North Dakota

North Dakota is a U.S. state, the northernmost of the Great Plains states in the Midwestern United States, although during the 19th Century it was considered part of the Wild West. To the north across the U.S. more...

-Canada border are the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and to the south is South Dakota. In the west is Montana and to the east across the Red River of the North and the Bois de Sioux River is Minnesota. The Missouri River flows through the western part of the state, forming Lake Sakakawea behind the Garrison Dam.

Formerly part of Dakota Territory (named after the Dakota tribe of Native Americans), North Dakota became a state in 1889. North Dakota's postal abbreviation is ND. The entire state is covered by area code 701. The United States Navy vessels USS North Dakota and Flickertail State were named in honor of North Dakota.

History

Prior to European contact, Native Americans inhabited North Dakota for thousands of years. The first European to reach the area was the French-Canadian trader La Vérendrye, who led an exploration party to Mandan villages about 1738.

The trading arrangement between tribes was such that North Dakota tribes rarely dealt directly with Europeans. However, the native tribes were in sufficient contact that by the time of Lewis and Clark, they were at least somewhat aware of the French, then Spanish claims to their territory.

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