Questions about Bismarck (Fargo, Dickinson, Williston: high crime, safest, oil)

[riffle]

Hopefully I can wake up the ND subforum for a few opinions

1. What are the best state parks or other hiking areas within an hour of Bismarck? Preferably with 5+ miles of trails and some elevation change.

2. Are block heaters common in personal vehicles?

3. As of the 2010 census (old data) the ratio of men to women was pretty even for ages 20-29 in Bismarck city. Ages 30-39 lean more male though, and I assume the oil patch further west has a lot of dudes. Thoughts on the dating scene?

4. The City-Data crime index shows an uptick in 2016, 2017, 2018. I know crime data can be tricky; does this match up with perceptions on the ground?

5. Is the climate dry enough to keep down the mosquitoes and gnats in summer?

Thanks!

[NDak15]

1. Not sure the best place for hiking but there are lots of state parks all over. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is more than an hour away but is a neat spot.

2. Yes

3. It's going to better than Williston or Dickinson I'm sure.

4. I wouldn't call Bismarck a high crime area.

5. No

[NDFan]

#1: Not sure within an hour; you have a lot within 1.5-2 hrs of Bismarck in all directions park-wise.
#2: Yes, decently so.
#3: Oil patch is heavily dudes, although probably somewhat less so than during the peak 6, 7 years ago. Bismarck dating scene would be better than further west for sure. Probably second best in ND after Fargo.
#4: Bismarck is quite safe overall; I think the safest larger city in ND. By national standards, very safe.
#5: Absolutely not. Summer is the wet season, although it is noticeably dryer (in humidity) than the Red River Valley.

[Dewey59]

Agree with the other answers given. As for parks, check this out:

https://www.parkrec.nd.gov/

[riffle]

Thanks all. I decided against the move. Still have visiting ND on my bucket list though!