North Dakota

North Dakota

Flag of North Dakota

Admittance Order: 39th

Admitted to US: November 2, 1889 (136 years ago)

Governor: Kelly Armstrong (R)

Lt. Governor: Michelle Strinden (R)

Senators: John Hoeven (R) Kevin Cramer (R)

Representatives: Julie Fedorchak (R)

Official State website

Capital: Bismarck

Largest city: Fargo

Resource Guide: RL-ND

This article contains information that may change due to political elections and evolving sexual norms. {This article last updated:05/14/2025)

North Dakota is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south, and Montana to the west. It is believed to host the geographic center of North America, Rugby, and is home to the tallest man-made structure in the Western Hemisphere, the KVLY-TV mast.

North Dakota is the nineteenth-largest state, but with a population of less than 780,000 as of 2020, it is the fourth least populous and fourth most sparsely populated. The capital is Bismarck, while the largest city is Fargo, which accounts for nearly a fifth of the state's population; both cities are among the fastest-growing in the U.S., although half of all residents live in rural areas. The state is part of the Great Plains region, with defining characteristics of broad prairies, steppe, temperate savanna, badlands, and farmland.

What is now North Dakota was inhabited for thousands of years by various Native American tribes, including the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara along the Missouri River; the Ojibwa and Cree in the northeast; and several Sioux groups (the Assiniboine, Yankton, Wahpeton, and Teton) across the rest of the state. European explorers and traders first arrived in the early 18th century, mostly pursuing lucrative furs. The United States acquired the region in the early 19th century, gradually settling it amid growing resistance by increasingly displaced natives.

The Dakota Territory, established in 1861, became central to American pioneers, with the Homestead Act of 1862 precipitating significant population growth and development. The traditional fur trade declined in favor of farming, particularly of wheat; the subsequent Dakota Boom from 1878 to 1886 saw giant farms stretched across the rolling prairies, with the territory becoming a key breadbasket and regional economic engine. The Northern Pacific and Great Northern railway companies competed for access to lucrative grain centers; farmers banded together in political and socioeconomic alliances that were core to the broader Populist Movement of the Midwest.

North Dakota was admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, along with neighboring South Dakota, as the 39th and 40th states. President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the statehood papers before signing them so that no one could tell which became a state first; consequently, the two states are officially numbered in alphabetical order. Statehood marked the gradual winding down of the pioneer period, with the state fully settled by around 1920. Subsequent decades saw a rise in radical agrarian movements and economic cooperatives, of which one legacy is the Bank of North Dakota, the only state-run bank in the U.S.

Beginning in the mid 20th century, North Dakota's rich natural resources became more critical to economic development; into the 21st century, oil extraction from the Bakken formation in the northwest has played a major role in the state's prosperity. Such development has led to unprecedented population growth (along with high birth rates) and reduced unemployment, with North Dakota having the second lowest unemployment rate in the U.S. (after Hawaii). It ranks relatively well in metrics such as infrastructure, quality of life, economic opportunity, and public safety.

Attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in North Dakota

A complex interplay between evolving public opinion and a challenging legal and political landscape characterizes attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in North Dakota.

Public Opinion

While specific recent polling data for North Dakota is limited, national trends indicate increasing support for LGBTQ+ rights. For instance, a 2022 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) poll found that a majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, with support rising across various demographics. However, in North Dakota, support may be comparatively lower, reflecting the state's conservative leanings. A 2014 Pew Research Center study reported that approximately 46% of North Dakotans supported same-sex marriage at that time. Given national trends, it's plausible that support has increased since then, but it may still lag behind more progressive states.

Legal Landscape and Policies

North Dakota's legal framework presents several challenges for the LGBTQ+ community:

• Nondiscrimination Protections: The state lacks comprehensive nondiscrimination laws explicitly protecting individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas such as employment, housing, and public accommodations.
• Gender-Affirming Care: In April 2023, North Dakota enacted a law banning gender-affirming medical care for minors, including hormone treatments and surgeries. This law is currently being challenged in court by families and medical professionals who argue it violates constitutional rights.
• Transgender Rights: The state has implemented laws restricting transgender individuals from using restrooms and facilities that align with their gender identity in certain public buildings, including schools and correctional facilities.
• Pronoun Usage in Schools: Legislation passed in 2023 prohibits schools from requiring or prohibiting the use of preferred pronouns for transgender students. It also mandates that schools inform parents if a student identifies as transgender.
• Conversion Therapy: North Dakota does not have a statewide ban on conversion therapy practices for minors, leaving LGBTQ+ youth vulnerable to these discredited and harmful practices.

