North Dakota

State of North Dakota
Flag Seal Nickname(s): Peace Garden State, Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Norse Dakota, The 701 Motto(s): Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable
Official language(s)	English[1]
Demonym	North Dakotan
Capital	Bismarck
Largest city	Fargo
Area	Ranked 19th in the US
- Total	70,762 sq mi (183,272 km2)
- Width	210 miles (340 km)
- Length	340 miles (545 km)
- % water	2.4
- Latitude	45° 56′ N to 49° 00′ N
- Longitude	96° 33′ W to 104° 03′ W
Population	Ranked 48th in the US
- Total	646,844 (2009 est.)[2] 642,200 (2000)
- Density	9.3/sq mi  (3.58/km2) Ranked 47th in the US
Elevation
- Highest point	White Butte[3] 3,506 ft  (1,069 m)
- Mean	1,903 ft  (580 m)
- Lowest point	Red River[3] 750 ft  (229 m)
Admission to Union	November 2, 1889 (39th)
Governor	John Hoeven (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Jack Dalrymple (R)
Legislature	Legislative Assembly
- Upper house	Senate
- Lower house	House of Representatives
U.S. Senators	Kent Conrad (D) Byron Dorgan (D)
U.S. House delegation	Earl Pomeroy (D) (list)
Time zones
- most of state	Central: UTC-6/-5
- southwest	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Abbreviations	ND US-ND
Website	http://www.nd.gov

North Dakota ( /en-us-North Dakota.oggˌnɔrθ dəˈkoʊtə/) is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border, about halfway between the Pacific Ocean and the Great Lakes. North Dakota is the 19th largest state by area in the U.S. It is also the third least populous, with only about 646,850 residents as of 2009.^[4] North Dakota was carved out of the Dakota Territory and admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, simultaneously with South Dakota.

The state capital is Bismarck and the largest city is Fargo. The primary public universities are located in Grand Forks and Fargo. The U.S. Air Force operates Air Force Bases at Minot AFB and Grand Forks AFB.

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Climate 2 History 3 Demographics 3.1 Population 3.1.1 Emigration 3.2 Race and ancestry 3.3 Religion 4 Culture 4.1 American Indian influence 4.2 Icelandic and Norwegian influence 4.3 Germans from Russia and Ukrainian Influence 4.4 Fine and performing arts 4.5 Entertainment 4.6 Popular culture 5 Economy 5.1 Industry and commerce 5.2 Energy 5.3 State taxes 5.4 Tourism 6 Transportation 7 Law and government 7.1 Executive 7.2 Legislative 7.3 Judicial 7.4 Regional 7.5 Federal 7.6 Politics 8 Cities and towns 9 Education 9.1 Higher education 10 State symbols 11 Media 12 Notable North Dakotans 13 See also 14 Further reading 14.1 Primary sources 15 References 16 External links

Geography

North Dakota is considered to be in the U.S. regions known as the Upper Midwest and the Great Plains, and is sometimes referred to as being the "High 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. North Dakota sits essentially in the middle of North America, and in fact a stone marker in Rugby, North Dakota, identifies itself as being the "Geographic Center of the North American Continent". With 70,762 square miles (183,273 km²),^[5] North Dakota is the 19th largest state.^[6]

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 3,506 feet (1,069 m), and Theodore Roosevelt National Park^[7] 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.^[8]

The central region of the state is divided into the Drift Prairie and the Missouri Plateau.

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.^[9] Devils Lake, the largest natural lake in the state, is also found in the east.^[10]

Eastern North Dakota is overall flat, however, there are significant hills and buttes in the western North Dakota. Most of the state is covered in grassland, crops cover most of eastern North Dakota but are sparse in the center and west. Natural trees in North Dakota are found usually in central North Dakota, but many trees and forests are planted by nurseries each year through out the entire state to help stop soil erosion. Wetlands often are found scattered everywhere in the state, mostly because of melting snow that drains into low places like ditches along highways.

Climate

North Dakota endures some of the most extreme temperature variations on the planet, characteristic of its continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers: the record low temperature is −60 °F (−51 °C) and the record high temperature is 121 °F (49 °C).^[11]

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 to 22 in (360 to 560 mm).^[12]

Springtime flooding is a relatively common event in the Red River Valley, because of the river flowing north into Canada, creating ice jams. The spring melt and the eventual runoff typically begins earlier in the southern part of the valley than in the northern part.^[13] The most destructive flooding in eastern North Dakota occurred in 1997.^[14]

North Dakota is largely semi-arid; however the low temperatures and snowpack prevents the state from having a xeric character.

The American Lung Association in its 2009 "State of the Air" report ranked Fargo, North Dakota as the cleanest city in the United States, and gave the balance of the state 11 "A" ratings on air quality.^[15][16]

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.^[17] 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.^[18]

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.^[19] 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.^[20] 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. It is believed that nobody recorded which paper was signed first, thus nobody can actually know which of the Dakotas was admitted first.^[21][22]

The corruption in the early territorial and state governments led to a wave of populism led by the Non Partisan League (usually referred to as the "NPL"), which brought social reforms in the early 20th century.^[23] The NPL which was later incorporated as part of the Democratic Party, fashioned a number of laws and social reforms, in an attempt to insulate North Dakota from the power of out-of-state banks and corporations, a number of which are still in place today. In addition to the Bank of North Dakota and the North Dakota Mill and Elevator (both still in existence) there was a state-owned railroad line (later sold to the Soo Line Railroad). Additionally, anti-corporate laws were passed, which virtually prohibited a corporation or bank from owning title to land zoned as farmland. These laws, which still exist today, and which have upheld by both the State and Federal court systems, make it almost impossible to foreclose on farmland, as even after foreclosure, the property title cannot be held by a bank or mortgage company. Thus, virtually every farm in existence today in North Dakota is still a "family-owned" farm. As a result, CBS News has reported that the state with the highest per capita percentage of millionaires is North Dakota.

A round of federal construction projects began in the 1950s including the Garrison Dam, and the Minot and Grand Forks Air Force bases.^[24] There was a boom in oil exploration in western North Dakota in the 1980s, as rising petroleum prices made development profitable.^[25] 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.^[26]

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 617,761 in the 1970 census, with a total of 642,200 in the 2000 census.^[27] The United States Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2008, estimated North Dakota's population at 641,481,^[2] which represents a decrease of 714, or 0.1%, since the last census in 2000.^[28] This includes a natural increase since the last census of 20,460 people (that is 67,788 births minus 47,328 deaths) and a decrease due to net migration of 17,787 people out of the state.^[28] Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 3,323 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 21,110 people.^[28] 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.^[29] The center of population of North Dakota is located in Wells County, near Sykeston.^[30]

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	2,405		—
1880	36,909		1,434.7%
1890	190,983		417.4%
1900	319,146		67.1%
1910	577,056		80.8%
1920	646,872		12.1%
1930	680,845		5.3%
1940	641,935		−5.7%
1950	619,636		−3.5%
1960	632,446		2.1%
1970	617,761		−2.3%
1980	652,717		5.7%
1990	638,800		−2.1%
2000	642,200		0.5%
Est. 2009	646,844	[2]	0.7%

Emigration

Since 1923, North Dakota has experienced a virtually constant decline in population, particularly among younger people with university degrees.^[31] 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, but the effectiveness of such programs has been open to debate.^[32]

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.^[33]

Race and ancestry

Most North Dakotans are of Northern European descent. The five largest ancestry groups in North Dakota are: German (46.9%) (299,774), Norwegian (30.1%) (191,983), Irish (8.2%) (52,539), English (4.9%) (31,586), and Swedish (4.8%) (30,880).

According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, the racial and ethnic composition of North Dakota was as follows:

• White: 90.7% (Non-Hispanic Whites: 89.8%)
• Black or African American: 0.9%
• Native American: 5.3%
• Asian: 0.8%
• Pacific Islander: 0.1%
• Some other race: 0.6%
• Two or more races: 1.5%

• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 1.8%

Source:^[34]

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.^[35][36]

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 and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism), 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. There were an estimated 920 Muslims and 730 Jews in the state in 2000.^[37] Three percent of respondents answered "no religion" on the survey, and 6% declined to answer.^[35]

The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the Roman Catholic Church with 179,349; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 174,554; and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod with 23,720.^[38]

According to the website of the Mormon church there were 6,120 Latter Day Saints in sixteen congregations in North Dakota as of 2009. There is also an LDS temple in Bismarck.^[39]

Culture

American Indian influence

North Dakota has a great number of Native Americans. Powwows (or pow-wows) are an important aspect of Native American culture. Throughout Native American history, powwows were held, usually in the spring, to rejoice on the beginning of new life. These events brought Native American tribes together for singing and dancing and allowed them to make up with old friendships, as well as to make new ones. Many powwows also held religious significance for some tribes. Today, powwows are still a part of the Native American culture, and are attended by Native and non-Natives alike. In North Dakota, the United Tribes International Powwow, held each September in Bismarck, is one of the largest powwows in the United States.

A powwow is complete with parades and dancers in regalia, with many dancing styles presented. It is traditional for male dancers to wear regalia decorated with beads, quills and eagle feathers; male grass dancers wear colorful fringe regalia; and male fancy dancers wear brightly colored feathers. Female dancers dance much more subtly than the male dancers. Fancy female dancers wear cloth, beaded moccasins and jewelry, while the jingle dress dancer wears a dress made of metal cones. There is normally intertribal dances through out the powwow, where everyone (even spectators) can take part in the dancing.

Icelandic and Norwegian influence

Around 1870 many European immigrants from Iceland and Norway settled in North Dakota's north-eastern corner of the state. Most of the time around the Red River. Pembina housed many Icelanders when it was founded, however, almost all worked on a family farm. They started Lutheran/Protestant churches and schools and they greatly outnumbered other groups of Christianity in the area. This group has unique foods such as lefse and lutefisk. The continent's largest Scandinavian event, Norsk Høstfest, is celebrated each October in Minot, it celebrates Norwegian heritage. Icelandic State Park in Pembina County and an annual Icelandic festival is held every August near Mountain.

Norwegian and Icelandic culture has affected North Dakota's religious beliefs since almost all Icelandic and Norwegian people are of the Lutheran branch of Christianity. Lutheran beliefs are often less powerful in the center, western, and south region of the state, but the North is under strong Lutheran influences. Many of these immigrants once practiced weaving, silver crafting, and wood carving, these crafts are often done today for money, or fun. Traditional turf-roof houses are displayed in parks, this style originated in Iceland.

A stave church is a landmark in Minot, North Dakota. 32.3% of Minot's total population is of Norwegian descent. 30.4% of North Dakota's total population are of Norwegian descent.

Germans from Russia and Ukrainian Influence

After Alexander II became Tsar of Russia in 1874 the German people living in what is now Ukraine were forced to learn the Russian language and change their traditions and religious beliefs under law. Alexander II had broken many promises made far back in the 1760s by Catherine II who promised to the Germans if they immigrated to Russia they would get to exercise freedom of religion, be free to choose either to serve in Russia's army or not, and have a plentiful food supply. Once these promises were broken the Germans in Russia were heart broken and most importantly broke. They fled to America and most settled in the Great Plains and by 1910, 60,000 Germans from Russia were estimated to live in Central North Dakota. They started to build Roman Catholic Churches and as more immigrants came to North Dakota that were not Scandinavian, the churches slowly became full and more churches were constructed.

Germans from Russia influenced North Dakota's religion by making it an option to be a Catholic or Protestant if someone was of Christian origin. A famous art form by Germans from Russia are Wrought Iron Crosses that substitute as a grave stone. The making of Iron Crosses instead of gravestones is an endearing folk art of the Germans from Russia. Throughout the Russian Steppe and the great plains these crosses can be found in great numbers.

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, Minot Symphony Orchestra and Great Plains Harmony Chorus 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. The state is also home to two groups of the Indie rock genre that have become known on a national scale: GodheadSilo (originally from Fargo, but later relocated to Olympia, Washington and became signed to the Kill Rock Stars label) and June Panic (also of Fargo, signed to Secretly Canadian).

Ed Schultz is known around the country as the host of progressive talk radio show The Ed Schultz Show, and The Ed Show on MSNBC. 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.^[40] Nicole Linkletter and CariDee English were winning contestants of Cycles 5 and 7, respectively, of America's Next Top Model. Kellan Lutz has appeared in movies such as Stick It, Accepted, Prom Night, and Twilight.

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 riced potatoes that is eaten with butter and sugar, Fleischkuekle, a deep fried entree of ground beef covered in dough, 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.^[35][36]

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.^[42]

The western terminus of the North Country National Scenic Trail is located on Lake Sakakawea where it abuts the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Economy

Agriculture is the largest industry in North Dakota, although petroleum and food processing are also major industries.^[43] The economy of North Dakota had a gross domestic product of $24 billion in 2005.^[44] The per capita income in 2006 was $33,034, ranked 29th in the nation.^[45] The three-year median household income from 2002–2004 was $39,594, ranking 37th in the U.S.^[46] 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.

As of January 2010, the states unemployment rate is the lowest in the nation at 4.2%.^[47]

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,^[48] it remains a major part of the state's economy, ranking 24th in the nation in the value of products sold.^[49] The state is the largest producer in the U.S. of barley, sunflower seeds, spring and durum wheat for processing, and farm-raised turkeys.^[49]

Energy

Coal mines generate 93% of the North Dakota electricity.^[50] Oil was discovered near Tioga in 1951, generating 53 million barrels (8,400,000 m³) of oil a year by 1984.^[51] Western North Dakota is currently in an oil boom: the Tioga, Stanley and Minot-Burlington communities are experiencing rapid growth. The oil reserves of the Bakken Formation may hold up to 400 billion barrels (6.4×10¹⁰ m³) of oil, 25 times larger than the reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.^[52][53] However, a report issued in April 2008 by the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the oil recoverable by current technology in the Bakken formation is two orders of magnitude less, in the range of 3.0–4.3 billion barrels, with a mean of 3.65 billion.^[54]

The Great Plains area, which North Dakota is a part of, is called the "Saudi Arabia" of wind energy,^[55] 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 10 mph (16 km/h).

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.^[56] North Dakota is ranked as the 21st highest in the nation for their capitals' total state taxes.^[57] The sales tax in North Dakota is 5% for most items.^[58] The state allows municipalities to institute local sales taxes and special local taxes, such as the 1.75% supplemental sales tax in Grand Forks.^[59] 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. Owners of real property in North Dakota pay property tax to their county, municipality, school district, and special taxing districts.^[60]

The Tax Foundation ranks North Dakota as the state with the 30th most "business friendly" tax climate in the nation.^[61] Tax Freedom Day arrives on April 1, 10 days earlier than the national Tax Freedom Day.^[61] In 2006, North Dakota was the state with the lowest number of returns filed by taxpayers with an Adjusted Gross Income of over $1M – only 333.^[62]

Tourism

Some news reports have listed North Dakota as the least visited state in the United States, owing, in part, to it not having a major tourist attraction, like Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, with which to entice visitors.^[63] However, it does have areas popular with visitors, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the western part of the state. The park often exceeds 475,000 visitors each year.^[64] Other events in the state include Norsk Høstfest in Minot, billed as North America's largest Scandanavian festival,^[65] the Medora Musical, and the North Dakota State Fair. The American Automobile Association has complimented the state's scenery and has labeled it "America's Most Affordable Vacation Site".

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. A unique feature of the North Dakota Interstate Highway system, is that virtually all of it is paved in concrete, rather than blacktop, because of the extreme weather conditions it must endure. 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.^[66][67]

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 (2:13 am westbound, 3:35 am eastbound), Grand Forks (4:52 am westbound, 12:57 am eastbound), Minot (around 9 am westbound and around 9:30 pm eastbound), and four other stations.^[68] 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.^[69]

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 and 2008. 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. Both senators and representatives are elected to four year terms. 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.^[70][71] 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.^[72]

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 Democratic representative 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^[update], 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 has not 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 Roosevelt, and Lyndon 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. Bismarck however, was not originally the first choice to be the capital of the new state. While Bismarck had served adequately as the territorial capital, it was felt by many that the state's capital city should be moved eastward since then, as now, the majority of North Dakotans lived in the eastern half of the state. To that end, Jamestown was chosen as the new capital, and the state's official records were moved to Jamestown, and stored in the then-new Stutsman County Court House, in preparation for the first session of the North Dakota Legislature. Before the legislators had a chance to gather however, a small group of civic-minded Bismarck residents, disgruntled over the loss of prestige which the impending change meant to their community, rode on horseback the 100 miles to Jamestown in a January blizzard, broke into the court house, stole the state records, and made it back to Bismarck with them, staying just ahead of a pursuing posse. Once the records were back in Bismarck, they were essentially "held hostage", until the legislature agreed to meet in Bismarck. Faced with the "fait accompli", the legislators had no choice but to convene in Bismarck; and, as the Bismarck citizens had hoped for, once there, simply decided it was too much work to change the status quo. In an effort to extract some dignity from the situation however, the legislature refused to formally vote to establish Bismarck as the state capital city. Thus, while Bismarck remains the North Dakota state capital to this day, there is no actual statute, law or constitutional clause placing it there, although because of its convenient central location in the state the city is a perfect site for government to meet.

Bismarck's popularity and beauty attracts thousands of people from the east side of the state to the west, north and south. The state capitol building (the tallest building in the state), and biggest museum in the state, a civic center and the largest opera/ballet house in the state, the largest court room in the state, the largest zoo in the state ("Dakota Zoo") and many night clubs, churches, schools, stadiums, and university opportunities (University of Mary, Bismarck State College, United Tribes Technical College Rasmussen College and other medical, scientific, and religious related colleges) are located in Bismarck. Bismarck today is the leading provider in North Dakota of government, health care, banking, finance, nature protection, nature preservation, residential safety, recreational activities, cultural opportunity, job availability, literature, and education. Bismarck hosts the two tallest buildings in the state (possibly a third), with many parks and recreational areas, three malls and many plazas, a huge downtown area where USA presidents visited, busy traffic and very busy train traffic and an increasing amount of air-travel, and it's all located on top of rolling hills along the Missouri River. Bismarck is a "safe-haven" in North Dakota for trees, trees grow well in Bismarck because water is plentiful. Bismarck is always connected to all of North Dakota, Bismarck provides almost all radio signals and transfers data (weather predictions, news, newspaper, sporting events) to almost all of North Dakota, it does not provide this to one-fourth of North Dakota, that one-fourth is covered by Fargo. Western Montana and northern South Dakota are also covered by the city of Bismarck. Bismarck ranks second in tourism intake after Minot but tourism in Bismarck is powerful year round even during the winter. Bismarck also ranks second in largest metro area after Fargo, which continues to spread at an increasing rate, but Bismarck has no intention of spoiling the warm and happy environment it has successfully matured. Bismarck, North Dakota is the Official Safest (Large Population) City in America to Live.

Bismarck's economy has skyrocketed twice: first when gold was discovered in the Black Hills and second when Garrison Dam on Lake Sakakawea was being constructed. It also is having great sales on real-estate as of 2001. Retail stores have flocked to the area to benefit from the cities growing population. Minot is a city in northern North Dakota is home of the North Dakota State Fair. Mandan is located a few miles west of Bismarck on the west side of the Missouri River and takes its name from the Mandan Indians that greeted Lewis and Clark. New Salem is the location of the world's largest holstein cow statue; the world's largest statue is of a buffalo in Jamestown. Grand Forks and Devils Lake are located in scenic areas of North Dakota. Williston is located near the confluence of the Missouri River and the Yellowstone River near Montana. Medora in the North Dakota Badlands hosts the Medora Musical every summer and is the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Fort Yates, located along the Missouri River on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation claims to host the final resting place of Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull (Mobridge, South Dakota also claims his gravesite).

North Dakota's most populous city is Fargo, North Dakota. North Dakota's top 12 cities are listed here in order of descending size, they are: Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo, Mandan, Dickinson, Jamestown, Williston, Wahpeton, Devils Lake, and then Valley City.

Education

Higher education

The state has 11 public colleges and universities, five tribal community colleges, and four private schools. The largest institutions are North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota.

The higher education system consists of the following institutions:

North Dakota University System (Public institutions):

• 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
• Dakota College at 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 institutions:

• 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 institutions:

• 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, Sioux 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 slogan: Legendary

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^[73]

"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.^[74]

Media

North Dakota's media markets are Fargo-Grand Forks, (121st largest nationally), making up the eastern half of the state, and Minot-Bismarck (158th), making up the western half of the state.^[75] 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.^[76] 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.^[77] The Forum Communications owned station is still on the air, and currently broadcasts a news/talk format.

Notable North Dakotans

• Dick Armey former U.S. Representative.
• James F. Buchli former NASA astronaut.
• Quentin N. Burdick former U.S. Senator, third longest-serving Senator among current members of this body.
• Warren Christopher former U.S. Secretary of State, diplomat and lawyer.
• Shannon Curfman American blues-rock guitarist and singer.
• 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.
• CariDee English winner of Cycle 7 on America's Next Top Model. Host of Pretty Wicked.
• Louise Erdrich a Native American author of novels, poetry, and children's books.
• Virgil Hill former WBA World Cruiserweight champion and Olympic boxer.
• 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.
• Kellan Lutz actor who portrays Emmett Cullen in Twilight and New Moon. Former male fashion model.
• Roger Maris a right fielder in Major League Baseball and former single season home run record holder
• Phil Jackson coach for the LA Lakers.
• Helen Marshall poet and medievalist.
• Thomas McGrath, who was a poet and political activist.
• Mancur Olson, American economist.
• Alan Ritchson American Idol-3rd season participant singer, model, actor.
• Sakakawea a Shoshone woman of Lewis and Clark fame.
• 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.
• Richard St. Clair a Harvard educated composer of modern classical music.
• Lawrence Welk a musician, accordion player, bandleader, and television impresario.
• Bobby Vee an American pop music singer.
• Richard Hieb former NASA astronaut.
• Darin Erstad MLB all-star and World Series Champion.
• Travis Hafner MLB player.
• Nicole Linkletter winner of Cyle 5 on "America's Next Top Model".
• Wiz Khalifa Hip Hop Artist

See also

Further reading

• Arends, Shirley Fischer. The Central Dakota Germans: Their History, Language, and Culture. (1989). 289 pp.
• Berg, Francie M., ed. Ethnic Heritage in North Dakota. (1983). 174 pp.
• Blackorby, Edward C. Prairie Rebel: The Public Life of William Lemke (1963), radical leader in 1930s online edition
• Collins, Michael L. That Damned Cowboy: Theodore Roosevelt and the American West, 1883–1898 (1989). Teddy was a rancher here in the 1880s
• Cooper, Jerry and Smith, Glen. Citizens as Soldiers: A History of the North Dakota National Guard. (1986). 447 pp.
• Crawford, Lewis F. History of North Dakota (3 vol 1931), excellent history in vol 1; biographies in vol. 2-3
• Danbom, David B. "Our Purpose Is to Serve": The First Century of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. (1990). 237 pp.
• Eisenberg, C. G. History of the First Dakota-District of the Evangelical-Lutheran Synod of Iowa and Other States. (1982). 268 pp.
• Ginsburg, Faye D. Contested Lives: The Abortion Debate in an American Community. (1989). 315 pp. the issue in Fargo
• Hargreaves, Mary W. M. Dry Farming in the Northern Great Plains: Years of Readjustment, 1920–1990. (1993). 386 pp.
• Howard, Thomas W., ed. The North Dakota Political Tradition. (1981). 220 pp.
• Hudson, John C. Plains Country Towns. (1985). 189 pp. geographer studies small towns
• Junker, Rozanne Enerson. The Bank of North Dakota: An Experiment in State Ownership. (1989). 185 pp.
• Lamar, Howard R. Dakota Territory, 1861–1889: A Study of Frontier Politics (1956).
• Lounsberry, Clement A. Early history of North Dakota (1919) excellent history by editor of Bismark Tribune; 645pp online edition
• Lysengen, Janet Daley and Rathke, Ann M., eds. The Centennial Anthology of "North Dakota History: Journal of the Northern Plains." (1996). 526 pp. articles from state history journal covering all major topics in the state's history
• Morlan, Robert L. Political Prairie Fire: The Nonpartisan League, 1915–1922. (1955). 414 pp. NPL comes to power briefly
• Peirce, Neal R. The Great Plains States of America: People, Politics, and Power in the Nine Great Plains States (1973) excerpt and text ssearch, chapter on North Dakota
• Robinson, Elwyn B., D. Jerome Tweton, and David B. Danbom. History of North Dakota (2nd ed. 1995) standard history, by leading scholars; extensive bibliography
  • Robinson, Elwyn B. History of North Dakota (1966) First edition online
• Schneider, Mary Jane. North Dakota Indians: An Introduction. (1986). 276 pp.
• Sherman, William C. and Thorson, Playford V., eds. Plains Folk: North Dakota's Ethnic History. (1988). 419 pp.
• Sherman, William C. Prairie Mosaic: An Ethnic Atlas of Rural North Dakota. (1983). 152 pp.
• Smith, Glen H. Langer of North Dakota: A Study in Isolationism, 1940–1959. (1979). 238 pp. biography of influential conservative Senator
• Snortland, J. Signe, ed. A Traveler's Companion to North Dakota State Historic Sites. (1996). 155 pp.
• Stock, Catherine McNicol. Main Street in Crisis: The Great Depression and the Old Middle Class on the Northern Plains. (1992). 305pp. online edition
• Tauxe, Caroline S. Farms, Mines and Main Streets: Uneven Development in a Dakota County. (1993). 276 pp. coal and grain in Mercer county
• Tweton, D. Jerome and Jelliff, Theodore B. North Dakota: The Heritage of a People. (1976). 242 pp. textbook history
• Wilkins, Robert P. and Wilkins, Wynona Hutchette. North Dakota: A Bicentennial History. (1977) 218 pp. popular history
• Wishart, David J. Encyclopedia of the Great Plains (2004), many articles by scholars on many topics
• Young, Carrie. Prairie Cooks: Glorified Rice, Three-Day Buns, and Other Reminiscences. (1993). 136 pp.

