North Dakota
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North Dakota is a
state of the
United States, named after the
Dakota segment of the
Sioux Native American Indians. Its U.S. postal abbreviation is
ND.
The
United States Navy vessels
USS North Dakota and
Flickertail State were named in honor of North Dakota.
History
\nfull article: History of North Dakota
North Dakota was one of the last places in the continental United States to be explored and settled. The first European explorers to visit the area were French. However, the native tribes were in sufficient contact with European traders 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
\nThe capital of North Dakota is Bismarck and its governor is John Hoeven (Republican). Its two U.S. senators are Kent Conrad (Democrat) and Byron Dorgan (Democrat). Its congressman is Earl Pomeroy (Democrat).
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.
See: List of North Dakota Governors, List of United States Senators from North Dakota
Geography
\nSee: 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 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
\nNorth 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
\nAs 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, \n92.4% (593,181) identified themselves as White, \n1.2% (7,786) as Hispanic or Latino, \n0.6% (3,916) as black, \n0.6% (3,606) as Asian, \n4.9% (31,329) as American Indian or Alaska Native, \n0.04% (230) as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander\n0.4% (2,540) as other, and\n1.2% (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
\n\See also: List of cities in North Dakota
By population, the ten largest urban centres in the state are:
- 1. Fargo/West Fargo\n:2. Bismarck/Mandan\n:3. Grand Forks\n:4. Minot\n:5. Dickinson\n:6. Jamestown\n:7. Williston\n:8. Wahpeton\n:9. Devils Lake\n:10. Valley City
Interestingly, Devils Lake tends to be considered more important than Wahpeton because of Devils Lake's geographic isolation. As for population trends, Fargo and Bismarck are growing fast, but the other cities in the state are staying put or declining in population.
Education
\nNorth 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
\nNorth 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\n:Bismarck State College in Bismarck\n:Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten\n:Dickinson State University in Dickinson\n:Fort Berthold Community College in New Town\n:Jamestown College in Jamestown\n:Lake Region State College in Devils Lake\n:Mayville State University in Mayville\n:Minot State University in Minot\n:Minot State University-Bottineau in Bottineau\n:North Dakota State University in Fargo\n:North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton\n:Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates\n:Trinity Bible College in Ellendale\n:Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt\n:University of Mary in Bismarck\n:University of North Dakota in Grand Forks\n:United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck\n:Valley City State University in Valley City\n:Williston State College in Williston
Miscellaneous information
\n:Language: English\n:Counties: 53\n:Bird: Western Meadowlark\n:Fish: Northern pike\n:Horse: Nokota Horse\n:Flower: Prairie Rose\n:Tree: American Elm\n:Fossil: Teredo Petrified wood\n:Grass: Western Wheatgrass\n:Nicknames: Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Peace Garden State\n:Motto: Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable\n:Song: North Dakota Hymn\n:Dance: Square Dance\n:March: Flickertail March\n:Beverage: Milk
Trivia
\nA bill for statehood for North and South Dakota (and Montana, and Washington)\nwas passed on February 22 1889 during the Administration of Grover Cleveland.\nIt was left to his successor Benjamin Harrison to\nsign proclamations formally admitting North and South\nDakota to the Union on November 2 1889. However, the rivalry\nbetween the northern and southern territories\npresented a dilemma: only one, upon the President's\nsignature on the proclamation, could gain the distinction\nof being admitted before the other. So Harrison directed\nhis Secretary of State James Blaine to shuffle\nthe papers and obscure from him which he was signing\nfirst, and the priority went unrecorded.
External links
\n*http://www.state.nd.us\n*http://discovernd.com
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\n \n\n\n\n\n\nCategory:Political divisions of the United StatesCategory:North Dakota
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