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| Geography | |
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Main article: Geography of North Dakota
See also: List of North Dakota counties
Map of North Dakota
North Dakota is considered to be in the U.S. region known as 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),[6] North Dakota is the 19th largest state.[7]
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[8] 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.[9]
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.[10] Devils Lake, the largest natural lake in the state, is also found in the east.[11]
Eastern North Dakota is overall flat, however, there are significant hills and buttes in 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 where there is good drainage such as the ravines and valley near the Pembina Gorge and Killdeer Mountains, the Turtle Mountains, the hills around Devil's Lake, in the dunes area of McHenry County in central North Dakota, and along the Sheyenne Valley slopes and the Sheyenne delta.
[edit] Tags:White Butte,Red River Of The North,Manitoba,Central,Mountain,Saskatchewan,Minnesota,South Dakota,Montana,Great Plains,Badlands,Missouri River,Theodore Roosevelt National Park,Fossil Fuels,Crude Oil,Lignite,Lake Sakakawea,Garrison Dam,Drift Prairie,Missouri Plateau,Red River Valley,Lake Agassiz,Red River,Lake Winnipeg,Buttes,Grassland,White, | |
| Climate | |
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Main article: Climate of North Dakota
Meteorological events can 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]
[edit] Tags:Fargo,Hail,Blizzards,Polar Fronts,Tornadoes,Thunderstorms,Straight-line Winds,Ice Jams,Occurred In 1997,Semi-arid,Xeric,American Lung Association, | |
| History | |
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Main article: History of North Dakota
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
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]
Settlers in front of their sod house in Milton in 1898
Much of present-day North Dakota was included in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803; the remainder was acquired in the Treaty of 1818. Much of the 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 19th century, when the railroads entered the region and aggressively marketed the land. An omnibus 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, thus no one knows which of the Dakotas was admitted first.[21][22] 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.
Unrest among wheat farmers, especially among Norwegians, led to a radical political movement after World War I centered in the left-wing Non Partisan League ("NPL"). The NPL, which eventually merged into the Democratic Party, attempted to insulate North Dakota from the power of out-of-state banks and corporations. In addition to founding the state-owned Bank of North Dakota and North Dakota Mill and Elevator (both still in existence), the NPL established a state-owned railroad line (later sold to the Soo Line Railroad). Anti-corporate laws were passed that virtually prohibited a corporation or bank from owning title to land zoned as farmland. These laws, still in force today, after having been upheld by both State and Federal courts, make it almost impossible to foreclose on farmland, as even after foreclosure, the property title cannot be held by a bank or mortgage company.
A round of federal construction projects began in the 1950s, including the Garrison Dam and the Minot and Grand Forks Air Force bases.[23] There was a boom in oil exploration in western North Dakota in the 1980s, as rising petroleum prices made development profitable.[24] 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.[25]
[edit] Tags:Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site,French-canadian,La Vérendrye,Mandan,Lewis And Clark,Louisiana Purchase,Treaty Of 1818,Nebraska,Dakota Territory,Wyoming,Washington,Enabling Act Of 1889,Grover Cleveland,James G. Blaine,Non Partisan League,Democratic Party,Soo Line Railroad,Minot,Grand Forks,Air Force,Limestone,Art Deco,Native Americans,1930,1950,1980,Norwegian,French, | |
| Population | |
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North Dakota population density
The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of North Dakota was 683,932 on July 1, 2011, a 1.69% increase since the 2010 United States Census.[2]
From fewer than 2,000 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 past seven decades, hitting a low of 617,761 in the 1970 census, with a total of 642,200 in the 2000 census.[26] The United States Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2008, estimated North Dakota's population at 641,481,[27] 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. Except for Native Americans, the North Dakota population has a lesser percentage of minorities 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%
2010
672,591
4.7%
Source: 1910–2010[31]
[edit] Tags:United States Census Bureau,2010 United States Census,Immigration,Center Of Population,1870,1880,1890,1900,1910,1920,1940,1960,1970, | |
| Emigration | |
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From 1923 through the beginning of the 21st century, North Dakota experienced a virtually constant decline in population, particularly among younger people with university degrees. Subsistence farming proved to be too risky for families, and many people moved to urban areas for jobs.[32] One of the major causes of emigration in North Dakota is the lack of skilled jobs for college 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.[33] During the first decade of the 21st century, the population increased, in large part because of jobs in the oil industry, related to development of oil-shale fields.[citation needed]
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| Ethnic groups and ancestry | |
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Most North Dakotans are of Northern European descent. As of 2009, the five largest ancestry groups in North Dakota are:
German: 47.2% (305,322)
Norwegian: 30.8% (199,154)
Irish: 7.7% (49,892)
Swedish: 4.7% (30,194)
Russian: 4.1% (26,642)
French: 4.1% (26,320)
English: 3.9% (25,331)
According to the 2010 Census, the racial and ethnic composition of North Dakota was as follows:[35]
White: 90.0%
Native American: 5.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any ethnic groups): 2.0%
Black or African American: 1.2%
Asian: 1.0%
Pacific Islander: 0.1%
Some other ethnic groups: 0.5%
Two or more ethnic groups: -0.2%
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| Religion | |
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North Dakota has the most churches per capita of any state.[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 Assemblies 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%. Other 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.[36]
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]
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| American Indian presence | |
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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 meet 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 are intertribal dances throughout the powwow, where everyone (even spectators) can take part in the dancing.
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| Norwegian and Icelandic influence | |
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Around 1870 many European immigrants from Norway settled in North Dakota's northeastern corner, especially near the Red River. Icelanders also arrived from Canada.[39] Pembina housed many Norwegians when it was founded; they worked on family farms. They started Lutheran churches and schools and they greatly outnumbered other denominations in the area. This group has unique foods such as lefse and lutefisk. The continent's largest Scandinavian event, Norsk Høstfest, is celebrated each September in Minot. The Icelandic State Park in Pembina County and an annual Icelandic festival reflect immigrants from that country.
Old world folk customs have persisted for decades, with revival of techniques in weaving, silver crafting, and wood carving. Traditional turf-roof houses are displayed in parks; this style originated in Iceland. A stave church is a landmark in Minot. Ethnic Norwegians constitute nearly one-third or 32.3% of Minot's total population and 30.8% of North Dakota's total population.
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| Germans from Russia | |
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See also: Germans from Russia
Ethnic Germans who had settled in Russia for several generations grew dissatisfied in the nineteenth century. About 100,000 immigrated to the U.S. by 1900, settling primarily in North and South Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska. The south-central part of North Dakota became known as "the German-Russian triangle". By 1910, about 60,000 ethnic Germans from Russia lived in Central North Dakota. They were Lutherans and Roman Catholics who had kept many German customs of the time when their ancestors emigrated to Russia. They were committed to agriculture. A famous art form by such ethnic Germans are wrought iron crosses, which are used to mark grave sites.[40]
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| Fine and performing arts | |
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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.
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| Entertainment | |
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See also: Music of North Dakota
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.[41] 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.
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| Popular culture | |
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See also: Cuisine of North Dakota
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.[36]
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