N.D. Cent. Code § 11-03-06: Governor to appoint county commissioners - When county deemed in existence

The governor shall appoint three persons who reside in and who are qualified electors of such new county and who will accept and qualify as county commissioners for the new county. The commissioners so appointed shall hold office until the first general election thereafter and until their successors are elected and qualified. After the county commissioners appointed by the governor have qualified, the county shall be deemed to have existence as a county.