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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. |
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