North Dakota is a state in the Great Plains of the United States. It is bordered on the west by Montana, on the east by Minnesota, on the south by South Dakota, and on the north by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. North Dakota, the 39th state, was admitted to the Union in 1889. In 2005, it marked the bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark expedition which began in Illinois, with help from a Shoshone Indian girl, Sakakawea, as their guide, and passed through North Dakota on the way to the Pacific Northwest. North Dakota's 53 counties cover approximately 70,655 square miles (183,000 square kilometers) and has a population of approximately 639,000.

The sparsely populated state 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 been altered dramatically over the years. One-sixth of the population live in Fargo, a figure that continues to grow. 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 the state 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 and include: 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, while nature lovers can see hundreds of bird species, animals, fish, and wildflowers. Geological formations of almost every type are found in North Dakota. You can dig for fossils or hunt for unique mineral specimens.

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.

Attractions

• The Geographical Center of North America in Rugby.
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Near Dickinson and Watford City, and the Little Missouri National Grasslands.
• KVLY-TV Tower 2 miles west of Blanchard. The tallest man-made structure on earth at 629 meters (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. Features 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. Runs through Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and the state of Washington.

Major events

Museums

Regions

• Badlands
• Coteau & Plains
• Lakes & Gardens
• Red River Valley
• Turtle Mountains
• Western North Dakota

Climate

The clash of arctic and tropic systems during summer occasionally leads to thunderstorms. The the state averages between 20-40 days of thunderstorm activity per year. Thunderstorms can be very strong when they occur, often resulting in hail and even tornadoes. Tornadoes are not rare in North Dakota, although they are most likely to occur in the southeast quarter of the state.

The weather tends to be more stable in winter, though constant winds can create blowing snow at any time of the season. Severe snowstorms and blizzards occur more during late fall or early spring.

Springtime flooding is a relatively common event in the Red River Valley. The best known and most destructive flood in eastern North Dakota was the Flood of 1997. This flood devastated much of the Valley and caused unprecedented damage in the city of Grand Forks.

Get out

If you're leaving North Dakota by car, you may wish to take Interstate 29 north to Winnipeg, or Interstate 94 east to Minneapolis. The adventurous might choose to drive US 85 straight through the Badlands south to Sturgis, either to see the motorcycle rally, or en route to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and other attractions of the Badlands and Black Hills.

Did you know?

There are more statues of Sakakawea than any other women in America.