North Dakota

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One trip to North Dakota and you'll understand why it's known as the friendliest and safest state to visit.  In fact, from agricultural products to quality of life - North Dakota is often at the top of the charts.

Statehood

On March 2, 1861, President James Buchanan signed the bill creating the Dakota Territory, which originally included the area covered today by both Dakotas as well as Montana and Wyoming. The name was taken from that of the Dakota or Sioux Indian Tribe. Beginning in 1877, efforts were made to bring Dakota into the Union as both a single state and as two states. The latter was successful and on November 2, 1889, both North and South Dakota were admitted. President Benjamin Harrison went to great lengths to obscure the order in which the statehood proclamations were signed, so the exact order in which the two states entered is unknown. However, because of alphabetical position, North Dakota is often considered the 39th state.

Dakota is the Sioux Indian word for "friend."

Agricultural Rankings

North Dakota ranks number one in the U.S. in the production of:  spring wheat, durum wheat, sunflowers, barley, all dry edible beans, pinto beans, canola, flaxseed, all dry edible peas, honey, lentils, oats and navy beans.

Population
State Population	642,200
Largest Cities
Fargo	90,599
Bismarck	55,532
Grand Forks	49,321
Minot	36,567
Mandan	16,718
Dickinson	16,010
Jamestown	15,527
West Fargo	14,940

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North Dakota Tourism