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Area70,704 sq mi
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CapitalBismarck
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Population762,062
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Income$61,843
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Home Value$239,464
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Crime2,169
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Unemployment4.7%
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Education28.9%
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Medicine16
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Poverty10.2%
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Environment0
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Infrastructure2.2%
As the name shows, North Dakota is located in the north of the United States, towards the middle of the national land. The territory was inhabited by the Lakota and Dakota tribes and was named after them on the map. Today, a large part of the national population descends from these Native Americans. While it has a large area, the inhabitants are not that many. Most of them live in big cities like Bismarck (the capital of North Dakota) and the largest city, Fargo, with a lot of history and important facts in the United States.
ND became part of the country back in 1889, together with the province of South Dakota. It was the 39th state to be admitted back then. The president who signed the bill was Benjamin Harrison. In terms of the economy, it has been historically successful when it comes to natural resources. For instance, there’s a lot of oil extraction in the Bakken formation section, in the north of the territory.
This means that most of the inhabitants live there, and the section has a reduced rate of North Dakota unemployment. As such, it’s only behind Hawaii. The geography is also rich, with farms and ranches covering almost all the territory. People can also enjoy rivers such as the Red Valley, beautiful plains, and the Badlands. The most important crop is wheat, but canola and flaxseed are also crucial.
How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States to Live In
To discover which are the best U.S. states to live in, we took into account several things. The first of them was the median income together with education and crime rates, though there were also other things to consider. These include health, the quality of air, water, the value of homes, and whether or not people can have access to them.
To gather the information, we considered official documents such as the ones produced by the FBI, the Health Department, or the Census Bureau.
North Dakota Rankings
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PopulationData: 762,062
Population density is one of the lowest in the country. This happens because the territory is huge, and people are concentrated in large numbers only in the major cities in the north. The rest of the province is made up of fields where they cultivate different crops like wheat.
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Income in $Data: $61,843
The median income per home is not the highest. The major industries that contribute to the thriving economy are the energy sector and tourism. Taxes make this place favorable. Income tax is 2.90%, while the corporate one is 4.31%, property tax is 0.95%, and sales tax is 7%.
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Home ValueData: $239,464
The median home value index is not so in line with the salary. With the monthly expenses, most people with a common wage would have to save for many years before being able to afford a house. The most expensive cities include Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Surrey.
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UnemploymentData: 4.7%
While in the past ND used to be one of the best in this respect, the situation has changed. After the COVID-19 crisis hit, almost 5% of the population found themselves with no jobs. Mainly, this happened because the tourism industry was essential and could not receive any visitors, for example.
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PovertyData: 10.2%
Luckily, the poverty indicator is quite low. Only 10% of people are below the line and cannot afford to have decent housing or access to health or education. These people include single mothers who have no support from their families or those who have not finished high school and live in rural areas.
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EducationData: 28.9%
Less than 30% of the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher. While this may be important in more competitive states like New York or Maryland, it’s not significant in ND. Here, most people can get a job and make a living no matter their education level.
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MedicineHealth Outcomes: 16
The rate of uninsured people is quite high, amounting to 18% of the population. This is the result of people not finding jobs that support their health insurance. In terms of centers, ND has 6 trauma centers, 44 hospitals, and 80 nursing homes, which is more than enough to supply the need in the western area of the land.
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CrimeViolent Crime: 2,169
The crime rate in North Dakota is high. The violent crime sparked with the increase of unemployment and the economic crisis, reaching almost 2,200 cases and 284 per 100,000 inhabitants in the county. Murder and rape are also much higher on the map than they were just a few years ago.
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EnvironmentAir: 0
This is one of the healthiest places in the whole country. For example, the air has 0 violations, making it the best-quality air to breathe in the USA. In terms of water, the number of violations is also low, especially compared to other areas like Western Florida, the Missouri river, or Ohio.
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InfrastructurePoor Roads: 2.20%
North Dakota’s roads are top-notch. Only 2.20% of them are in bad condition, which translates into people paying almost no money in reparations after using the highways. In terms of bridges, the rate could improve compared to much bigger states like Maine or Pennsylvania.
North Dakota Facts
- The state motto is “Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable.”
- ND has the best natural environment of the whole country, given that it also has a small population.
- All the region is rich in coal, and it has a supply that can last for 800 years.
- The name comes from Sioux and means “friend” or “ally.” This is relevant because of the tribes that lived (and still live) in this part of the country.
- English did not become an official language here until 1987.
- The North Dakota State has a Guinness Record because it has the most snow angels made in just one place. They won it in 2007.
- Meat is very popular, and ranches make more than 100 million dollars per year by selling beef.
- The state flower is the Rosa Arkansana, which is of the bright color pink.
- North Dakota’s abbreviation is, quite predictably, ND.
- There are more than 380 state zip codes.
People can find over 53 counties.
North Dakota in Photos
FAQ Section
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What Time Zone Is North Dakota in?
Being in the Midwest zone of the country, the state is set in a specific time zone. In this case, it’s GMT-6, which is the same as the state of Texas, for example. But it has a 4-hour time zone with NYC.
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What is ND Known for?
ND is well-known for its rich agriculture and beautiful geography.
But other things make the state famous:
- There’s a flag that features a dark blue field and a coat of arms.
- Most people in the American country are aware that wheat, peas, and honey are mainly cultivated there.
- This is home to the largest national French fry feed, a big event that takes place during the Potato Bowl in the USA.
This county has more than 35 wildlife refuges, which is the most significant number in the whole of the country.
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What to Do in North Dakota?
Enjoy this land in the United States and discover American history and national parks like the Missouri River.
- Take pleasure in the state fair, where people can discover local talent and attend one of the many concerts during the week.
- Have a great time at one of the local state parks and be in contact with nature.
- Take a look at the Fort Buford and Confluence center; a place built back in the 19th century during the French and Indian wars.
Visit the Scandinavian Heritage Park and find beautiful sculptures and monuments dedicated to the community.
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What Is the State Bird of ND?
All of the American provinces each have their own fauna and flora. As such, ND has Sturnella Neglecta as the state bird. It’s blue and yellow and was designated in 1947.
