Discover Williston: A Thriving City with Big Opportunities for Families
In Williston, you’ll never hear the dreaded B word: bored. In this thriving, family-friendly community, there’s a world of things to explore and enjoy, safe neighborhoods, good schools and a “jump right in” spirit. Ahead, three Williston area residents share why they choose to raise their families here.
An Everybody Town
“It’s easy to meet people here, to have a conversation, because people are not in their bubbles. They’re friendly. If you’re on the highway, you’re going to be waved at,” says Kaelynn Blackaby, who moved here in 2015 from Kentucky when her husband, Jody, was offered a school position in Trenton.
The Blackabys and their three children, 6, 9 and 12, love their small-town Trenton life, but they spend time in Williston for church, activities, shopping and her internship with the City of Williston, while she completes her bachelor’s degree in business.
Her busy family enjoys summer’s “absolutely perfect weather,” fishing, swimming and boating on nearby lakes, going to parks, attending Summer Nights on Main, which is a live music event, and “eating or just hanging out in the backyard.” Winter brings a host of sporting events and other activities, too, with the Williston Area Recreation Center (known as the ARC) being a popular spot.
It is the supportive sense of community in Williston that has kept Blackaby and her family here for the last 10 years.
“The common denominator is that a lot of people are not from here or came here for work and then stayed here for the community,” she says. “This used to be an oil field town, but now it’s an everybody town.”
Just Do It
Phillip Siemieniewski and his family arrived in Williston in 2018. As an engineer in the oil and gas industry, he frequently uses the word “opportunity” when discussing the field.
“Growth here means there is so much opportunity to get involved in almost anything you like,” says Siemieniewski, who coaches youth hockey and skating. “Economically, too, there is a lot of opportunity here for small businesses and entrepreneurs.”
Siemieniewski and his wife, Tori, are raising children, ages 4 and 8, and enjoy the area’s youthful vibe.
“Williston has a lot of people in their 20s, 30s and 40s; people having fun and getting out with their kids,” he says. “It’s also very welcoming. You can walk in any direction and find people speaking different languages and coming from diverse backgrounds. Everyone just wants to be able to live and be free and make the choices they want for their family and be supported, and you just get that.”
Siemieniewski, who grew up in the country near Beulah, North Dakota, jokingly refers to his children as “city kids,” but the family relishes life outdoors, skating in winter and enjoying indoor sports at the ARC. During the summer, lake surfing is a family favorite as well as “anything outside,” Siemieniewski says.
Siemieniewski’s advice for prospective residents?
“Just do it,” he says. “Whatever reservations you might have, I can guarantee they won’t be for long. There’s plenty of opportunity here, regardless of the industry you’re in. There’s a need for every individual.”
Rolling in the Right Direction
When Jonathan Iblings moved to Williston in 2011, the oil boom was still booming, and the area was fast-moving and focused on the short term, he says. Today, he feels that Williston is a community supportive of family life, both socially and economically viable.
“We’re looking at things longer term now,” says Iblings, facility supervisor for an oil field company. “I feel like things have settled in a bit. But Williston is still exciting, and if there’s something you want to do, you can still do it.”
Iblings and his wife, Miranda, are raising three children, who are 11, 8 and 5.
While housing can be a challenge, he is encouraged by the growing number and variety of homes, as well as the wide availability of land, which offers room to expand as the population grows.
“The sense of community is what keeps me excited,” Iblings says. “The community rallies around other members of the community, so the sense of belonging to something that is wholesome is really nice. I really like being a part of the community. Everyone is kind of rolling in the right direction.”
Get to Know Williston
Want to learn more about working and living in Williston, ND? Check out the latest edition of Livability Williston, North Dakota.