Everything about North Dakota totally explained
North Dakota is a
state located in the
Midwestern and
Western regions of the
United States of America. The 19th largest state by area in the U.S., it's the 48
th most populous, with just over 640,000 residents as of 2006. North Dakota was carved out of the northern half of the
Dakota Territory and admitted to the Union as the 39
th state on
November 2,
1889.
The
Missouri River flows through the western part of the state and forms
Lake Sakakawea behind the
Garrison Dam. The western half of the state is hilly and contains
lignite coal and
oil. In the east, the
Red River forms the
Red River Valley, holding fertile farmland. Agriculture has long dominated the economy and culture of North Dakota.
The state capital is
Bismarck and the largest city is
Fargo. The primary public universities are located in
Grand Forks and Fargo. The
United States Air Force operates bases at both
Minot and Grand Forks.
Geography
Upper Midwest and the
Great Plains. The state shares the
Red River of the North with
Minnesota on the east;
South Dakota is to the south,
Montana is to the west, and the
Canadian provinces of
Saskatchewan and
Manitoba are north. With, North Dakota is the 19
th largest state.
The western half of the state consists of the hilly
Great Plains, and the northern part of the
Badlands to the west of the
Missouri River. The state's high point,
White Butte at, and
Theodore Roosevelt National Park are located in the Badlands. The region is abundant in
fossil fuels including
crude oil and
lignite coal. The
Missouri River forms
Lake Sakakawea, the third largest man-made lake in the
United States, behind the
Garrison Dam.
The central region of the state is divided into the
Drift Prairie and the
Missouri Plateau. This area is covered in
lakes,
slough, and rolling hills. The
Turtle Mountains are located along the
Manitoba border. The geographic center of the
North American continent is located near the city of
Rugby.
The eastern part of the state consists of the flat
Red River Valley, the bottom of glacial
Lake Agassiz. Its fertile soil, drained by the meandering
Red River flowing northward into
Lake Winnipeg, supports a large
agriculture industry.
Devil's Lake, the largest natural lake in the state, is also found in the east. Meteorological events include
rain,
snow,
hail,
blizzards,
polar fronts,
tornadoes,
thunderstorms, and high-velocity
straight-line winds. Depending on location, average annual precipitation ranges from 14 in (35.6 cm) to 22 in (55.9 cm).
Springtime flooding is a relatively common event in the
Red River Valley, due to the river flowing north into
Canada. The spring melt and the eventual runoff typically begins earlier in the southern part of the valley than in the northern part. The most destructive flooding in eastern North Dakota
occurred in 1997, which caused extensive damage to Fargo and
Grand Forks.
History
Prior to
European contact,
Native Americans inhabited North Dakota for thousands of years. The first European to reach the area was the
French-Canadian trader
La Vérendrye, who led an exploration party to
Mandan villages in 1738. The trading arrangement between tribes was such that North Dakota tribes rarely dealt directly with Europeans. However, the native tribes were in sufficient contact that by the time that
Lewis and Clark entered North Dakota in 1804, they were aware of the French and then Spanish claims to their territory.
Much of present-day North Dakota was included in the
Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Much of acquired land was organized into
Minnesota and
Nebraska Territories.
Dakota Territory, making up present-day North and
South Dakota, along with parts of present-day
Wyoming and
Montana, was
organized on
March 2,
1861. Dakota Territory was settled sparsely until the late 1800s, when the railroads entered the region and aggressively marketed the land. A
bill for
statehood for North Dakota,
South Dakota,
Montana, and
Washington titled the
Enabling Act of 1889 was passed on
February 22,
1889 during the administration of
Grover Cleveland. After Cleveland left office, it was left to his successor,
Benjamin Harrison, to sign proclamations formally admitting North and South Dakota to the Union on
November 2,
1889. The rivalry between the two new states presented a dilemma of which was to be admitted first. Harrison directed
Secretary of State James G. Blaine to shuffle the papers and obscure from him which he was signing first and the actual order went unrecorded. However, since
North Dakota alphabetically appears before
South Dakota, its proclamation was published first in the Statutes At Large. Since that day, it has become common to list the Dakotas alphabetically and thus North Dakota is usually listed as the 39th state. However, no one will actually know which of the Dakotas was admitted first.
The corruption in the early territorial and state governments led to a wave of populism led by the
Non Partisan League brought social reforms in the early 20th century. The original
North Dakota State Capitol burned to the ground on
December 28,
1930, and was replaced by a
limestone faced
art deco skyscraper that still stands today.
