The region now called North Dakota
was originally home to the Mandan Indians, the Ojibwa,
Yanktonai and Teton Sioux, Arikara and Hidatsa.
The state's name is derived from a Sioux language term for "friend."
North Dakota became a
U.S. possession as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803,
but its boundary with Canada was not agreed upon until 1818.
North Dakota was officially recognized
as the 39th state on
Nov 2, 1889.
North Dakota shares
borders with Minnesota on the east,
South Dakota on the south,
Montana on the west,
and the Canadian provinces of
Saskatchewan and
Manitoba on the north.
The area of the state is
70762 mi² (183273 km²).
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 central region of the state is covered in lakes, slough, and rolling hills.
This area is divided into the
Drift Prairie and the Missouri Plateau.
The eastern part of the state consists of the flat Red River Valley.
WEATHER
The eastern half of the state has a humid continental climate
with warm to hot, somewhat humid summers and cold, windy winters.
The western half has a semi~arid climate with less precipitation and
less humidity but similar temperature profiles.
Weather events include rain, snow, hail, blizzards,
polar fronts, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and high~velocity
straight~line winds.
North Dakota
endures temperature extremes.
The record low is -60° F (-51.1° C).
The record high is 121° F (49° C).
Hot weather is usually confined to June, July, and August,
but can begin as early as April and
may even continue into September.
Snow is the main form of precipitation from November through March,
while rain is the most common the rest of the year.
Snow falls in North Dakota
every month of the year.
Annual snowfall averages from 26 inches (66 cm) in the
central part of the state to 38 inches (96 cm) in the
north~east and south~west.
Freezing rain, ice, sleet, and even rain are all possible
during the winter months.
Depending on location, average annual precipitation ranges
from 14~22 in (36~56 cm).
Springtime flooding is a relatively common event in the
eastern part of the state.
North Dakota
is far enough north to experience blizzards during the winter,
but far enough south to experience tornado outbreaks in the summer.
The state averages 13 tornadoes annually.
Fall and spring are the windiest seasons.
Humid summer conditions create thunderstorm activity 22~34 days a year.
ECONOMY
The North Dakota Chamber of Commerce
is committed to improving the state’s economic and business climate,
by supporting public policy
initiatives and state/federal legislation that is pro~business,
and by providing information, programs and services to assist North Dakota businesses.
Nearly 1100 companies are partners in
the state chamber of commerce.
The Chamber unites the North Dakota
business community on vital business issues.
The major industries of North Dakota
are agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, coal mining & conversion,
oil & gas exploration, extraction & refining, and exported services.
Service industries, government,
mining and manufacturing have grown in importance,
but agriculture continues to be North Dakota's
principal industry. The processing of grain, meat, and
dairy products is vital.
Key crops include wheat, barley and hay.
The state is the largest producer in the
United States of barley,
sunflower seeds, spring & durum wheat,
and farm~raised turkeys.
Petroleum is North Dakota's
leading mineral product, ahead of sand and gravel, lime, and salt.
There are also natural~gas fields.
The western counties have lignite reserves and large clay deposits.
Tourism has become an increasingly important industry and the
state is popular with hunters and fishing enthusiasts.
It is North Dakota's
3rd largest source of income.
North Dakota is the only state with its own bank.
The Bank of North Dakota in Bismarck, is state~owned.
SCHOOLS
North Dakota has 11 public colleges
and universities, 5 tribal community colleges, and 4 private schools.
The North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction is required to:
• Enforce
all state statutes and federal regulations pertaining to the
establishment and maintenance of public schools and related programs.
• Supervise the North Dakota Schools for the Deaf and Blind,
plus the State Library. • Operate the Department of
Public Instruction efficiently and effectively.
• Expand the delivery options that increase educational
opportunities for all North Dakota citizens.
• Evaluate and communicate educational policy and vision to
all North Dakota residents.
• Serve as an advocate for adequate financial resources
to support public education.
The mission of the North Dakota
Department of Public Instruction is
to ensure a uniform, statewide system for effective learning as illustrated
through its goals:
- Align all elements of public education to help students
achieve academic success.
- Promote health and wellness initiatives
that provide a safe and nurturing environment that
encourages community
involvement and embraces diversity.
- Ensure a comprehensive system of
accountability for results~based decision making.
- Build capacity
to ensure a uniform educational system that
meets or exceeds established standards.
The mission of North Dakota Education Association
is to promote collectively a climate which will advance the
educational interests of the state's citizens and enhance
the professional status and welfare of association members.
The North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board
is the independent educator licensing board responsible
for educator licensure, determining approval of teacher
education programs for North Dakota's colleges and universities,
professional staff development, and monitoring the profession
through the educator's code of ethics and professional practices.
For more details please contact the
North Dakota Department of Education.
HOSPITALITY
One might think that there isn't much to
North Dakota.
It is a small state, with a sparse population,
but that is exactly where the charm lies.
The best things in North Dakota
are those that you stumble onto.
Driving is the best way to get through and around
North Dakota.
If you come across a small town with a local attraction
you can stop and visit.
Every summer, each small town has festivals,
complete with booths, street dances,
and arts & crafts.
Many of these attractions are not on maps and are not in tourist guides.
It is well worth the effort to investigate and participate.
Get a glimpse of real small town life.
The people and scenery of rural North Dakota
provide quaint beauty that never ends.
Travelling through the state,
you will find there are many points of interest.
Shopping is popular in North Dakota,
and on any given day, farmers from small towns
make their way to the big cities such as
Fargo and Grand Forks.
There you will find many great attractions such as museums
and historical sites.
The historical landmarks that are all over the state give you a
look into the lives of settlers. You can learn what life on
the prairie was really like, just by visiting the old~time museums.
For more details please contact
North Dakota State Tourism.
NEWS
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