Dunn Center was laid out in 1914, when the railroad was extended to that point.

[5] The city was so named on account of its central location in Dunn County.

[6][7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.39 square miles (1.01 km2), all land.

[8] Dunn Center is located on North Dakota Highway 200, east of Lake Ilo.

The racial makup of the city was 90.98% White, 6.56% Native American, and 2.46% from two or more races.

There were 8.3% of families and 9.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 3.1% of those over 64.

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters.