Your numbers are for Williams County, not Williston. The graph shows an estimated Williams County population of 50,000 by 2025. For reference, Ward County (Minot) was estimated to have a 2017 population of 69,000.
Would both be great gets. Atkinson could fill a huge hole at nose. Has the size to potentially play right away. He does have a track offer from the gophers now though.
Maybe they (Richards family) aren't after attention and praise for their dad's/grandfather's accomplishments? And they probably didn't hire a public relations firm to control the narrative.