North Dakota

From Wikinfo

183,272 km2

178,839 km2 
 
4,432 km2 

2.4%

North Dakota is a state of the United States, named after the Lakota (Sioux) Native American Indians. Its U.S. postal abbreviation is ND.

USS North Dakota was named in honor of this state.

History

North Dakota got its name from the Dakota division of the Sioux Indians who lived on the plains before the Europeans arrived. "Dakota" means "friend". North Dakota was admitted to the Union as the 39^th state on November 2, 1889. On the same day, South Dakota was admitted.

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 (Democrat) and Byron L. Dorgan (Democrat). Its congressman is Earl Pomeroy (Democrat).

See: List of North Dakota Governors

Geography

See: List of North Dakota counties

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 runs through much of the state. It is mainly a farm state and most of its industries (food processing and farm equipment) are connected to farming. Farms and ranches stretch from the flat Red River Valley, in the east, across rolling plains, to the rugged Badlands in the west. The geographic centre of the North American continent is located in North Dakota.

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 38^th in the nation. The state's agricultural outputs are wheat, cattle, barley, sunflowers, milk, and sugar beets. Its industrial outputs are food processing, machinery, mining, and tourism.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, the population of North Dakota is 642,200. Its population grew 0.5% (3,400) from its 1990 levels. According to the 2000 census, 92.4% (593,181) identified themselves as White, 1.2% (7,786) as Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% (3,916) as black, 0.6% (3,606) as Asian, 4.9% (31,329) as American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.04% (230) as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.4% (2,540) as other, and 1.2% (7,398) identified themselves as belonging to two or more races.

6.1% of its 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

Major cities are Grand Forks and Fargo.

Education

Colleges and Universities

Miscellaneous Information

Counties: 53

Bird: Western Meadowlark

Flower: Prairie Rose

Tree: American Elm

Nicknames: Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Peace Garden State

External Links

• North Dakota State Government
• North Dakota Tourism
• North Dakota Maps - road maps and relief maps of North Dakota

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "North Dakota" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota November 18, 2003