A round of federal construction projects began in the 1950s including the
Garrison Dam, and the
Minot and
Grand Forks Air Force bases. There was a boom in oil exploration in western North Dakota in the 1980s, as rising
petroleum prices made development profitable.
The state began a
lottery in 2004. However, unlike other US lotteries, North Dakota is prohibited from selling "in-state" games, offering only
Powerball,
Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2, and 2by2, all games of the
Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL).
Demographics
Population
From fewer than 3,000 people in 1870, North Dakota's population grew to near 680,000 by 1930. Growth then slowed, and the population has fluctuated slightly over the next seven decades, hitting a low of 619,636 in the 1950 census, with a total of 642,200 in the 2000 census. As of
July 1,
2006, the state's population was estimated at 635,867 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The age and gender distributions approximate the national average. Besides Native Americans, North Dakota's minority groups still form a significantly smaller proportion of the population than in the nation as a whole. The
center of population of North Dakota is located in
Wells County, near
Sykeston.
Emigration
Since the 1990s, North Dakota has experienced virtually constant decline in population, particularly among younger people with university degrees. One of the major causes of emigration in North Dakota looms from a lack of skilled jobs for graduates. Some propose the expansion of economic development programs to create skilled and high-tech jobs; however, the effectiveness of such programs has been open to debate.
As the issue is common to several
High Plains states, federal politicians including Senator
Byron Dorgan, have proposed The New Homestead Act of 2007 to encourage living in areas losing population through incentives such as tax breaks.
Race and ancestry
Most North Dakotans are of
Northern European descent. The five largest ancestry groups in North Dakota are:
German (43.9%),
Norwegian (30.1%),
Irish (7.7%),
Native American (5%),
Swedish (5%).
2.47% of the population aged 5 and over speak
German at home, while 1.37% speak
Spanish, according to the
2000 U.S. Census.
The state's racial composition in 2005 was:
Religion
North Dakota has the lowest percentage of non-religious people of any state, and it also has the most churches
per capita of any state.
A 2001 survey indicated that 35% of North Dakota's population was
Lutheran, and 30% was
Roman Catholic. Other religious groups represented were
Methodists (7%),
Baptists (6%), the
Assembly of God (3%), and
Jehovah's Witness (1%). Christians with unstated or other denominational affiliations, including other
Protestants, totaled 3%, bringing the total Christian population to 86%. Non-Christian religions, such as
Judaism,
Islam,
Buddhism, and
Hinduism, together represented 4% of the population. Three percent of respondents answered "no religion" on the survey, and 6% refused to answer.
Culture
Fine and performing arts
North Dakota's major
fine art museums and venues include the
Chester Fritz Auditorium,
Empire Arts Center, the
Fargo Theatre,
North Dakota Museum of Art, and the
Plains Art Museum. The
Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra,
Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra,
Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra and
Minot Symphony Orchestra are full-time professional and semi-professional
musical ensembles that perform concerts and offer educational programs to the community.
Entertainment
North Dakotan musicians of many genres include
blues guitarist Jonny Lang,
country music singer
Lynn Anderson,
jazz and
traditional pop singer and songwriter
Peggy Lee,
big band leader
Lawrence Welk, and
pop singer Bobby Vee.
Ed Schultz is known around the country as the host of
progressive talk radio show
The Ed Schultz Show, and
Shadoe Stevens hosted
American Top 40 from 1988 to 1995.
Josh Duhamel is an
Emmy Award-winning actor known for his roles in
All My Children and
Las Vegas.
Nicole Linkletter and
CariDee English were winning contestants of
Cycles 5 and
7, respectively, of
America's Next Top Model.
Popular culture
North Dakota cuisine includes
Knoephla soup: a thick, stew-like chicken soup with dumplings,
lutefisk: lye-treated fish,
Kuchen: a pie-like pastry,
lefse: a flat bread made from mashed potatoes that's eaten with butter and sugar,
Fleischkuekle, a deep fried entree of ground beef covered in dough, deep fried, and served with chips and a pickle in most restaurants; strudel: a dough-and-filling item that can either be made as a pastry, or a savory dish with onions or meat; and other traditional German and Norwegian dishes. North Dakota also shares concepts such as
hot dishes along with other Midwestern states.
Along with having the most churches
per capita of any state, North Dakota has the highest percentage of church-going population of any state.
Native American traditions are practiced by the Native American population of North Dakota, especially on
Indian reservations.
Pow-wows and traditional Native American dancing are found across the state.
Outdoor activities such as
hunting and
fishing are hobbies for many North Dakotans.
