North Dakota: Location and Overview

North Dakota, one of the fifty states of the United States, is located in the midwestern region of the country. It is the nineteenth-largest state in the country with an area of 70,700 square miles, and it is the fourth least populated state with a population of just over 760,000 people. The history of North Dakota dates back thousands of years, and it is a story of diverse cultures, conflicts, and resilience.

Indigenous Peoples and Early Exploration

Depiction of Mandan village in North Dakota

The earliest inhabitants of North Dakota were Native American tribes such as the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara, who lived in the region for thousands of years before the arrival of European explorers. The first European to explore the area was French explorer Sieur de La Verendrye in the 1730s, followed by other French and British explorers, traders, and fur trappers. These early explorers established trading posts and forts throughout the region, which led to the establishment of the fur trade in North Dakota.

Much of the land that would become North Dakota was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase

19th-Century Expansion and Treaties

In the 1800s, tensions between the native tribes and the European settlers increased as more and more settlers arrived in the region. The United States government negotiated treaties with the tribes, which resulted in the forced relocation of many native people to reservations.

Territory, Statehood, and Early Economy

North Dakota became a U.S. territory in 1861 and was admitted to the Union as a state on November 2, 1889. The state's economy was largely based on agriculture, and farmers faced many challenges, including droughts, floods, and low prices for their crops. In the early 1900s, North Dakota's farmers formed the Nonpartisan League, which was a political organization that advocated for farmers' rights and the establishment of state-owned industries.

World War II and Postwar Diversification

During World War II, North Dakota played a significant role in the war effort, with the construction of air bases and training facilities throughout the state. After the war, North Dakota experienced significant population growth, and the state's economy diversified, with the development of the oil and gas industry and the expansion of manufacturing and service sectors.

Energy Boom and Modern Growth

In recent years, North Dakota has become one of the leading states in the country in terms of energy production, particularly with the development of the Bakken Formation, one of the largest oil fields in the world. The state's economy has benefited greatly from the boom in energy production, and North Dakota has become one of the fastest-growing states in the country.

Discussion Questions

1. How did the geography and rivers of North Dakota shape Indigenous lifeways and early trade?
2. What were the major causes and consequences of the treaties that moved Native peoples onto reservations?
3. Why did North Dakota’s farmers organize the Nonpartisan League, and what long-term effects did it have?
4. How has the Bakken Formation changed North Dakota’s economy and communities since the 2000s?

Glossary

• Bakken Formation: A large rock formation in North Dakota and neighboring states/provinces that contains significant oil reserves.
• Fur trade: The exchange of animal pelts for goods, a key early economic activity with European traders.
• Reservation: Land set aside by the U.S. government for Native American tribes, often following treaties and forced relocations.
• Territory: A region under U.S. jurisdiction that has not yet achieved statehood.
• Nonpartisan League: A political movement founded in North Dakota that advocated farmer-owned and state-owned enterprises.
• State-owned industries: Businesses established and operated by a state government (e.g., a state bank or mill).
• Air base: A military installation used for training and operating aircraft.

Timeline of North Dakota History

• Prehistory–1600s: Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, and other Indigenous nations thrive along the Missouri River.
• 1738: Sieur de La Vérendrye explores the region and engages in early trade.
• 1804–1805: Lewis and Clark winter at Fort Mandan during their expedition.
• 1828: Fort Union Trading Post established; becomes a major Upper Missouri fur hub.
• 1861: Dakota Territory created by the U.S. government.
• 1862: Homestead Act accelerates settler migration to the plains.
• 1873–1883: Northern Pacific Railway reaches Bismarck (1873) and completes a transcontinental link (1883).
• 1889: North Dakota admitted as a state on November 2.
• 1915: Bank of North Dakota founded, the only state-owned bank in the U.S.
• 1919: North Dakota Mill and Elevator established to support farmers.
• 1930s: Drought and Dust Bowl devastate farms; conservation expands.
• 1951: Oil discovered near Tioga, launching the state’s petroleum industry.
• 1955: Garrison Dam completed, creating Lake Sakakawea and transforming river management.
• 1997: Red River flood severely impacts eastern North Dakota communities.
• 2006–2014: Bakken oil boom drives rapid economic and population growth.