Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is a city of 75,556 people in Burleigh County, North Dakota, founded in 1872.
Why visit Bismarck
Townapedia lists 38 museums and landmarks, 61 parks and trails, 117 places to eat, 34 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Dakota Zoo, Bismarck Civic Auditorium, Camp Hancock State Historic Site and Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 4°F.
Weather in Bismarck
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Bismarck
Bismarck () is the capital city of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the state's second-most populous city, after Fargo. The population was 73,622 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 77,772 in 2024, while its metropolitan population was 133,626. In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked Bismarck as the seventh fastest-growing small city in the United States.
From the Wikipedia article Bismarck, North Dakota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
Bismarck Civic Auditorium
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Civic auditorium in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States
University of Mary
School · 6.7 mi
Private, Benedictine university near Bismarck, North Dakota, United States
Museums and landmarks38
Camp Hancock State Historic Site
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
North Dakota
Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in North Dakota, United States
Bismarck Northern Pacific Railway Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historical building in Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck Tribune Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Commercial building in Bismarck, United States of America
Burleigh County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
County courthouse in Bismarck, United States of America
Chief Looking's Village site
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Archaeological site in North Dakota, United States of America
Downtown Bismarck Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic district in North Dakota, United States
Dr. Albert M. and Evelyn M. Brandt House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Bismarck, North Dakota, also known as the Francis and Leona Larson House, NRHP-listed
E. G. Patterson Building
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Theatre building in Bismarck, North Dakota
Former North Dakota Executive Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Building in North Dakota, United States
Fred and Gladys Grady House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic house in North Dakota, United States
James W. Foley House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Bismarck, North Dakota, NRHP-listed
26 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds61
General Sibley Park
Park · 5.0 mi
Park in Bismarck, United States of America
49 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes117
A&B Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.1 mi
311 South 7th Street, Bismarck
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 12:00-21:30
Applebee's
Diner · American · 1.4 mi
434 South 3rd Street, Bismarck
Su-Th 11:00-24:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-01:00
Coffee@321
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.4 mi
321 South 1st Street, Bismarck
Mo-Th 06:00-12:00,17:00-20:00; Fr 06:00-12:00; Su 14:00-20:00
Cracker Barrel
Diner · American · 2.5 mi
1685 North Grandview Lane, Bismarck
Su-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-22:00
Hong Kong
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.2 mi
1055 East Interstate Avenue
Tu-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa,Su 12:00-20:00
HuHot
Restaurant · Mongolian Grill · 1.3 mi
409 South 3rd Street, Bismarck
10:30-21:00; Fr,Sa 10:30-22:00
Jimmy V's
Restaurant · American, Pizza · 1.0 mi
512 East Main Avenue, Bismarck
Mo-Fr 11:00-01:00; Sa-Su 10:00-01:00
Johnny Carino's
Restaurant · Italian · 2.5 mi
1601 West Century Avenue
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
LongHorn Steakhouse
Restaurant · Steak House · 1.3 mi
1070 East Interstate Avenue
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 2.5 mi
1515 Burnt Boat Drive
Mo-Su 12:00-21:30; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00
105 more on the map.
History
For thousands of years, various indigenous peoples inhabited present-day central North Dakota. The historic Mandan Native American tribe occupied the area long before Europeans arrived. The Hidatsa name for Bismarck is mirahacii arumaaguash ("Place of the tall willows"); the Arikara name is ituhtaáwe [itUhtaáwe].
In 1872, European Americans founded a settlement at what was then called Missouri Crossing, so named because the Lewis and Clark Expedition crossed the river there on their exploration of the land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase in 1804–06. It had been an area of Mandan settlement. Later, the new town was called Edwinton, after Edwin Ferry Johnson, engineer-in-chief for the Northern Pacific Railway. Its construction of railroads in the territory attracted workers and settlers.
In 1873, the Northern Pacific Railway renamed the city Bismarck in honor of German chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Railroad officials hoped to attract German settlers to the area and German investment in the railroad. It is the only U.S. state capital named for a foreign statesman. The discovery of gold in the nearby Black Hills of South Dakota the following year was a great impetus for growth. Thousands of miners came to the area, encroaching on what the Lakota considered sacred territory, leading to heightened tensions with Native Americans.
