Founded in 1887, Williston was named for Daniel Willis James, a board member of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, by his friend, railroad owner, James J. Hill. Largely agricultural in its history, Williston boomed in the early 2020s due to large amounts of oil shale in the formation it sat upon, which drew workers from across the country to it. From 2025 to 2040s, Williston saw large growth as major oil drilling facilities made Williston their production capital for the region. Population skyrocketed, and the economy blossomed. However, in the early 2050s, the New Plague began to starve the region. Working conditions only worsened the disease spreading as men and women worked long hours with little or no breaks. Finally, in 2057, it no longer became economically feasible to continue o