County Building

Located at 316 North 5th Street on the southwest corner of Rosser Avenue, the County Building is a mid-century landmark in downtown Bismarck. It is most famous for its 60-foot tall weather beacon, which continues to provide local forecasts via a color-coded light system since the building opened.

The six-story building officially opened in October 1954 and was built to serve as the headquarters for the Provident Life Insurance Company, which was the largest privately-owned institution in North Dakota at the time.

The building was constructed on the former site of the Will School, Bismarck's first two-room schoolhouse (1905–1951), which was demolished in 1954 to make way for the new offices.

In 1995, the building was purchased by Burleigh County and housed Social Services and provided rental space to various businesses.

A significant remodel started in August 2025 with anticipated completion in November 2027.

The following departments will be located in the newly-remodeled facility: