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 of Lewis and Clark, they were at least
somewhat aware of the French, then Spanish claims to their territory.
The state was settled sparsely until the late 1800s, when the railroads
pushed through the state, and aggressively marketed the land. On 2 November
1889, North Dakota was admitted to the Union with South Dakota (see Trivia
below). By 1920 the state had about as many people as it has today.
Law and government
The capital of North Dakota is Bismarck and its governor is John Hoeven
(Republican). Its two U.S. senators are Kent Conrad (Dem-NPL) and Byron
Dorgan (Dem-NPL). Its congressman is Earl Pomeroy (Dem-NPL).
North Dakota has a bicameral legislature. The state elects two House
Representatives and one Senator from each of 47 districts apportioned by
population. The legislature only meets for 80 days in even-numbered years
and when summoned by the governor. See also: North Dakota Legislative
Assembly, North Dakota Senate, North Dakota House of Representatives
The major political parties in North Dakota are the Republican Party and the
Democratic-NPL Party.
North Dakota's judiciary is rather simple. Each of the 53 counties has a
court, from which appeals are sent straight to the Supreme Court. Because of
the expense of having each county hire a judge, and the fairly low workload,
the state is divided into seven judicial districts which collectively elect
judges to travel to the various courthouses and hear cases.
District Judges are elected to six-year terms. Supreme Court Judges are
elected to ten-year terms. The Supreme Court Justice is selected every 5
years by vote of the District and Supreme Court Judges.
Geography
North Dakota is bordered on the north by the Canadian Provinces of
Saskatchewan and Manitoba, on the west by Montana, on the south by South
Dakota, and on the east, across the Red River of the North, by Minnesota.
The Missouri River flows through the western part of the state, forming Lake
Sakakawea behind the Garrison Dam. It is mainly a farm state and most of its
industries (food processing and farm equipment) are connected to farming.
Farms and ranches stretch across the rolling plains from the Red River
Valley in the east to the rugged Badlands in the west. The geographic centre
of the North American continent is located near Rugby.
Economy
North Dakota's 1999 total gross state product was $17 billion, the smallest
in the nation. Its 2000 Per Capita Personal Income was $25,068, placing it
38th in the nation. The state's agricultural outputs include wheat, cattle,
barley, flax, milk, soybeans, sunflowers, and sugar beets. Its small
industrial output includes electric power, food processing, machinery, coal
mining, and tourism.
Demographics
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2003, North Dakota's population
was estimated at 633,837 people.
The racial makeup of the state is:
92.4% White
1.2% Hispanic or Latino
0.6% Black
0.6% Asian
4.9% American Indian or Alaska Native
0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
0.4% from other races
1.2% belong to two or more races
The top 5 ancestry groups in North Dakota are German (43.9%), Norwegian
(30.1%), Irish (7.7%), American Indian (5%), Swedish (5%).
The 5 largest religions in North Dakota are Lutheran (35%), Roman Catholic
(30%), Methodist (7%), Baptist (6%), Assemblies of God (3%). 3% of the
population is nonreligious.
6.1% of North Dakota's population were reported as under 5, 25% under 18,
and 14.7% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.1% of the
population.
Important cities and towns
By population, the ten largest urban centres in the state are:
1. Fargo/West Fargo
2. Bismarck/Mandan
3. Grand Forks
4. Minot
5. Dickinson
6. Jamestown
7. Williston
8. Wahpeton
9. Devils Lake
10. Valley City
Interestingly, Devils Lake tends to be considered more important than
Wahpeton because of Devils Lake's geographic isolation. The population
trends in the state are noting a distinct shift from the rural areas to the
larger cities. Most of North Dakota's biggest cities grew between 1990 and
2000, with the notable exception of Grand Forks, which was decimated in the
Red River Flood, 1997.
Between 1990 and 2000, the USA as a whole grew by 13.1%, yet North Dakota
grew a mere 0.5%. It is the only state (along with Washington DC) whose
population declined (by 1.3%) between April 1, 2000 and July 1, 2003; this
decline has become a major political issue.
Education
North Dakota's leaders frequently boast that the educational scene in the
state is excellent. However, because the economic situation is no match for
it, most skilled graduates leave the state.
Colleges and universities
North Dakota boasts one of the healthiest higher education scenes in the
nation. There are 11 public colleges and universities, 5 tribal community
colleges, and 3 private schools in the state. They are:
Aakers Business College in Fargo
Bismarck State College in Bismarck
Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten
Dickinson State University in Dickinson
Fort Berthold Community College in New Town
Jamestown College in Jamestown
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
Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates
Trinity Bible College in Ellendale
Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt
University of Mary in Bismarck
University of North Dakota in Grand Forks
United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck
Valley City State University in Valley City
Williston State College in Williston
Miscellaneous information
Language: English
Counties: 53
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Fish: Northern pike
Horse: Nokota Horse
Flower: Prairie Rose
Tree: American Elm
Fossil: Teredo Petrified wood
Grass: Western Wheatgrass
Nicknames: Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Peace Garden 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
Song: North Dakota Hymn
Dance: Square Dance
March: Flickertail March
Beverage: Milk
Trivia
A bill for statehood for North and South Dakota (and Montana, and
Washington) was passed on February 22, 1889 during the Administration of
Grover Cleveland. It was left to his successor Benjamin Harrison to sign
proclamations formally admitting North and South Dakota to the Union on
November 2, 1889. However, the rivalry between the northern and southern
territories presented a dilemma: only one, upon the President's signature on
the proclamation, could gain the distinction of being admitted before the
other. So Harrison directed his Secretary of State James Blaine to shuffle
the papers and obscure from him which he was signing first, and the priority
went unrecorded
