And that's despite the spring rains this year that have left North Dakota soggy in large patches, flooded in Fargo, and a bit out of sorts overall. Let's hope we can all stay reasonably dry. For many people, the best reason is to raise children. As the annual Kids Count survey showed again last week, the environment for young people is excellent, third best in the nation, according to the statistics. Schools are safe and effective.
Family life is celebrated.
Crime is reasonably under control. Health care is good. Those conditions aren't universal. There are large disparities between conditions in the cities and in the countryside, and large disparities among white settlements and the American Indian reservations. But for many children in North Dakota, growing up will be safe, secure and promising.