North Dakota: Present-day North Dakota

The state's heavy dependence on wheat and petroleum has made it unusually vulnerable to fluctuations in those markets; North Dakota has undergone a number of booms and busts in its petroleum industry, most recently in the early 21st cent. Red River flooding in 1997 devastated Grand Forks, adding to economic problems. In recent years North Dakota has become more urbanized, and telecommunications and high-tech manufacturing have created jobs.

Republicans have held the governor's chair since 1993. Jack Dalrymple succeeded John van Hoeven when the latter resigned in 2010 to run for the U.S. Senate; Dalyrymple was elected to the office in 2012. Moderate Republican Doug Burgum (2017- ) currently holds the governor's office.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Present-day North Dakota
• The Nonpartisan League
• Immigration and Agrarian Discontent
• Early Settlers and the Sioux
• Native Americans and the Fur Traders
• Government and Higher Education
• Economy
• Geography
• Facts and Figures

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