McHenry county is located in north central North Dakota and calls Towner its county seat. The county population on July 1, 1999, was 5,962, a decrease of 566 over the 1990 census.
The county is in the heart of the Lakes and Gardens Region. A half-dozen pothole lakes located in the southeastern section of the county, including Smoky Lake and George Lake, are within a 10-mile radius of each other. In addition, North Lake and Buffalo Lodge Lake occupy the central county area.
Waterfowl hunters as well as birdwatchers are attracted to the north county and the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge.