving average
October 2015 (Last Map)
July 2015
April 2015
January 2015
October 2014
July 2014
April 2014
January 2014
October 2013
July 2013
April 2013
January 2013
October 2012
July 2012
April 2012
January 2012
October 2011
July 2011
April 2011
January 2011
October 2010
July 2010
April 2010
January 2010
October 2009
July 2009
April 2009
January 2009
October 2008
July 2008
April 2008
January 2008
October 2007
July 2007
April 2007
January 2007
October 2006
July 2006
April 2006
January 2006
October 2005
July 2005
April 2005
January 2005
October 2004
July 2004
April 2004
January 2004
County Employment Change
Slideshow of maps showing the county employment rate change in the Bakken area
12-month moving average
Fourth Quarter 2015 (Last Map)
Third Quarter 2015
Second Quarter 2015
First Quarter 2015
Fourth Quarter 2014
Third Quarter 2014
Second Quarter 2014
First Quarter 2014
Fourth Quarter 2013
Third Quarter 2013
Second Quarter 2013
First Quarter 2013
Fourth Quarter 2012
Third Quarter 2012
Second Quarter 2012
First Quarter 2012
Fourth Quarter 2011
Third Quarter 2011
Second Quarter 2011
First Quarter 2011
Fourth Quarter 2010
Third Quarter 2010
Second Quarter 2010
First Quarter 2010
Fourth Quarter 2009
Third Quarter 2009
Second Quarter 2009
First Quarter 2009
Fourth Quarter 2008
Third Quarter 2008
Second Quarter 2008
First Quarter 2008
Fourth Quarter 2007
Third Quarter 2007
Second Quarter 2007
First Quarter 2007
Fourth Quarter 2006
Third Quarter 2006
Second Quarter 2006
First Quarter 2006
Fourth Quarter 2005
Third Quarter 2005
Second Quarter 2005
First Quarter 2005
Fourth Quarter 2004
Third Quarter 2004
Second Quarter 2004
First Quarter 2004
The Bakken area
Detailed map of the oil patch in the Ninth District
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.
More about oil in the Ninth District
From red-hot to lukewarm in the Bakken
fedgazette, January 28, 2016
The Bakken faces a steep drop in oil prices
fedgazette, January 29, 2015
Banking activity in the Bakken still stronger than the rest of North Dakota and Montana
fedgazette, November 7, 2014
Homeland of opportunity
fedgazette, October 6, 2014
Global factors influence Bakken oil boom
fedgazette Roundup, September 16, 2014
Bakken energy production continues to boom, but growth is easing
fedgazette, June 13, 2014
Banking activity and performance in the Bakken in 2013
fedgazette, May 8, 2014
Census says: Bakken growth floating a lot of boats
fedgazette Roundup, March 7, 2014
Bakken stands out in comparison with other shale drilling areas
fedgazette, January 15, 2014
Comparing relative banking performance in the Bakken with banking in other shale energy areas
fedgazette, August 19, 2013
Oil production and economic activity strong, but easing somewhat
fedgazette, August 6, 2013
Congratulations on your oil boom...now the real work begins
fedgazette, July 22, 2013
Oil tax spending: "Pots for this and pots for that"
fedgazette, July 22, 2013
Fine-tuning the oil tax machine
fedgazette, July 22, 2013
Dickinson: Watching and learning
fedgazette, July 22, 2013
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
Location of the Bakken in the Ninth District
Kocherlakota - "State of the West Symposium" November 13, 2014
Video: Kocherlakota speech covering the oil boom
The fiscal oil boom
Video: fedgazette Editor Ron Wirtz talks about the fiscal oil boom
Jobs in the oil patch
Video: fedgazette Senior Writer Phil Davies talks about jobs in the oil patch
