Barnes County, ND neighbors Griggs near Valley City metropolitan centre yielding a 2020 estimated population standing of 11,415 making it the 7th most populous county located hereabouts. Its county seat is Valley City with other towns include Oriska & Sanborn- Valley City itself equates out to Barnes's largest city aside from recognized country seat. This area had been established from Cass and Eddy Counties back in 1873 when local residents petitioned for new administrative boundaries - posthumously named after Alfred Barnes North Dakota political figure representing region during period Abraham Lincoln .