North Dakota is a state of the United States of America in the group of states of the Northwest Center (West North Central States), in the north of the United States. The area is 183 thousand sq. km, the population is 634 thousand people (2004). The administrative center is Bismarck. Major cities: Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot. It borders on the east with the state of Minnesota (along the Red River), in the south – with the state of South Dakota, in the west – with the state of Montana. To the north are the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. See counties in North Dakota.
Flat landscape. The center of the state is located on part of the Great Plains – the Missouri Plateau. The Pembina Mountains stretch to the northeast. To the west is hilly terrain criss-crossed by deep river valleys. The largest river is the Missouri. The rivers are shallow, the largest lakes are Sakakavia and Devils. In the north there are pine and aspen forests. The climate is continental, arid to the west.
Minerals (oil, natural gas, uranium). First place in the United States in terms of lignite reserves. Production of agricultural machinery, food industry. Petrochemical industry, energy complex. More than 90% of the land is under crops (wheat, sunflower, barley, rye, oats, potatoes, soybeans). Annually, about 10% of the total wheat crop in the United States. The first place in the cultivation of barley and sunflower. In animal husbandry, the meat and wool direction prevails. The state is dominated by large farms. Tourism and the service sector are developed. Gambling business legalized. There are several Indian reservations throughout the state. In general, the state is considered economically backward in comparison with other states.
- AbbreviationFinder: Introduction to the state of North Dakota, covering commonly used acronyms and the list of main cities and town in North Dakota.
In 1738-1740, the first Europeans, the French Canadians, visited the territory of the future state. Initially, the settlers got along with the Indians, being engaged in the extraction and trade in furs. In 1803, the United States acquired most of present-day North Dakota with the Louisiana Purchase.. In 1804, after surveying the region by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Fort Mandan was established. In 1812, several Scots and Irish founded the first settlement near the city of Pembin. The United States bought the northeastern part of the future state from Great Britain in 1818, and in 1823 the Pembina area became the property of the United States. The Dakota Territory was formed in 1861. Until the 1870s, there was a constant war with the local Sioux Indians, later land development began (in 1862, the US Congress passed the Homestead Act – 65-hectare plots of land that could be obtained for $ 10). An influx of immigrants poured into the state. There are many large farms. Construction began on the Northern Pacific Railroad, which was completed in 1873. The economy (mainly agriculture) of the region developed quite successfully after the defeat of the Indians under the leadership of Sitting Bull, but the cold and drought in the 1880s led to the ruin of many farms. North Dakota has been a US state since 1889. Settlers from Norway and Germany contributed greatly to the development of the state. At the end of the 19th century, a struggle began between farmers and grain monopolies. A non-partisan league was formed on the territory of the state, which initiated progressive transformations in the state.
In the late 1920s, in 1955 and 1988, agriculture was hit hard by drought and dust storms. In the 20th century, North Dakota was still a predominantly agricultural state. From the middle of the 20th century, mining began to play an important role (first place in the United States in terms of brown coal reserves). In 1951, large oil fields were discovered. In the 1970s and 1980s, air bases and launch complexes for strategic missiles were built. In 1981, the gambling business was legalized in the state. Attractions include T. Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck. On the territory of the state there are various ski and summer resorts, rich hunting grounds.
