North Dakota, one of the states of the United States. It lies in the north-central part of the nation, bordered by Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, and the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Near Rugby, in the north-central part of the state, is the geographic center of North America.

North Dakota ranks 19th in size among states, with an area of 70,704 square miles (183,123 km 2).

North Dakota in brief
General information
Statehood: Nov. 2, 1889, the 39th state.
State abbreviations: N. Dak. or N.D. (traditional); ND (postal).
State capital: Bismarck, the capital since North Dakota became a state in 1889.
State motto: Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable.
Popular name: The Flickertail State.
State song: "North Dakota Hymn." Words by James W. Foley; music by C. S. Putnam.
Symbols of North Dakota
State bird: Western meadowlark.
State flower: Wild prairie rose.
State tree: American elm.
State flag and seal: North Dakota's state flag, adopted in 1911, bears a modified version of the coat of arms of the United States. On the state seal, adopted in 1889, a tree in an open field is surrounded by bundles of wheat, which represent agriculture. A plow, anvil, and sledge also symbolize farming. The bow and arrows and the Indian on horseback chasing a buffalo represent the Indian nations that thrived in the North Dakota region for hundreds of years.
Land and climate
Area: 70,704 mi2 (183,123 km2), including 1,710 mi2 (4,428 km2) of inland water.
Elevation: Highest--White Butte, 3,506 ft (1,069 m) above sea level. Lowest--750 ft (229 m) above sea level in Pembina County.
Record high temperature: 121 degrees F (49 degrees C) at Steele on July 6, 1936.
Record low temperature: –60 degrees F (–51 degrees C) at Parshall on Feb. 15, 1936.
Average July temperature: 70 degrees F (21 degrees C).
Average January temperature: 7 degrees F (–14 degrees C).
Average yearly precipitation: 17 in (43 cm).
People
Population: 642,200.
Rank among the states: 47th.
Density: 9 per mi2 (4 per km2), U.S. average 78 per mi2 (30 per km2).
Distribution: 56 percent urban, 44 percent rural.
Largest cities in North Dakota: Fargo (90,599); Bismarck (55,532); Grand Forks (49,321); Minot (36,567); Mandan (16,718); Dickinson (16,010).
Economy
Chief products
Agriculture: barley, beans, beef cattle, canola seeds, corn, flaxseed, hay, honey, milk, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, wheat.
Manufacturing: computer and electronic products, food products, machinery.
Mining: coal, natural gas, petroleum.
Government
State government
Governor: 4-year term.
State senators: 47; 4-year terms.
State representatives: 94; 2-year terms.
Counties: 53.
Federal government
United States senators: 2.
United States representatives: 1.
Electoral votes: 3.
Sources of information
For information about tourism, write to: North Dakota Department of Commerce—Tourism Division, 1600 E. Century Avenue, Suite 2, Bismarck, ND 58503. The Web site at http://www.nd.gov also provides information.
For information on the economy, write to: North Dakota Department of Commerce—Economic Development and Finance, 1600 E. Century Avenue, Suite 2, Bismarck, ND 58503.
The state's official Web site at http://discovernd.com also provides a gateway to much information on North Dakota's economy, government, and history.