North Dakota. "Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable" The United States of America. James F. Kaserman Sarah J. Kaserman.

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1 North Dakota "Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable" The United States of America James F. Kaserman Sarah J. Kaserman Bismarck I Save A Tree Electronic Books C 2003 I Save A Tree Inc. ISBN# X

2 Table of Contents Location 5 History before statehood 7 History since statehood 9 State government 11 State flag 13 Current facts 15 Industry today 17 State landmarks 19 Weather and land 21 Animals in North Dakota 23 State bird 25 State tree 27 State flower 29 Famous people from North Dakota 31 Things to do in North Dakota 33 Popular sports in North Dakota 35 Fast facts 37 Glossary 39 Web sites / books for information 41 Index 43 Credits 45

3 Location North Dakota is a Midwestern state. The country of Canada forms the northern border of North Dakota. To the east is the state of Minnesota. South Dakota is to the south. Montana is to the west. The town of Rugby, North Dakota, is the geographical center of the North American continent. A monument marks the spot. Bismarck is the capital city. It is located in the southern part of the state. Bismarck 6

4 History Railroad Before Statehood French explorers claimed the region in France sold it to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. It became the Dakota Territory in Poor transportation and Indian attacks kept settlers away for a long time. The completion of a railroad to Fargo and Bismarck in the 1870s brought a rush of settlers. Farms prospered on the fertile land. Large wheat farms were called "bonanza" farms because of their great profits. Cattle ranches appeared in the 1880s. Tomahawk 8

5 History Since Statehood North Dakota became the 39th state in the United States on November 2, North Dakota's population increased quickly after it became a state. A combination of drought and the Great Depression caused many farmers to leave the state. Oil tanks World War II revived the economy in North Dakota. The military needed food that could be produced on the farms and ranches in the state. In 1951, oil was discovered and soon became the state's most valuable resource. Drought 10

6 Government Capitol building The state government of North Dakota is divided into three branches. Governor John Hoeven is head of the executive branch. This branch is in charge of carrying out the laws. The legislature is called the legislative assembly and writes the laws for the state. The third branch is the judicial branch. This branch interprets the laws. North Dakota has 53 counties. Each has a local government. Governor John Hoeven 12

7 State Flag The state flag was adopted in The regimental flag of the First Dakota Infantry was chosen as the state flag. It has a blue field. The design is a modified version of the coat of arms of the United States. It shows a bald eagle holding an olive branch and bundle of arrows in its claws. In its beak, the eagle carries a ribbon with the saying "One nation made up of many states." The name "North Dakota" appears on a red scroll below the eagle. 14

8 Current Facts North Dakota market 642,200 people live in North Dakota. The state is ranked the 47th largest state for the number of people living in it. North Dakota covers 68,994 square miles. It is ranked the 17th largest state in total area in the United States. Badlands The "Badlands" are one of the most famous places in North Dakota. Strange shapes of clay and sandstone were formed by erosion over thousands of years. North Dakota is the most rural of all the states. 16

9 Industry Today North Dakota's fertile soil and mineral deposits are important to its industry. Farms cover more than 90% of the state. Wheat is the most important crop. Other crops are flaxseed, barley, rye, corn, oats, potatoes, soybeans, sugar beets and sunflowers. Wheat Processing of food and cattle-raising are also important agricultural industries. Oil is the second most important industry in North Dakota. Coal, sand, gravel, clay and salt are also mined. Coal chute 18

10 Landmarks General George Custer Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is the site where General George Custer and the 7th Cavalry set out for the Battle of Little Bighorn in Writing Rock is a large glacial boulder covered with Indian picture writing. The capitol building in Bismarck is a 19-story skyscraper. President Theodore Roosevelt's ranch cabin is located on the capitol grounds. Writing rock 20

11 Weather & Land Ice storm North Dakota has more sunshine than any other state. From mid- May through July, the sun shines 15 hours a day. Average winter temperatures range from 3 to 14 Fahrenheit. Summer temperatures range from 69 to 72. The average yearly precipitation is 18 inches. To the east lies the fertile land of the Red River Valley. The middle of North Dakota has rolling hills and valleys cut by many streams. In the north are the Turtle Mountains. To the southwest is the hilly Missouri Plateau where cattle are raised. Badlands 22

12 Animals In North Dakota Badger The large animals of North Dakota include deer, western plains' mule deer and pronghorn antelope. Smaller animals are prairie dogs, flicker-tail ground squirrels, badgers, beavers, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, rabbits, raccoons, skunks and weasels. Many ducks migrate in the summer to North Dakota to lay eggs. More waterfowl hatch in North Dakota than in any other state. Devil's Lake is known as the perch capital of the world. Antelope 24

13 State Bird Meadowlark The western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)was named the state bird in Males are commonly seen on fence posts singing. The bird can be spotted in meadows and fields, especially the drier pastures. Its diet during the growing season consists of insects, spiders and other small animals. In winter, the meadowlark eats mostly seeds. They sometimes form large flocks and forage together in the fields. Meadowlark 26

14 State Tree Leaves of the American elm American elm The American elm (Ulmus americana) was named the state tree in The elm can be found all over North Dakota and is native to eastern North America. It is a graceful, large tree. The elm cangrowto150 feet tall and 100 feet wide. Unfortunately, many trees have been killed by Dutch elm disease. 28

15 State Flower Wild prairie rose The wild prairie rose (Rosa arkansana) was named the state flower in The prairie rose is a small, thorny shrub that has five, bright pink petals and a cluster of yellow stamens in the center. It grows on sandy pastures, roadsides and at the edges of woods. Birds enjoy the fruit, which is called hips. Wild prairie rose 30

16 Famous People Lawrence Welk President Theodore Roosevelt lived in North Dakota for a number of years in a log cabin. He sometimes spent 15 hours a day riding horses. Chief Sitting Bull was a great Sioux Indian chief during the Indians wars. The Sitting Bull Burial Historical Site is located at Fort Yates. Lawrence Welk, the famous bandleader, lived in North Dakota. His band still appears on television in reruns. Chief Sitting Bull 32

17 Things to Do Fishing In North Dakota Many outdoor enthusiasts go to North Dakota to hunt game birds and deer, and to fish. North Dakota has 18 state and recreational parks. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is in the Badlands. This park has petrified forests and prariedog towns. The Dakota Dinosaur Museum has 12 full-scale dinosaurs and thousands of rock, mineral and fossil specimens. Medora is a restored cowboy town where the Burning Hills Amphitheater is located. Badlands 34

18 Sports In North Dakota Snowmobile Hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and camping are popular pastimes. In the winter, snow skiing and snowmobiling are enjoyed. Many people participate in the rodeos that are a part of the fairs held during the summer months. North Dakota has sports teams at both the highschool and the college level. Rodeo 36

19 North Dakota sunset Fast Facts Governor: John Hoeven Capital: Bismarck Size: 68,994 square miles, 17th in the U.S. Population: 642,200 people, 47th in the U.S. Major cities: Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, Mandan, Dickinson,West Fargo, Nickname: "Peace Garden State," "Rough Rider State," "Flickertail" State animal: none State bird: western meadowlark State flower: wild prairie rose State tree: American elm State song: "North Dakota Hymn" State motto: "Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable." Lynx cub 38

20 Glossary bonanza, a great source of wealth or prosperity. erosion, natural process by which a material is worn away. flaxseed, the seed of flax, wich is used to make linseed oil and some medicines. forage, to wander or go in search of food or supplies. petrified, wood converted or changed into a stone replica. pronghorn, having small, forked horns. prospered, to be fortunate and successful. revived, brought back, renewed or restored. stamen, the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower. waterfowl, a water bird, especially a swimming bird like a duck or goose. 40

21 Links & Books For more information Link1 Link2 Link3 Title: The World Book Encyclopedia Publisher: World Book, Inc. Copyright: 2002 Title: The Kid's World Almanac of the United States Author: Dr.Thomas G. Aylesworth Publisher: World Almanac Copyright: 1990 Title: Exploring the 50 States Author: Marcie Anderson Publisher: Willowisp Press, Inc. Copyright: 1983 Visit our 42

22 Index Badlands, Bismarck, 5, 20 cattle, 8, 18, 22 Devil's Lake, 24 elm, American, 27 Hoeven, John, 11 meadowlark, western, 25 mineral, 17, 34 Red River Valley, 22 Roosevelt,Theodore, 20, 31, 33 rose, wild prairie, 29 settlers, 8 wheat, 8, 17 44

23 Credits Written by James F. Kaserman Sarah J. Kaserman Edited by Linda Coyner Produced by Robert Rance Technologies Doug Meyers Design Dan Mader Photo credits North Dakota Department of Natural Resources I Save A Tree Inc. reserves the right to remove or exchange any photo/illustration at any time without notice. 46