North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern and Western regions of the
United States of America. North Dakota is the 19th largest state by area in the
US; it is the 48th most populous, with just over 640,000 residents as of 2006.
North Dakota was carved out of the northern half of the Dakota Territory and
admitted to the Union as the 39th state on November 2, 1889.
The Missouri River flows through the western part of
the state and forms Lake Sakakawea behind the Garrison Dam. The western half of
the state is hilly and contains lignite coal and oil. In the east, the Red River
forms the Red River Valley, holding fertile farmland. Agriculture has long
dominated the economy and culture of North Dakota.
The state capital is Bismarck and the largest city is Fargo. The primary
public universities are located in Grand Forks and Fargo. The United States Air Force operates bases at both Minot and Grand
Forks.