Primary sources

• Benson, Bjorn; Hampsten, Elizabeth; and Sweney, Kathryn, eds. Day In, Day Out: Women's Lives in North Dakota. (1988). 326 pp.
• Maximilian, Prince of Wied. Travels in the Interior of North America in the rears 1832 to 1834 (Vols. XXII-XXIV of "Early Western Travels, 1748–1846," ed. by Reuben Gold Thwaites; 1905–1906). Maximilian spent the winter of 1833–1834 at Fort Clark.
• University of North Dakota, Bureau of Governmental Affairs, ed., A Compilation of North Dakota Political Party Platforms, 1884–1978. (1979). 388 pp.
• WPA. North Dakota: A Guide to the Northern Prairie State (2nd ed. 1950), the classic guide online edition

References

External links

• State of North Dakota official website
• North Dakota tourism website
• Energy Profile for North Dakota
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of North Dakota
• U.S. Census Bureau facts of North Dakota
• North Dakota State Facts - USDA
• Pictures of the Dakotas: Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Parks
• GhostsOfNorthDakota.com - a pictorial documentary of North Dakota "ghost towns"
• North Dakota at the Open Directory Project

	Saskatchewan,  Canada		Manitoba,  Canada
	Montana		Minnesota
		North Dakota
		South Dakota

State of North Dakota Bismarck (capital) Topics Climate · Colleges and universities · Cuisine · Delegations · Geography · Governors · History · Music · People · Politics  · Visitor Attractions Regions Badlands · Missouri Plateau · Drift Prairie · Red River Valley · Turtle Mountains Larger cities pop. over 5,000 Bismarck · Devils Lake · Dickinson · Fargo · Grand Forks · Jamestown · Mandan · Minot · Valley City · Wahpeton · West Fargo · Williston Smaller cities pop. 1,000 - 5,000 Beach · Beulah · Bottineau · Bowman · Burlington · Cando · Carrington · Casselton · Cavalier · Cooperstown · Crosby · Ellendale · Garrison · Grafton · Hankinson · Harvey · Hazen · Hettinger · Hillsboro · Horace · Kenmare · Langdon · Larimore · Lincoln · Linton · Lisbon · Mayville · New Rockford · New Town · Oakes · Park River · Rolla · Rugby · Stanley · Thompson · Tioga · Velva · Walhalla · Washburn · Watford City · Wishek Counties Adams · Barnes · Benson · Billings · Bottineau · Bowman · Burke · Burleigh · Cass · Cavalier · Dickey · Divide · Dunn · Eddy · Emmons · Foster · Golden Valley · Grand Forks · Grant · Griggs · Hettinger · Kidder · LaMoure · Logan · McHenry · McIntosh · McKenzie · McLean · Mercer · Morton · Mountrail · Nelson · Oliver · Pembina · Pierce · Ramsey · Ransom · Renville · Richland · Rolette · Sargent · Sheridan · Sioux · Slope · Stark · Steele · Stutsman · Towner · Traill · Walsh · Ward · Wells · Williams

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Preceded by Colorado

List of U.S. states by date of statehood Admitted on November 2, 1889 (39th)

Succeeded by South Dakota

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