North Dakota
Home is where the heart it is. So I guess that means home for me is North
Dakota. I love this state. I always have. My sentiment runs so deep; I can even
truthfully say this as I sit through the fifth blizzard of the season. To me the weather is just one more thing to
love.
As a teen, I had a special spot near my home that I
liked to go to at night and star gaze.
It was a little used highway overpass.
It actually was so little used that I would go lie in the middle of the
road and stare at the sky. (do NOT try this at home….) The stars seemed so bright I imagined I could
touch them. North Dakota is full of
beautiful little spots, like mine, to escape to and yet it is still bursting
full of growth and innovation. You’ll be
impressed with North Dakota whether you choose to spend your time enjoying the
modern cities or the beautiful country side.
Our state is on the right track. Our economy is
bursting. We have a low 3.2%
unemployment, rich crop land, rich oil fields and some of the best people
you’ll ever meet. North Dakota has so
much to offer that I want to tell you about a few of my favorite things and a
few amazing facts.
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1.
When Dakota Territory was created in 1861
it was named for the Dakota Indian tribe. We became a state on November 2nd,
1889.
2.
On your way from one side of the state to
the other, you can stop and take your picture at the geographic center point of
North America which is by the town of Rugby. A rock obelisk about 15 feet tall
marks the location.
3.
Milk is the official state beverage,
although the unofficial beverage is probably beer. North Dakota holds the dubious honor of
drinking the most beer per person.
4.
German is by far the largest ancestry
group in North Dakota, with nearly 44% of the population citing majority
heritage in 2000. (This is may be part of the unofficial beverage in #4.)
5.
North Dakota has a large number of ICBM
(inter-continental ballistic missile) silos. If North Dakota seceded from the
Union, it would be the world's third strongest nuclear power.
6.
We like our landmarks big. We have the Magic Highway, a road flanked
by huge metal structures. We have the world’s largest
cow in New Salem and the world’s largest buffalo in Jamestown. We even have a 50 foot high pyramid of empty oil cans in Casselton.
7.
Only one word is needed to describe Lake Sakakawea – big. Lake Sakakawea
is nearly 200 miles long with a shoreline of countless bays and inlets that
cover 1,600 miles. This gives us more
shoreline then California.
8.
Of the 50 states, North Dakota is 17th in
size. North Dakota is 212 miles long north to south and 360 miles wide east
to west.
9.
We have had our share of famous people: Lawrence Welk, a band leader and
entertainer; Josh
Dummal, an actor; Louis
L'Amour, an author;
Peggy Lee, a singer; Angie Dickinson an actress; and more.
10. North Dakota is the most rural of all
states, with farms covering more than 90% of the state. We rank first in the nation’s production of
spring and durum wheat (used in pasta) and sunflowers.
11.
The parking
meter was invented in North Dakota.
This is a good thing because we have more registered vehicles than we
have residents. This however is not true for my house.
12.
North Dakota is the only state to never have
had an earth quake. Phew! One less thing to worry about.
13.
We
have the highest number of millionaires per capita of any state. This
however, is also not true for my house.
14.
It is illegal to lay down and fall asleep
with your shoes on in the state of North Dakota. Good thing I only like to nap with my shoes
off.
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I want to give you
one more place to visit before you go: be sure to stop by Devils Lake; the
Dakota Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson; Sitting Bull Burial State Historic Site
located on the western edge of Fort Yates; De Mores State Historic Site; the
rock johnnies on Rock Butte; the International Peace Garden, that straddle the
international Boundary between North Dakota and Canada; Big Hidatsa Village; Knife River
Indian Villages National Historic Site; Theodore Roosevelt National Park; the rustic frontier town of Medora... Oh
and don’t forget to catch a University of North Dakota hockey game and a North
Dakota State Bison Football game. When
these great teams play, we practically declare it a state holiday.
So there you have it… that’s a bit about my home. I am ready to take you on a tour anytime you
want to stop by. Together, let’s go on a
grand adventure!
Blessings
Janelle Steinberg, Mrs. North Dakota International 2014
To discover all of the things to do in North Dakota and find
out what makes it legendary visit http://www.ndtourism.com/
