The New Wild West: Black Gold, Fracking, and Life in a North Dakota Boomtown

Williston, North Dakota was a sleepy farm town for generations—until the frackers arrived. The oil companies moved into Williston, overtaking the town and setting off a boom that America hadn’t seen since the Gold Rush. Workers from all over the country descended, chasing jobs that promised them six-figure salaries and demanded no prior experience.

But for every person chasing the American dream, there is a darker side—reports of violence and sexual assault skyrocketed, schools overflowed, ...