Community and Advocacy

Despite the challenging legal environment, advocacy groups continue to support the LGBTQ+ community in North Dakota:

ACLU of North Dakota: Actively works to protect and advance LGBTQ+ rights through legal challenges and public education.

• Human Rights Campaign (HRC): Engages in advocacy efforts within the state to promote equality and combat discriminatory legislation.

These organizations provide resources, support, and advocacy to address the negative impacts of recent legislation and to foster a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals in North Dakota.

Ongoing Challenges

The LGBTQ+ community in North Dakota faces several ongoing challenges:

• Legal Restrictions: Recent laws have curtailed rights related to healthcare, education, and public accommodations for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly affecting transgender youth.
• Social Climate: The combination of limited legal protections and recent legislative actions contributes to a social environment that can be unwelcoming or even hostile to LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Access to Services: Restrictions on gender-affirming care and the absence of conversion therapy bans may limit access to necessary and affirming services for LGBTQ+ youth.

History of the North Dakota Flag

The North Dakota State Flag features an eagle with outspread wings, carrying an olive branch in one claw and a set of arrows in the other, set against a blue background. The eagle holds a red ribbon in its beak, with gold text that reads, "E Pluribus, Unum." This phrase translates to, "Out of many, one," which is one of the mottoes of the United States. On the eagle's breast is a shield that has a blue background in the top portion, while the bottom portion consists of 13 alternating red and white stripes. Above the eagle is a golden sunburst with 13 gold five-pointed stars. The thirteen stars and the thirteen alternating stripes on the breast shield represent the original thirteen colonies. The eagle is also a well-known symbol of the United States. Beneath the eagle is a red banner with white text that reads, "North Dakota." The North Dakota State Flag was officially adopted on June 12, 1889. The flag is essentially an exact replica of the banner that was flown by members of the state's soldiers during the Philippine–American War.

North Dakota is located in the Midwestern and Northern region of the United States of America, sharing borders with Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Canada. The capital city is Bismarck, which is also the second most populous city in the state (the largest city is Fargo). North Dakota was named after "Dakota," the Sioux Indians who inhabited the area for centuries, and Dakota translates as "friends." North Dakota is also referred to as "The Peace Garden State" due to the peace garden that sits on the border between Canada and North Dakota. The Peace Garden opened in 1932 to honor the peace between the two nations and is thought to be the longest-lasting unguarded border in the world.

North Dakota has been inhabited for thousands of years and was occupied by Native American tribes, including the Mandan, Arikara, and Hidatsa. Although the area had not been thoroughly explored, France claimed the majority of the land after French explorer Robert De La Salle asserted ownership of the territory west of the Mississippi in 1682. The first European to thoroughly explore the area was the French fur trader Pierre De La Verendrye in 1738. In 1803, following the Louisiana Purchase, the United States of America gained control of North Dakota. Thomas Jefferson sent explorers Lewis and Clark to the region, where they built Fort Mandan on the Missouri River to survive the winter.

The first permanent settlement in North Dakota was at Pembina in 1812. In 1861, North Dakota became part of the Dakota Territory. Not many people chose to move or settle there until 1862, when the Homestead Act was introduced. The Homestead Act was a law that entitled American citizens to claim 160 acres of land west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, which they could keep if they lived on it for five years and made improvements. Following this law, many people decided to move to the area, and eventually, the Native American tribes were forced off their land, resulting in numerous battles. On November 2nd, 1889, North Dakota became a state of the United States of America. It is unclear whether it was the 39th state or the 40th state, as South Dakota joined the Union on the same day, and President Benjamin Harrison did not disclose which state he signed first.

External links

Wikipedia article: North Dakota

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