From the History section of Bismarck, North Dakota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay34
Churches and places of worship53
Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel at Annunciation Priory
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 6.5 mi
Bismarck-Mandan Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Place of worship · 0.8 mi
818 East Divide Avenue, Bismarck
Grace Lutheran Brethren Church
Church · Lutheran · 0.8 mi
2400 East Avenue A, Bismarck
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 4.6 mi
7111 Williamson Drive, Bismarck
Shopping27
Gas and EV charging28
Schools, colleges and libraries53
Healthcare8
Map of Bismarck
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 4°F | 0.5 in |
| Feb | 27°F | 7°F | 0.5 in |
| Mar | 40°F | 18°F | 0.9 in |
| Apr | 54°F | 29°F | 1.6 in |
| May | 66°F | 42°F | 2.6 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 52°F | 3.3 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 58°F | 3.2 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 56°F | 2.7 in |
| Sep | 71°F | 46°F | 1.9 in |
| Oct | 56°F | 34°F | 1.6 in |
| Nov | 40°F | 20°F | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 27°F | 10°F | 0.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bismarck 2.4 Nnw (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Burleigh County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2025-09-11: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-01: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-05-10: Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-04-07: Flooding (Flood)
- 2010-04-21: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Lincoln 5 mi southeast, about 8 min by car
- Mandan 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Wilton 24 mi north, about 38 min by car
- New Salem 31 mi west, about 49 min by car
- Center 32 mi northwest, about 52 min by car
- Washburn 35 mi north, about 57 min by car
- Cannon Ball 35 mi south, about 56 min by car
- Steele 40 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Stanton 45 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Linton 46 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 2009-0521-ND-StateCapitol, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- Liberty Memorial Building - Bismarck, North Dakota, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Transportation Building - Bismarck, North Dakota, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of the Holy Spirit - Bismarck, ND, Diocesan officials, CC BY-SA 4.0
- CAMP HANCOCK SITE, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BismarckND ChiefLookingVillageSite2, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- University of Mary Bell Tower, Cecilia, CC BY 2.0
- FormerGovernorResidenceND, Plazak, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oliver and Gertrude Lundquist House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fred and Gladys Grady House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Bismarck, N.D, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BurleighCoCourthouseND, Plazak, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Liberty Memorial Bridge, Spanning Missouri River at I-94, Bismarck (Burleigh County, North Dakota), Kent Good, Photographer, Public domain
- 2009-0521-CDNtrip049-ND-Bismarck-McKenziePatterson, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- 2009-0521-ND-Bismarck-NorthernPacificdepot, Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- Sad Existence (384451216), Matt Reinbold from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sprawl (392725336), Matt Reinbold from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Horizontal (392673802), Matt Reinbold from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Cordylus tropidosterum, Matt Reinbold from Bismarck, ND, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rescued Tiger Salamander, Matt Reinbold from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Teredo-bored petrified wood, North Dakota's state fossil, occurs in the Paleocene age Cannonball Formation. It is driftwood that had been bored into by shipworms (clams called Nototeredo) before..., Richard N Horne, CC BY 4.0
- Teredo-bored petrified wood, North Dakota's state fossil, occurs in the Paleocene age Cannonball Formation. It is driftwood that had been bored into by shipworms (clams called Nototeredo) before..., Richard N Horne, CC BY 4.0
- Celebrate (2764111449), Matt Reinbold from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Stadium - panoramio - Steven Wilke (2), Steven Wilke, CC BY-SA 3.0
- North Dakota State Capitol (4845305408), Jim Bowen from Zhenhai, China, CC BY 2.0
- North Dakota State Capitol (4845300240), Jim Bowen from Zhenhai, China, CC BY 2.0
- North Dakota State Capitol - Exterior, Indies1, CC BY 4.0
- 32 Plymouth (7182112383), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 69 Volkswagen Beetle (7182104245), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Flickr - DVS1mn - 70 Chevrolet Nova (2), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Flickr - DVS1mn - 64 Chevrolet Impala SS (9), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Ford Thunderbird (7185289495), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 59 Ford Thunderbird (7367357208), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Willys Jeep (7370621122), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Pontiac GTO (7370605902), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Flickr - DVS1mn - 57 Chevrolet Bel Air (3), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Flickr - DVS1mn - 42 Chevrolet Flatbed Truck (2), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Flickr - DVS1mn - 60 Chevrolet Impala (17), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Flickr - DVS1mn - 61 Chevrolet Impala (9), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 59 Cadillac (7370634626), Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
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