North Dakota is one of the most rural states in the country, with approximately 90 percent of its land covered by farms. With so much land dedicated to agriculture, it's hard to imagine that there could be anything more to North Dakota. Luckily, the other 10 percent of land is put to good use with a number of historical sites and cultural activities, sporting events, and outdoor pursuits.
About North Dakota
Geography
North Dakota is located in the north-central, or upper Midwest section, of the western United States, and is a part of the Great Plains. It's bordered by Canada, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. As the 19th largest state in the country, North Dakota has a land area of 68,994 square miles, with a total area of 70,762 square miles. Major waterways include the James, Missouri, and Red rivers, as well as Lakes Sakakawea (the third largest man-made lake in the United States) and Oahe. North Dakota's highest point can be found at 3,506 feet above sea level atop White Butte, and its lowest point is along Red River at 350 feet above sea level. The state's mean elevation is 1,900 feet above sea level.
North Dakota's topographic makeup consists of three geographic regions: the Great Plains, Drift Prairie, and Red River Valley.
The Great Plains cover the southwestern half of North Dakota. The area along the Missouri River is called the Missouri Break. On one side of the break, there are hilly plains and on the other, valleys and slopes. To the west of the Missouri River is an area of land called the Badlands. The Badlands are comprised of stone and clay domes, cones, and pyramids shaped by hundreds of years of erosion.
To the east of the Great Plains is the Drift Prairie, which sinks about 300 feet below the plains. The Drift Prairie is characterized by hills, rivers, and lakes.
Along North Dakota's eastern border is the Red River Valley, separated from the Drift Prairie by the Pembina Hills. Unlike the other areas of the state, the Red River Valley is flat, and contains some of the most fertile top soil in the world.
Climate
North Dakota's climate is classified as continental by the Köppen Climate Classification System. Regions classified as continental experience warm summers and cold winters. Average monthly temperatures range from a low of negative five in the winter to a high of 84 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 22 inches. Tornadoes and flooding are not uncommon occurrences.
A Brief History
When the first European explorers arrived in North Dakota, they found that the land had already been occupied for perhaps hundreds of years. There is, in fact, evidence that tribes of hunter-gatherers and farmers had been living in North Dakota since 200 B.C. By the 18th century, several distinct groups were living and trading there. These groups included the Arikaras, Assiniboine, Chippewa, Cheyenne, Cree, Crow, Hidatsas, Mandan, and Dakota Indians. The nomadic tribes (hunter-gatherers) thrived in North Dakota because of the immense buffalo population, and the farmers because of the rich and fertile soil. Unfortunately, as settlers began moving in, most of the native population died of smallpox.
North Dakota was acquired by the United States through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Within a year, Lewis and Clark had explored the lands, and Irish and Scottish immigrants formed a settlement. Much of the state, however, remained unsettled until the railroad was built in the 1870s.
North Dakota gained statehood on November 2, 1889, as the 39th state admitted into the United States. It's always been a rural state, with 90 percent of the land used as farm lands. During the Depression, the state suffered a number of farm foreclosures because the nation could no longer afford fresh produce. After the Depression, federal relief programs helped to modernize the state by building up roadways and cities. At this time, North Dakota's youth began an exodus from the farm lands into the cities. Luckily, during the 1940s, choice weather provided plentiful crops and the economic situation began to turn around.
Today, more people live in the state's cities than the agricultural areas, and the manufacturing industry has grown substantially.
Traveling North Dakota
Historic Sites
One of the joys of traveling to a new state is learning about the history of the area. By visiting North Dakota's historic sites and monuments, vacationers can not only learn history, but have fun as well. North Dakota's State Historical Society maintains 56 official historic sites. Listed below are a few you may want to plan on visiting.
North Dakota has several military forts that were built during the first years of settlement. The purpose of these forts was so that the United States government could provide protection for new settlers. The forts still in existence today include Fort Abercrombie in Fargo, Fort Buford in Williston, Fort Clark in Washburn, and Fort Totten in the town of Fort Totten.
To expand on military history, you may want to visit Whitestone Hill Battlefield southeast of Kulm. Whitestone Hill Battlefield is the site of North Dakota's largest confrontations between white soldiers and Native Americans. Today, the site includes a portion of the battlefield as well as a small museum and picnic areas.
If you'd like to see how North Dakota's wealthy lived during the late 19th century, check out the Chateau Des Mores. The Chateau is a 26-room mansion erected by the Marquis des Mores as his family's summer home. The marquis was wealthy due to his holdings in a freighting company, meatpacking plant, stagecoach service, and other businesses.
For a more comprehensive overview of North Dakota's history, your best option would be to visit the Pembina State Museum. Located in Pembina, North Dakota's first permanent settlement, the museum has information and exhibits about the state's history dating back 100 million years.
City Life
North Dakota's four major cities are Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot. These cities offer visitors a variety of cultural pursuits to enhance their vacation time. The performing arts that are available include dance productions performed by the North Dakota Ballet Company, live theater performed by college troupes and theater companies, and live music at any number of music festivals. Fine arts abound at arts and crafts fairs, or view art at any of North Dakota's four arts museums. There are plenty of history and science museums as well.
Golfers will be pleased to know that there are 116 golf courses to choose from, the majority of which are found in the four major cities. For luxury and relaxation, you'll find various types of beautiful spas, including day spas, destination spas, club spas, medi spas, and resort spas that offer massage, facials, manicures, pedicures, and even makeovers.
The Great Outdoors
With so much open air and undeveloped land, it's only natural that outdoor activities and sports are immensely popular. If you're looking for adventure on your vacation, there's plenty to choose from. Biking, hiking, cross country skiing, horseback riding, snowboarding, and canoeing are perhaps the most popular activities. There are 15 state parks where travelers can enjoy these activities. Birdwatching, hunting, picnicking, camping, and nature watching are other possible pastimes in the state parks.
From visiting a day spa to walking the trails of a state park, North Dakota is overflowing with activities for visitors to take part in. The miles of untouched land and centralized city life offer each vacationer a unique experience that will stay in their memories for a lifetime.