Ice fishing and
snowmobiling are also popular during the winter months. Residents of North Dakota may own or visit a
cabin along a lake. Popular sport fish include
walleye,
perch, and
northern pike.
Economy
Agriculture is the largest industry in North Dakota, although
petroleum and
food processing are also major industries. The economy of North Dakota had a
gross domestic product of $24 billion in 2005. The
per capita income in 2006 was $33,034, ranked 29
th in the nation. The three-year
median household income from 2002-2004 was $39,594, ranking 37 in the U.S. North Dakota is also the only state with a
state owned bank, the
Bank of North Dakota in
Bismarck, and a state owned
flour mill, the
North Dakota Mill and Elevator in
Grand Forks.
Industry and commerce
North Dakota's earliest industries were fur trading and agriculture. Although less than 10% of the population is employed in the agricultural sector, it remains a major part of the state's economy, ranking 24
th in the nation in the value of products sold. The state is the largest producer in the U.S. of
barley,
sunflower seeds,
spring, and
durum wheat for processing, and farm-raised
turkeys. Oil was discovered near
Tioga, North Dakota in 1951, generating of oil a year by 1984. Western North Dakota is currently in an oil boom, and the oil reserves may hold up to of oil, 25 times larger than the reserves in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Long called the "Saudi Arabia" of wind energy, North Dakota has the capability of producing 1.2 billion kilowatt hours of energy. That is enough to power 25% of the entire country's energy needs. Wind energy in North Dakota is also very cost effective because the state has large rural expanses and wind speeds seldom go below .
State taxes
North Dakota has a slightly
progressive income tax structure; the five brackets of state
income tax rates are 2.1%, 3.92% 4.34%, 5.04%, and 5.54% as of 2004. North Dakota is ranked as the 21st highest in the nation for their capitals' total state taxes. The
sales tax in North Dakota is 5% for most items. The state allows municipalities to institute local sales taxes and special local taxes, such as the 1.75% supplemental sales tax in Grand Forks.
Excise taxes are levied on the purchase price or market value of aircraft registered in North Dakota. The state imposes a
use tax on items purchased elsewhere but used within North Dakota.
Transportation
Transportation in North Dakota is overseen by the
North Dakota Department of Transportation. The major
Interstate highways are
Interstate 29 and
Interstate 94, with I-29 and I-94 meeting at
Fargo, with I-29 oriented north to south along the eastern edge of the state, and I-94 bisecting the state from east to west between Minnesota and Montana. The largest rail systems in the state are operated by
BNSF and the
Canadian Pacific Railway. Many branch lines formerly used by BNSF and Canadian Pacific Railway are now operated by the
Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western Railroad and the
Red River Valley and Western Railroad.
North Dakota's principal airports are the
Hector International Airport (FAR) in Fargo,
Grand Forks International Airport (GFK),
Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS), and the
Minot International Airport (MOT).
Amtrak's Empire Builder runs through North Dakota, making stops at
Fargo,
Grand Forks,
Minot, and four other stations. It is the descendant of the famous line of the same name run by the
Great Northern Railway, which was built by the tycoon
James J. Hill and ran from
St. Paul to
Seattle. Intercity bus service is provided by
Greyhound and
Jefferson Lines.
Public transit in North Dakota is currently limited to
bus systems in the larger cities.
Law and government
As with the federal government of the United States, power in North Dakota is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
Executive
The executive branch is headed by the
governor. The current governor is
John Hoeven, a
Republican whose first term began
December 15,
2000, and who was re-elected in 2004. The current
Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota is
Jack Dalrymple, who is also the
President of the Senate. The offices of governor and lieutenant governor have four-year terms. The governor has a
cabinet consisting of the leaders of various state government agencies, called commissioners. The other elected constitutional offices are
secretary of state,
attorney general, and
state auditor.
Legislative
The
North Dakota Legislative Assembly is a
bicameral body consisting of the
Senate and the
House of Representatives. The state has 47 districts. Each district has one senator and two representatives. Senators serve for four years and representatives for two years. The state's legal code is named the
North Dakota Century Code.
Judicial
North Dakota's court system has four levels. Municipal courts serve the cities, and most cases start in the
district courts, which are courts of general jurisdiction. There are 42 district court judges in seven judicial districts. Appeals from the trial courts and challenges to certain governmental decisions are heard by the
North Dakota Court of Appeals, consisting of three-judge panels. The five-justice
North Dakota Supreme Court hears all appeals from the district courts and the Court of Appeals.
Regional
There are three
Sioux, one
Three Affiliated Tribes, and one
Ojibwa reservations in North Dakota. These communities are self-governing.
