Golden Valley county is situated on the western edges of the North Dakota Badlands with Beach serving as the county seat. The county population on July 1, 1999, was 1,782, a decrease of 326 over the 1990 census.
County features include Camel Hump Dam and Lake just northeast of Sentinel Butte which provides trout and largemouth bass fishing (at idle speed only) and primitive camping; Odland Dam, seven miles north of Beach with fishing for pike and perch and primitive camping offered and South Buffalo Gap Lake in the eastern part of the county with fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill and trout. There are no facilities but a primitive trail and primitive camping can be taken advantage of.