1839 NORTH DAKOTA 1939

50 YEARS BEFORE NORTH DAKOTA'S RATIFICATION OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

1845

1848

1851

1864

Civil War period

- 'The Frontier Scout' issued at Fort Union, first newspaper published in North Dakota.

1866

1867

- Fort Ransom, established in North Dakota.

- Fort Stevenson, established in North Dakota

- Fort Totten, established in North Dakota.

- Fort Totten Native American nation established in North Dakota.

- Pembina County established in North Dakota, seat Cavalier.

- Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux ceded North Dakota land to U.S. government by treaty.

1870

- North Dakota population 2,405 residents.

1871

- Fargo founded on the Red River by the Northern Pacific Railway in Cass County, North Dakota. Coordinates 46°52'N-96°48'W. Attractions & Recreation : Cass County Historical Society Museum, Forsberg House

- Settlers arrived in La Grandes Fourches, named by French fur traders, present Grand Forks in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Coordinates 47°55'N-97°03'W.

1872

- Camp Hancock, (today Bismarck) established in Burleigh County, North Dakota. A military post to protect workers constructing the Northern Pacific Railway.

- Valley City (Second Crossing), founded in Barnes County, North Dakota.

1873

- Camp Hancock(Edwinton) in Burleigh County, North Dakota, name changed into Bismarck, in honor of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, to attract German investment in the Northern Pacific Railway.

- Bismarck, appointed seat of Burleigh County in North Dakota.

- Bottineau County established in North Dakota, seat Bottineau.

- Burleigh County organized in North Dakota. Named after Maine born physician Dr. Walter Burleigh, county seat Bismarck.

- Cass County established in North Carolina, seat Fargo. Cities/Towns/Townships : Addison, Alice, Amenia, Argusville, Arthur, Ayr, Barnes, Bell, Berlin, Briarwood, Buffalo, Casselton, Clifton, Cornell, Davenport, Dows, Durbin, Eldred, Empire, Erie, Everest, Fargo, Frontier, Gardner, Gill, Grandin, Gunkel, Harmony, Harwood, Highland, Hill, Horace, Howes, Hunter, Kindred, Kinyon, Lake, Leonard, Maple River, Mapleton, Noble, Normanna, North River, Oxbow, Page, Pleasant, Pontiac, Prairie Rose, Raymond, Reed, Reiles, Rich, Rochester, Rush River, Stanley, Tower, Tower City, Walburg, Warren, West Fargo, Wheatland, Wiser.

- Cavalier County established in North Carolina, seat Langdon.

- Fargo on the Red River, appointed seat of Cass County in North Dakota.

- Captain Warren Beach of the Eleventh Infantry, accompanied the Stanley railroad survey expedition near Beach (named to him) in Golden Valley County, North Dakota.

- Grand Forks County established in North Dakota, seat Grand Forks.

- Grand Forks, appointed seat of Grand Forks County in North Dakota.

- Kidder County established in North Dakota, seat Steele.

- LaMoure County established in North Dakota, seat La Moure.

- Logan County established in North Dakota, seat Napoleon.

- McHenry County established in North Dakota, seat Towner.

- Morton County established in North Dakota, seat Mandan.

- Mountrail County established in North Dakota, seat Stanley.

- Ramsey County established in North Dakota, seat Devils Lake.

- Ransom County established in North Dakota, seat Lisbon.

- Renville County established in North Dakota, seat Mohall.

- Richland County established in North Dakota, seat Wahpeton.

- Rolette County established in North Dakota, seat Rolla.

- Sheridan County established in North Dakota, seat McClusky.

- Stutsman County established in North Dakota, seat Jamestown.

- Wells County established in North Dakota, seat Fessenden.

1874

- St. Michael's Indian Mission, established in Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota.

- January 4, Burbank County (later Barnes) established in North Dakota. County seat Valley City.

1875

- Edmund Hackett, appointed mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota.

- Fargo incorporated as city in Cass County, North Dakota.

- John McLean, appointed mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1875-1877).

- Mercer County established in North Dakota, seat Stanton.

- Traill County established in North Dakota, seat Hillsboro.

- Bismarck, incorporated as city in Burleigh County, North Dakota. Coordinates 46°48'N-100°47'W. Attractions & Recreation : Fort Lincoln State Park.

- January 14, North Dakota's Burbank County name changed to Barnes County.

1876

- Opening of the first post office in Valley City, Barnes County, North Dakota.

1877

- George Peoples, appointed mayor of Bismark in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1877-1881).

- Grafton, settled on the Park River in Walsh County, North Dakota. Attractions & Recreation : Homme Dam and Reservoir.

1879

- Barnes County Courthouse in North Dakota, built.

- Billings County formed in North Dakota, seat Medora.

- Emmons County established in North Carolina, seat Linton.

- Stark County established in North Dakota, seat Dickinson.

1880

- North Dakota population 36,909 residents.

- The Great Northern Railway arrived in Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota.

- Pleasant Valley Siding (present Dickinson), founded on the Heart River in Stark County, North Dakota. Coordinates 46°53'N-102°47'W.

1881

- Dickey County established in North Dakora, seat Ellendale.

- Grafton, appointed seat of Walsh County in North Dakota. Coordinates 48°25'N-97°25'W.

- Grand Forks, incorporated as city in Grand Forks County, North Dakota.

- Griggs County established in North Dakota, seat Cooperstown.

- Rosedale, name change to Arthur, in Cass County, North Dakota. Named after U.S. President Chester Alan Arthur.

- First stores established in Arthur, Cass County, North Dakota.

- R.B. Thurston, appointed mayor of Bismark in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1881-1882).

- Walsh County established in North Dakota, seat Grafton.

1882

- Arthur town site surveyed, in Cass County, North Dakota.

- First school built in Arthur, Cass County, North Dakota.

- J.W. Raymond, appointed mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1882-1884).

- June 10, About 2,000 Standing Rock Sioux left Fort Yates to partipate on what is called the 'Last Great Buffalo Hunt' near Hettinger in Adams County, North Dakota, and killed 5,000 buffalo for food, clothing and shelter.

1883

- Benson County formed in North Dakota, seat Minnewaukan.

- Bowman County established in North Dakota, seat Bowman.

- Dakota Territory capital, moved from Yankton to Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota.

- Devils Lake, city established on Devils Lake, seat of Ramsey County in North Dakota. Coordinates 48°01'N-98°52'W. Attractions and Recreation : Sully's Hill National Game Preserve

- Dunn County established in North Dakota, seat Manning.

- Grafton, incorporated in Walsh County, North Dakota.

- The University of North Dakota, established in Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota.

- Hettinger County established in North Dakota, seat Mott.

- McIntosh County established in North Dakota, seat Ashley.

- McLean County established in North Dakota, seat Washburn.

- Nelson County established in North Dakota, seat Lakota.

- Sargent County established in North Dakota, seat Forman.

- Steele County established in North Dakota, seat Finley.

- Towner County established in North Dakota, seat Cando.

- April, Medora in Billings County, North Dakota, founded by a French nobleman Marquis De Mores.

- September, New York politician Theodore Roosevelt (later President of the United States) arrived in the Medora area in North Dakota to hunt the buffalo.

- October, Sitting Bull and about 1,000 Standing Rock Sioux killed the last buffalo herd roaming the Hettinger region in Adams County, North Dakota.

1884

- First Barnes County courthouse built in Valley City, North Dakato.

- Dickinson, appointed seat of Stark County in North Dakota.

- John P. Dunn, appointed mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1884-1885).

1885

- John E. Carland, appointed mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota.

- Justus Bragg, appointed mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1885-1886).

- Eddy County established in North Dakota, seat New Rockford.

- Oliver County established in North Dakota, seat Center.

- Ward County established in North Dakota, seat Minot.

- March 13, Adams County in North Dakota, established, county seat Hettinger. Cities, Townships, Places : Beisigl, Bucyrus, Cedar, Central Adams, Chandler, Clermont, Darling Springs, Duck Creek, East Adams, Gilstrap, Haynes, Hettinger, Holden, Lemmon, Lightning Creek, Maine, Orange, Reeder, Scott, Sout Fork, Taylor Butte, Whetstone, Wolfbutte.

1886

- J.P. Hunt, appointed mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1886-1887).

1887

- W.A. Bentley, appoinred mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1887-1890).

- Devils Lake incorporated in Ramsey County, North Dakota.

- Pierce County established in North Dakota, seat Rugby.

1888

- St. John church organized in Arthur, Cass County, North Dadota.