Federal
North Dakota's two
United States senators are Democrats
Kent Conrad and
Byron Dorgan. The state has one
at-large congressional district represented by Democrat
House Earl Pomeroy.
Federal court cases are heard in the
United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, which holds court in
Bismarck,
Fargo,
Grand Forks, and
Minot. Appeals are heard by the
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals based in
St. Louis, Missouri.
Politics
The major political parties in North Dakota are the
Democratic-NPL and the
Republican Party. As of 2007, the
Constitution Party and the
Libertarian Party are also organized parties in the state.
At the state level, the
governorship has been held by the Republican Party since 1992, along with a majority of the state legislature and statewide officers. Dem-NPL showings were strong in the 2000 governor's race, and in the 2006 legislative elections, but the League hasn't had a major breakthrough since the administration of former state governor
George Sinner.
The Republican Party presidential candidate usually carries the state; in 2004,
George W. Bush won with 62.9% of the vote. Of all the Democratic presidential candidates since 1892, only
Grover Cleveland,
Woodrow Wilson,
Franklin D. Roosevelt, and
Lyndon B. Johnson received
Electoral College votes from North Dakota.
On the other hand, Dem-NPL candidates for North Dakota's federal Senate and Congressional seats have won every election since 1982, and the state's federal delegation has been entirely Democratic since 1986.
Cities and towns
Bismarck, located in south-central North Dakota along the banks of the
Missouri River, has been North Dakota's
capital city since 1883, first as capital of the
Dakota Territory, and then as state capital since 1889.
North Dakota's most populous city is
Fargo. The state has four cities with populations above 30,000 (based on 2005 estimates). In descending order they're
Fargo,
Bismarck,
Grand Forks, and
Minot. While North Dakota's population has seen a gradual rural decline, the migration has led to growth in its urban centers.
Education
North Dakota's leaders frequently state that the educational scene in the state is excellent. However, because of limited economic options, many skilled graduates leave the state.
Higher education
The state has 11 public colleges and universities, five tribal community colleges, and four private schools. The largest institutions are the
University of North Dakota and
North Dakota State University.
The higher education system consists of the following institutions:
North Dakota University System (Public schools): » *
Bismarck State College in
Bismarck
*
Dickinson State University in
Dickinson » *
Lake Region State College in
Devils Lake
*
Mayville State University in
Mayville » *
Minot State University in
Minot
*
Minot State University-Bottineau in
Bottineau » *
North Dakota State University in
Fargo
*
North Dakota State College of Science in
Wahpeton » *
University of North Dakota in
Grand Forks
*
Valley City State University in
Valley City » *
Williston State College in
Williston
Tribal colleges: » *
Cankdeska Cikana Community College in
Fort Totten
*
Fort Berthold Community College in
New Town » *
Sitting Bull College in
Fort Yates
*
Turtle Mountain Community College in
Belcourt » *
United Tribes Technical College in
Bismarck
Private schools: » *
Rasmussen College in
Fargo and
Bismarck
*
Jamestown College in
Jamestown » *
University of Mary in
Bismarck
*
Trinity Bible College in
Ellendale
State symbols
» State bird:
Western Meadowlark,
Sturnella neglecta
State fish:
Northern pike,
Esox lucius » State horse:
Nokota horse
State flower:
Wild Prairie Rose,
Rosa arkansana » State tree:
American Elm,
Ulmus americana
State fossil:
Teredo Petrified wood » State grass:
Western Wheatgrass,
Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Löve
State nicknames: Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Peace Garden State
» State mottos:
:(
Great Seal of North Dakota) Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable
» :(
Coat of Arms of North Dakota) Strength from the Soil
State song:
North Dakota Hymn » State dance:
Square Dance
State fruit:
Chokecherry » State march:
Flickertail March
State beverage:
Milk » State art museum:
North Dakota Museum of Art
State license plate: see the different types over time
(External Link
)
"The Flickertail State" is one of North Dakota's nicknames and is derived from
Richardson's Ground Squirrel (
Spermophilus richardsonii), a very common animal in the region. The ground squirrel constantly flicks its tail in a distinctive manner. In 1953, legislation to make the ground squirrel the state emblem was voted down in the state legislature.
Media
North Dakota's
media markets are
Fargo-
Grand Forks, (119
th largest nationally), making up the eastern half of the state, and
Minot-
Bismarck (158
th), making up the western half of the state.
Prairie Public Television (PPTV) is a statewide public television network affiliated with
PBS.
