State Symbols of North Dakota

Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 by Editorial Staff

By | Updated on January 22, 2023

Reviewed by Rittika

North Dakota is a state in the United States of America. It is a landlocked state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Dakota Sioux tribe. The Peace Garden State is another name for North Dakota. The International Peace Garden on North Dakota’s border with Manitoba, Canada, is honored by this name. The nickname was declared official by the North Dakota legislature in 1957.

The first European explorers and traders arrived in the early 18th century. France gained possession of the area in 1738.  Later, Spain and England took control. The area was purchased by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The region was once part of the territories of Minnesota and Nebraska, along with South Dakota. Before the railroads arrived in the state in the late 1800s, it was a fairly sparsely inhabited state. During the period leading up to statehood, there was a fierce rivalry between North and South Dakota over which state would be admitted to the Union first. To prevent anybody from knowing which state was established first, President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the statehood documents before signing them; as a result, the two states are officially numbered in alphabetical order. North Dakota was admitted to the Union as the 13th state on November 2, 1889.

The state is bordered to the south by South Dakota, to the west by Montana, and to the north by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The winding Red River of the North forms the state’s eastern border with Minnesota.

With a total area of 70,698 sq mi (183,108 sq km), the state is the nineteenth largest state in the U.S. The state’s total population, according to the census 2020, is 779,094.

Bismarck is the state capital, and Fargo is the largest city.

North Dakota’s abundant natural resources started to play a bigger role in economic growth in the middle of the 20th century. North Dakota is home to the world’s largest lignite deposit, a form of soft, brown coal. It has been mined since 1873, and there is enough to last another 800 years.

Chokecherry is widespread in North Dakota. In 2007, North Dakota declared the Chokecherry its official state fruit.

The famous World’s Largest Buffalo Monument is a fun fact about the state. It is a sculpture of an American Bison located in Jamestown, North Dakota. Since 1959, this huge, 60-ton, 26-foot-tall concrete structure has been keeping a watchful eye over Jamestown. The monument is taller than a two-story house. The World’s Largest Buffalo was named “Dakota Thunder” on July 24, 2010.

North Dakota declared the Western meadowlark its official state bird in 1947. The wild prairie rose was recognized as North Dakota’s official state flower in 1907.

The official state motto of North Dakota is “Liberty and Union Now and Forever, One and Inseparable.” The state motto appears on North Dakota’s official state seal. In 1947, North Dakota declared “North Dakota Hymn” to be the official state song.

In 1987, North Dakota declared English the official state language.

State Information

Official Language English
State Rank 19
Demonym(s) North Dakotan
Nickname Peace Garden State, Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Heaven on Earth
ISO US-ND
Formation Date November 2, 1889
Coordinates Lat: 45° 56′ N to 49° 00′ N, Long: 96° 33′ W to 104° 03′ W
Area

State seal

Motto of North Dakota

"Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable"

State symbols of North Dakota 👇

State location

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State Flag of North Dakota