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North Dakota
North Dakota Facts Videos Map
Photo: North Dakota
North Dakota's rugged badlands and prairie landscape left a permanent mark on the man for whom the park shown here was later named. "I would not have been president, had it not been for my experience in North Dakota," wrote Teddy Roosevelt.
Photograph by Michael Melford
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North Dakota Information and History

Vast Dakota Territory, at the geographic center of the continent, was divided into North and South Dakota in 1889. Rich loess soils favor agriculture, and farms cover 90 percent of the state's land area. But the practice of draining glacier-formed prairie potholes to increase cropland destroys critical habitat for migrating birds. Extremes in weather and in world markets subject wheat farmers to cycles of boom and bust, but petroleum and lignite production assists the economy. Garrison Dam, on the Missouri River, produces 400,000 kilowatts of electricity, providing extensive irrigation for the surrounding area.

ECONOMY

Industry: services, government, finance, construction, transportation, oil and gas.
Agriculture: wheat, cattle, sunflowers, barley, soybeans.

Text source: National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition, 2004
North Dakota Flag and Fast Facts
Flag of North Dakota
Area
183,112 square kilometers
(70,700 square miles)
Population
633,837
Capital
Bismarck; 56,234
Per Capita Income
U.S. $26,567
Date Statehood Achieved
November 2, 1889
North Dakota Features
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Spice up your family's travels with this comprehensive collection of attractions from every state. These 3,500 family-friendly sights and activities are grouped by states and by categories of interest—and many of them are free!
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There are 58 national parks in the U.S., as varied as the country that houses them. We've gathered everything you need to know to set off for a summer adventure, plus photo galleries, quizzes, maps, and more.
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Merry-go-rounds, deep-fried corndogs and high-flying Ferris wheels mark the start of state fair season. Submit your best summer fair pictures to the newest category of My Shot and view photos from other fairs across the country.
Map: North Dakota
State: North Dakota
Country: United States
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