North Dakota is a U.S. state, the northernmost of the Great Plains states
in the Midwestern United States, although during the 19th Century it was
considered part of the Wild West. The Missouri River flows through the
western part of the state, forming Lake Sakakawea behind the Garrison Dam.
Formerly part of Dakota Territory (named after the Dakota
tribe of Native Americans), North Dakota became a state in
1889.
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 about 1738.
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
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.
The territorial and early state governments were largely
corrupt. Early in the 20th century, a wave of populism led by
the Non Partisan League brought social reforms. The Great
Depression was rough on the state and came several years early
with the 1920s farm crisis. The original state capitol burned
to the ground in the 1930s and was replaced by a concrete art
deco skyscraper that still stands today.
The 1950s brought a round of federal construction projects,
including the Garrison Dam and the Minot and Grand Forks Air
Force bases. The 1980s saw an oil boom in the Williston basin,
as skyrocketing petroleum prices made development profitable,
driving state population to a peak near 700,000. Since then
the state has been experiencing a period of economic and
demographic decline. Today, the population stands at around
640,000 (roughly the same population as in the 1920s).
