I was born and raised in Minot, North Dakota, which is located not far from the exact center of the North American continent. That's because only a handful of people live in rural North Dakota.
Winter lasts about nine months out of the year.
Ten degrees above zero is considered balmy. There are a total of five trees in the state. And the topography is remarkably flat. Although I like to joke about the state, North Dakota has a beauty all its own, and in my experience the quality of life there is unparalleled. I did my undergraduate work at North Dakota State University in Fargo, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.