North Dakota
From MaxTravelz
North Dakota is a state in the Great Plains of the United States. It's bordered on the west by Montana, on the east by Minnesota, and on the north by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is bordered on the south by South Dakota. North Dakota, the 39th state, was admitted to the Union in 1889. The year 2005 marked the bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark expedition which began in Illinois, passed through North Dakota, with help from a Shoshone Indian girl as their guide, Sakakawea, on the way to the Pacific Northwest. Map. North Dakota's 53 counties cover approximately 70,655 square miles (183,000 square kilometers) and it has a population of approximately 639,000. US Census Bureau QuickFacts
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Regions
- Badlands: Billings, Bowman, Golden Valley, McKenzie, and Slope counties.
- Coteaus & Plains: Barnes, Burleigh, Dickey, Emmons, Foster, Griggs, Kidder, La Moure, Logan, McIntosh, Ransom, Sargent, Stutsman counties. Map
- Lakes & Gardens: Benson, Eddy, McHenry, McLean, Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Sheridan, Towner, Ward, Wells counties. Map
- Red River Valley: Cass, Cavalier, Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, Richland, Steele, Traill, Walsh counties. Map
- Turtle Mountains: Bottineau, Rolette counties. Info
- Western North Dakota: Adams, Burke, Divide, Dunn, Grant, Hettinger, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Oliver, Sioux, Stark, Williams counties. Map
Cities
- Fargo - North Dakota's largest city, and home of North Dakota State University.
- Bismarck - State Capital and growing every day.
- Grand Forks - A College town atmosphere.
- Minot - The Magic City, the primary city in northwest North Dakota.
- Dickinson - The crown of the Southwest, gateway to the Badlands.
- Williston - The biggest city on the upper Missouri.
- Regent - Terminus of the Enchanted Highway.
- Rugby - the geographical center of North America.
- Jamestown - The Buffalo City, pride of the Prairie.
- Devils Lake - The heart of North Dakota lake country.
Understand
North Dakota is a large, sparsely populated state. It was settled mainly by farmers of Scandinavian and German descent. North Dakota's population has scarcely changed since 1915, but its urban-to-rural ratio has changed dramatically over the years. One-sixth of the people in the state live in Fargo, and that figure is growing all the time. The state's economy is based on its agriculture, food processing, mining, tourism and machinery.
North Dakota is the least-visited state in the union, not surprising given its location. But there is something to be found for those willing to venture into the unknown. North Dakota is living proof that there is much to see and do off the beaten tourist path and in small towns. Outdoor activities abound year round: hiking, biking, camping (tent and RV), boating, fishing, sailing, tubing, birding, photography, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, archery, and more. If you fancy disc golf, there are fourteen regulation courses in the state. Or you can simply take a scenic drive through hills and lakes, badlands, or plains. Military buffs will enjoy visiting the old frontier forts. Nature lovers can see hundreds of species of birds, animals, fish, and wildflowers. Geological formations of almost every type are here. You can dig for fossils or hunt for unique mineral specimens.
Famous North Dakotans include: former CBS newsman Eric Sevareid (Velva, ND), actress Angie Dickinson (Kulm, ND), "Fever" singer Peggy Lee (Jamestown, ND), "bubbling machine" bandleader Lawrence Welk (Strasburg, ND), and author Louis L'Amour (Jamestown, ND).
Get in
By air
Scheduled airline service is available in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot, and Williston.
Northwest Airlines offers daily flights to all destinations except Dickinson.
United Express serves Williston, Dickinson, Bismarck, and Fargo.
Allegiant Air serves Bismarck and Fargo.
By car
Interstate 94 runs east-west through the southern side of the state. Interstate 29 runs north-south on the eastern edge of the state.
US Highway 2 runs east-west through the northern side of the state. US Highways 85, 83, 281, and 81 run north-south through the state. US Highway 52 runs northwest-southeast through the state.
For those of you arriving from Canada, 24-hour customs stations are available at SK 39 (US 52) in Portal, MB 10 (US 281) at the Peace Gardens, and MB 75 (I-29) near Pembina.
By train
Amtrak's Empire Builder line serves Fargo, Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Rugby, Minot, Stanley, and Williston.
Get around
See
- The Geographical Center of North America in Rugby.
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park, in two units near Dickinson and Watford City, and the Little Missouri National Grasslands between them.
- KVLY-TV Tower 2 miles west of Blanchard, is the tallest man-made structure on earth at 629 meters, or 2063 feet.
- The International Peace Garden in the Turtle Mountains, a 930 hectare park located on the Manitoba border. Simply gorgeous in the summer.
- The State Capitol grounds in Bismarck, which feature the 20 story Capitol, the State Historical Society Museum, and plenty of open park.
- The Enchanted Highway between the Gladstone exit on I-94 and the small town of Regent on the Cannonball River in southwest ND.
- The Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail which runs through Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington (state)
Do
- Rocking the Hills, near Bottineau, usually in late June or early July.
- Norsk Høstfest in Minot in early October.
- The Turtle Mountains and Badlands are worth driving through. See also: Lewis and Clark Trail
- Birding: nearly four hundred species of birds inhabit or visit North Dakota. ND Birding Society
Eat
- Totten Trail, US 83 at Lake Audubon, rural McLean County. Reasonably priced food in a unique location.
Drink
Stay safe
Get out
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