North Dakota was explored in
1738–1740 by French Canadians led by Sieur de la
Verendrye. In 1803, the U.S. acquired most of North
Dakota from France in the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis
and Clark explored the region in 1804–1806, and the
first settlements were made at Pembina in 1812 by
Scottish and Irish families while this area was
still in dispute between the U.S. and Great Britain.
In 1818, the U.S. obtained the northeast part of
North Dakota by treaty with Great Britain and took
possession of Pembina in 1823. However, the region
remained largely unsettled until the construction of
the railroad in the 1870s and 1880s.
North Dakota is the most rural of all the states,
with farms covering more than 90% of the land. North
Dakota ranks first in the nation's production of
spring and durum wheat; other agricultural products
include barley, rye, sunflowers, dry edible beans,
honey, oats, flaxseed, sugar beets, hay, beef
cattle, sheep, and hogs.
Recently, manufacturing industries have grown,
especially food processing and farm equipment. The
state's coal and oil reserves are plentiful, and it
also produces natural gas, lignite, clay, sand, and
gravel.
The Garrison Dam on the Missouri River provides
extensive irrigation and produces 400,000 kilowatts
of electricity for the Missouri Basin areas.
Known for its waterfowl, grouse, pheasant, and deer
hunting and bass, trout, and pike fishing, North
Dakota has 20 state parks and recreation areas.
Points of interest include the International Peace
Garden near Dunseith, Fort Union Trading Post
National Historic Site near Williston, Knife River
Indian Villages National Historic Site in Stanton,
the State Capitol at Bismarck, the Badlands,
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and Fort Abraham
Lincoln State Park. |