November 2, North Dakota ND, 39th state admitted to the Union

North Dakota Today : capital Bismarck. Area 70,704 sq.mi.(183.123km²), 19th largest state. Counties 53 : Adams, Barnes, Benson, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells, Williams. Attractions & Recreation : Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, Arrowwood Wetland Management District, Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, Baldhill Dam Lake Ashtabula, Beaver Lake State Park, Black Tiger Bay State Recreation Area, Bowman Haley Lake, Brekken-Holmes Recreation Area, Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Chase Lake Prairie Project WMD, Cross Ranch State Park, Dakota Prairie Grasslands, Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, Devils Lake State Park, Devils Lake WMD, Dickinson Reservoir, Doyle Memorial State Recreation Area, Florence Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Fort Ransom State Park, Fort Stevenson State Park, Garrison Dam Lake Sakakawea, Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery, Grahams Island State Park,

- November 20, John Miller elected governor of North Dakota (1889-January 7, 1891).

1890

- North Dakota population 190,983 residents.

- Isaac P. Baker elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1890-1891).

- The North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science (former College) established in Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota.

- Williams County established in North Dakota, seat Williston.

1891

- W.A. Bentley elected second-term mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1891-1892).

- January 7, Andrew Horace Burke elected governor of North Dakota (1891-January 3, 1893).

1892

- Edward S. Allen elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1892-1894).

1893

- January 3, Eli C.D. Shortridge, elected governor of North Dakota (1893-January 10, 1895).

1894

- A.N. Leslie elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1894-1896).

1895

- January 10, Roger Allin elected governor of North Dakota(1895-January 6, 1897).

- April 7, John Bernard Flannagan, born in Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota. Sculptor, woodcarving, painter.

1896

- Edward Patterson, elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1896-1901).

1897

- January 6, Frank Arlington Briggs, elected governor of North Dakota(1897-August 9, 1898).

1898

- August 15, Joseph McMurray Devine appointed acting governor of North Dakota (1898-January 3, 1899).

1899

- First post office operational in Flaxton, North Dakota.

- January 3, Frederick Bartlett Fancher elected governor of North Dakota (1899-January 10, 1901).

1900

1901

- Francis Register elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1901-1905).

- January 10, Frank White elected governor of North Dakota (1901-January 4, 1905).

1902

- The 'Flaxton Bee' newspaper established by W.E. Burgett and E. Drinkwater in Flaxton, North Dakota.

1903

- First hotel in Flaxton, North Dakota, built.

- Garrison town founded in McLean County, North Dakota, by the brothers Cecil and Theodore Taylor.

- June 17, post office established in Garrison town in McLean County, North Dakota.

1905

- First school erected in Flaxton, North Dakota.

- McKenzie County established in North Dakota, seat Watford City.

- William H. Webb elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1905-1907).

- January 4, Elmore Yocum Sarles elected governor of North Dakota (1905-January 9, 1907).

1907

- Beach became a village, seat of Golden Valley County in North Dakota. Named for Captain Warren Beach, who accompanied the Stanley railroad survey expedition.

- Garrison village organized in McLean County, North Dakota.

- Haynes, founded in Adams County, North Dakota.

- Lignite founded, 7 miles from the Canadian border in Burke County, North Dakota.

- Marmath established in Bowman County, North Dakota, with the arrival of the Milwaukee Railroad.

- Francis R. Smyth elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1907-1909).

- Reeder, founded in Adams County, North Dakota.

- January 9, John Burke elected governor of North Dakota (1907-January 8, 1912).

- April 17, Adams County in North Dakota, organized by proclamation of governor John Burke, county seat Hettinger. Area 1,131 sq/mi ( 2.929km²).

1908

- Bucyrus, founded in Adams County, North Dakota. Coordinates 46°03'N-102°47'W.

- Arthur Meth church organized in Arthur, Cass County, North Dakota.

- March 22, Louis l'Amour, born in Jamestown, North Dakota, died June 10, 1988. Western fiction author.

1909

- Beach incorporated as city, in Golden Valley County, North Dakota.

- E.A. Williams elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1909-1913).

- January 17, Samuel Stephen Goldich, born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Geologist and petrologist.

1910

- North Dakota population 577,056 residents.

- Burke County established in North Dakota, seat Bowbells.

- Divide County established in North Dakota, seat Crosby.

1912

- Electric street lights in service in Arthur, Cass County, North Dakota.

- Golden Valley County, organized in North Dakota, seat Beach.

- February 1, Harold Schafer, born near Stanton in North Dakota. Businessman, philanthropist and founder of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation.

1913

- High school erected in Flaxton, North Dakota.

- Arthur W. Lucas elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1913-1921).

- January 8, Louis Benjamin Hanna elected governor of North Dakota (1913-January 3, 1917).