Broadcast television in North Dakota started on
April 3,
1953, when KCJB-TV (now
KXMC-TV) in Minot began broadcasting. There are currently
28 analog broadcast stations and 18
digital channels broadcast over North Dakota.
The state's largest newspaper is
The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Other weekly and monthly publications (most of which are fully supported by
advertising) are also available. The most prominent of these is the
alternative weekly High Plains Reader, which covers Fargo and Grand Forks.
Prairie Public is a statewide radio network affiliated with
National Public Radio. The state's oldest radio station,
WDAY-AM, was launched on
May 23,
1922. The
Forum Communications owned station is still on the air, and currently broadcasts a
news/talk format.
Attractions
Major events
Big Iron Farm Show - West Fargo (External Link)
Fargo Film Festival - Fargo
Grand Cities Art Fest - Grand Forks (External Link)
Norsk Høstfest - Minot (External Link)
North Dakota State Fair - Minot (External Link)
North Dakota Winter Show - Valley City (External Link)
Museums
Bonanzaville, USA - West Fargo (External Link)
Dakota Dinosaur Museum - Dickinson (External Link)
Dakota Territory Air Museum - Minot (External Link)
Fargo Air Museum - Fargo (External Link)
Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center - Williston (External Link)
North Dakota Heritage Center - Bismarck (External Link)
North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center - Washburn (External Link)
North Dakota Museum of Art - Grand Forks (External Link)
Pembina State Museum - Pembina (External Link)
Plains Art Museum - Fargo (External Link)
The Roger Maris Museum - Fargo (External Link)
National Buffalo Museum - Jamestown (External Link)
Arenas
Alerus Center - Grand Forks (External Link)
All Seasons Arena - Minot
Betty Engelstad Sioux Center - Grand Forks
Bismarck Civic Center - Bismarck (External Link)
Bison Sports Arena - Fargo
Fargodome - Fargo (External Link)
Fargo Civic Center - Fargo (External Link)
Minot Municipal Auditorium - Minot
Ralph Engelstad Arena - Grand Forks (External Link)
Golf courses
Apple Creek Country Club - Bismarck
Apple Grove Golf Course - Minot
Bois de Sioux Golf Course - Wahpeton (External Link)
Bully Pulpit Golf Course - Medora (External Link)
Devils Lake Country Club - Devils Lake
Hawktree Golf Club - Bismarck (External Link)
King's Walk Golf Course - Grand Forks (External Link)
Links of North Dakota at Red Mike Resort - Williston (External Link)
Riverwood Golf Course - Bismarck (External Link)
Tom O'Leary Golf Course - Bismarck (External Link)
Casinos
4 Bears Casino - near New Town (External Link)
Dakota Magic Casino - near Hankinson (External Link)
Prairie Knights Casino - near Fort Yates (External Link)
Sky Dancer Casino - near Belcourt (External Link)
Spirit Lake Casino - near Devils Lake (External Link)
Various attractions
Enchanted Highway - Regent (External Link)
International Peace Garden - near Dunseith (External Link)
Lawrence Welk Homestead - Strasburg (External Link)
Medora Musical - Medora (External Link)
North Dakota Horse Park - Fargo (External Link)
Theodore Roosevelt National Park - near Watford City (External Link)
"Salem Sue" - New Salem(External Link)
World's Largest Buffalo (Statue) - Jamestown (External Link)
Notable North Dakotans
Dick Armey former U.S. Representative.
James F. Buchli former NASA astronaut.
Warren Christopher diplomat and lawyer.
Angie Dickinson Golden Globe-winning television and film actress.
Josh Duhamel Emmy Award-winning actor and former male fashion model
Carl Ben Eielson was an aviator, bush pilot and explorer.
Louise Erdrich a Native American author of novels, poetry, and children's books.
Virgil Hill a fighter.
Chuck Klosterman a writer, journalist, critic, humorist, and essayist whose work often focuses on pop culture.
Louis L'Amour an author of primarily Western fiction.
Jonny Lang a Grammy-winning blues guitarist and singer.
Peggy Lee a jazz and traditional pop singer and songwriter.
Roger Maris a right fielder in Major League Baseball.
Sakakawea a Shoshone woman
Eric Sevareid a CBS news journalist.
Ed Schultz the host of The Ed Schultz Show.
Ann Sothern an Oscar nominated film and television actress
Shadoe Stevens was the host of American Top 40.
Lawrence Welk a musician, accordion player, bandleader, and television impresario.
Bobby Vee an American pop music singer.Further Information
Get more info on 'North Dakota'.
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