BISMARCK, N.D. — Williston Mayor Ward Koeser (KOH'-zur) says oil has brought enormous economic prosperity to his city but it also has come with plenty of headaches like housing shortages, heavy truck traffic and infrastructure problems.

Williston is the the busiest city in North Dakota's booming oil patch. Koeser says the city's population has doubled in the past decade to some 30,000 residents and the average wage there has risen from about $32,000 in 2006 to about $80,000.

The mayor says the city's unemployment rate is 1 percent and could be the lowest in the nation.

National Results
See National results update in real time
View Comments

Koeser says the city is experiencing exciting times and unprecedented wealth but it's far from figuring out how to survive the biggest oil rush in the nation.

Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.