1914

1915

- Sioux County established in North Dakota, seat Fort Yates.

- Slope County established in North Dakota, seat Amidon.

1916

- Grant County established in North Dakota, seat Carson.

- March 20, Garrison organized as a city in McLean County, North Dakota.

1917

- January 3, Lynn Joseph Frazier elected governor of North Dakota (1917-November 23, 1921).

1919

- Dickinson, incorporated in Stark County, North Dakota.

1920

- North Dakota population 646,872 residents.

- May 26, Peggy Lee, born in Jamestown, North Dakota, died January 21, 2002. Jazz singer, songwriter, Oscar nominated performer.

1921

- Amil P. Lenhart elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1921-1937).

- September 21, Arthur incorporated as village in Cass County, North Dakota.

- November 23, Ragnvald Anderson Nestos elected governor of North Dakota (1921-January 7, 1925).

1924

- July 30, William H. Gass, born in Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota. Philosopher and author 'e.g. 'Omensetter's Luck'.

1925

- January 7, Arthur Gustav Sorlie elected governor of North Dakota (1925-August 28, 1928).

1928

- August 28, Walter Jeremiah Maddock elected governor of North Dakota (1928-January 9, 1929).

1929

- West City Park Bridge (National Register of Historic Places) built in Valley City, Barnes County, North Dakota.

- January 9, George Frederick Shafer elected governor of North Dakota (1929-December 31, 1932).

1930

- North Dakota population 680,845 residents.

1931

- September 30, Angie Dickinson (Angelina Brown), born in Kulm, North Dakota. Golden Globe winning TV and film actress.

1932

- State capitol, including the governor's mansion and state museum, built in Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota.

- December 31, William Langer elected governor of North Dakota (1932-June 21, 1934).

1934

1935

- January 7, Thomas Hilliard Moodie elected governor of North Dakota (1935-February 2, 1935).

- February 2, Walter Welford appointed acting governor of North Dakota (1935-January 6, 1937).

1937

- Obert Olson elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1937-1939).

- January 6, William Langer elected second-term governor of North Dakota (1937-January 5, 1939).

- Bismarck Junior College opened in Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota.

- N.O. Churchill elected mayor of Bismarck in Burleigh County, North Dakota (1939-1946).

- January 5, John Moses elected governor of North Dakota (1939-January 4, 1945).

50 YEARS AFTER NORTH DAKOTA'S RATIFICATION OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

- Fargo founded on the Red River by the Northern Pacific Railway in Cass County, North Dakota. Coordinates 46°52'N-96°48'W. Attractions & Recreation : Cass County Historical Society Museum, Forsberg House

- Cass County established in North Carolina, seat Fargo. Cities/Towns/Townships : Addison, Alice, Amenia, Argusville, Arthur, Ayr, Barnes, Bell, Berlin, Briarwood, Buffalo, Casselton, Clifton, Cornell, Davenport, Dows, Durbin, Eldred, Empire, Erie, Everest, Fargo, Frontier, Gardner, Gill, Grandin, Gunkel, Harmony, Harwood, Highland, Hill, Horace, Howes, Hunter, Kindred, Kinyon, Lake, Leonard, Maple River, Mapleton, Noble, Normanna, North River, Oxbow, Page, Pleasant, Pontiac, Prairie Rose, Raymond, Reed, Reiles, Rich, Rochester, Rush River, Stanley, Tower, Tower City, Walburg, Warren, West Fargo, Wheatland, Wiser.

- Fargo on the Red River, appointed seat of Cass County in North Dakota.

- Fargo incorporated as city in Cass County, North Dakota.

- Rosedale, name change to Arthur, in Cass County, North Dakota. Named after U.S. President Chester Alan Arthur.

- First stores established in Arthur, Cass County, North Dakota.

- Arthur town site surveyed, in Cass County, North Dakota.

- First school built in Arthur, Cass County, North Dakota.

- St. John church organized in Arthur, Cass County, North Dadota.

- The North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science (former College) established in Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota.

- April 7, John Bernard Flannagan, born in Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota. Sculptor, woodcarving, painter.

- Arthur Meth church organized in Arthur, Cass County, North Dakota.

- Electric street lights in service in Arthur, Cass County, North Dakota.

- September 21, Arthur incorporated as village in Cass County, North Dakota.

- July 30, William H. Gass, born in Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota. Philosopher and author 'e.g. 'Omensetter's Luck'.

1867

- Pembina County established in North Dakota, seat Cavalier.