North Dakota is a Midwestern state in the Upper Plains, located just south of the Canadian border. Back in the days of the old west, (19Th Century), North Dakota was considered to be part of the Wild - Wild - West. Before becoming a state, North Dakota was part of the Dakota Territory, becoming a state in 1889, the 39Th state in the Union.

In the western part of the state we have the Badlands of North Dakota. This is where Teddy Roosevelt fell in love with all that nature had to offer here and decided, later in life while being president, that this country needed a park system, better known as the National Park System.

The largest city in the state is Fargo, followed by Bismark, (the state capitol), Grand Forks and Minot. Minot and Grand Forks are both homes to United States Air Force Bases. Grand Forks and Fargo are both homes to two large public universities, University of North Dakota, Fighting Sioux and North Dakota State University, Bison.

The mighty Missouri River flows through the western part of the state creating a reservoir called Lake Sakakawea, (third largest man - made lake in the United States) behind the Garrison Dam. Out in the western part of the state is a very hilly area and rich in natural resources, such as lignite coal and crude oil. Now in the 21St. Century, the oil boom here in North Dakota has really begun to take off again, with the prices of oil being so high and all.

In the eastern half of the state, the Red River of the North, separates Minnesota and North Dakota, to form the Red River Valley. This area is considered to be some of the richest agriculture area in the whole country. The big money making crop in this area is sugar beets, along with all the other crops including, wheat, soy beans, sun flowers, corn, and barley. Agriculture has always dominated the economy and culture of North Dakota.

The largest city in the state is Fargo, followed by Bismark, (the state capitol), Grand Forks and Minot. Minot and Grand Forks are both homes to United States Air Force Bases. Grand Forks and Fargo are both homes to two large public universities, University of North Dakota, Fighting Sioux and North Dakota State University, Bison.

North Dakota is made up of 53 counties. North of the border is Canada and the two provinces that border our great state, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. To the west is Montana, South Dakota borders to the south, while the Red River separates North Dakota and Minnesota.

Being so far away from either of the oceans, or any other major body of water for that matter, North Dakota can be a brutal place as far as weather goes sometimes. As for the summers, high temps and humidity can be almost unbearable. Thunderstorms are not at all uncommon here in North Dakota. During the summer we have 30 - 40 days each year in which thunderstorms are likely to form. Some being so severe that tornadoes spawn and create havoc. Usually the best place for these storms to occur are in south east part of North Dakota.

Winters have been known to be very brutal at times. But for the most part it is the more stable time of year, cold and dry with occasional snow flurries. But, the wind can really blow here in North Dakota, and if a system comes in from the golf states and clashes with the cold mass of air, there is a chance for blizzards to form. This usually happens in late fall and early spring.