NORTH DAKOTA'S BOUNDARIES NORTH DAKOTA'S BOUNDARIES by John P. Bluemle Introduction I recently received a letter from a lady in Oklahoma who wondered "Why are the boundaries of your state where they are? Why not a few miles down the road or in some other location? How were they decided?" The lady may have sent the same letter to every state. I suppose a geographer or historian might know many of the answers to her questions, but I didn't and, I suspect, neither do a lot of other North Dakotans. Nor could I find any kind of reference that included this information all in one place. Geographers I asked couldn't direct me to a specific reference that includes the information. My goal here is to describe how the boundaries of North Dakota were established, and insofar as I can, I'll try to provide an answer to the questions the lady asked. I'll begin with a general discussion of how geographic boundaries are established and follow with an account of each of North Dakota's four boundaries. How Geographic Boundaries are Commonly Established Geographic boundaries are defined, established, and changed in various ways. Three of the most common means of defining jurisdictional boundaries are: .

By a water boundary, such as a stream, lake, or other body of water (e.g. North Dakota's eastern boundary - the Red River of the North); . By a divide between two drainage basins (the boundary between parts of Montana and Idaho); . By a meridian of longitude or a parallel of latitude (North Dakota's northern, southern, and western boundaries). The precision of the last of these depends upon the accuracy and ability of the surveyor. Certainly, no doubt exists as to the intent of the wording when a parallel of latitude is specified, because the numbering always begins with zero at the equator. Meridians are more ambiguous. The numbering of meridians increases from zero to the east and west of Greenwich, England, but this has not always been so; even today in some countries, the initial meridian is the one passing through the nation's capital. In the United States, the meridian passing through Washington, D.C., was used as a point of departure from 1850 until 1912.

[The Washington meridian passes through the center of the dome of the old Naval Observatory at 24th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., which is located 5 hours, 8 minutes, 12.15 seconds or 77°03'02.3" west of Greenwich.] It was during the years when this law was in effect that North Dakota's boundaries were determined. The above-mentioned longitude, 77°03'02.3", became the eventual basis for establishing the line that is the boundary between the states of North Dakota and Montana. The State of North Dakota By the enabling act of February 22, 1889, Dakota Territory was divided into two parts, North Dakota and South Dakota: The area comprising the Territory of Dakota shall...be divided on the line of the seventh standard parallel produced due west to the western boundary of said Territory... The enabling act provided for a constitutional convention of 75 members, with three to be elected from each of twenty-five districts. On May 14, in a late blizzard, voters went to the polls in their sleighs to elect the delegates.

The convention convened on July 4 in Bismarck and drafted a constitution (for more detailed information on the debates that took place during the convention, see Elwyn Robinson's History of North Dakota). The North Dakota constitution was ratified on October 1, 1889. The enabling act described the state's boundaries as follows: "The State of North Dakota shall consist of all the territory included within the following boundaries, to wit: Commencing at a point in the main channel of the Red River of the North, where the forty-ninth degree of north latitude crosses the same, from thence south up the main channel of the same and along the boundary line of the State of Minnesota to a point where the seventh standard parallel intersects the same; thence west along said seventh standard parallel to a point where it intersects the twenty-seventh meridian of longitude west from Washington; then north on said meridian to a point where it intersects the forty-ninth degree of north latitude; thence east along said line to place of beginning." President Benjamin Harrison signed the proclamations admitting the two new states to the Union .

There had been some rivalry between the two states for the honor of being the first to be admitted to the Union, but President Harrison declined to settle the issue by making a choice. He had Secretary of State James Blaine shuffle the papers and cover them so he could not tell which proclamation he signed first. The signing took place at 3:40 p.m. on November 2, 1889. Thus, both North and South Dakota were born within the same moment. To sign the proclamations, President Harrison used a pen fashioned from the quill of an eagle that had been shot in the northern part of Dakota Territory. The Modern Boundaries of North Dakota Even though Congressional definitions of the boundaries of the various states may have specified that they follow certain parallels or meridians, some discrepancies and apparent errors in the locations of state boundaries remain. The reason for the discrepancies is that the actual measurement and demarcation of the boundaries in the field, at the time they were established in the 1800s, was difficult, despite the best intentions of the surveyors. Terrain conditions varied greatly and surveying equipment was primitive.

Later re-surveys may have determined that lines that had been surveyed earlier may not have been straight or they may have otherwise been slightly inaccurate. The Northern Boundary of North Dakota The International Boundary between North Dakota and Manitoba and Saskatchewan, along the 49th parallel of latitude, is 310.0 miles long. The choice of the 49th parallel probably stems from early treaties between the U.S. and Great Britain. The Treaty of Ghent in 1814 and the follow-up Treaty of Peace in 1818 resulted in an agreement to establish a boundary line west from the Lake of the Woods along the 49th parallel. The 1818 convention with Great Britain extended the northern United State's boundary line westward along the 49th parallel of latitude to the "Stony" (Rocky) Mountains and provided that the country beyond these mountains should for 10 years remain open to both parties. Article II of the Convention reads as follows: "Article II.

It is agreed that a line drawn from the most northwestern part of the Lake of the Woods, along the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, or if the said point shall not be in the forty-ninth parallel of nonlatitude, then that a line drawn from the said point due north or south, as the case may be, until the said line shall intersect the said parallel of north latitude, and from the point of such intersection due west along and with the said parallel shall be the line of demarcation between the territories of the United States, and those of His Britannic Majesty, and that the said line shall form the northern boundary of the said territories of the United States, and the southern boundary of the territories of His Britannic Majesty, from the Lake of the Woods to the Stony Mountains." The initial point of this boundary, which the convention fixed as "the most northwestern point" of the Lake of the Woods, was selected in 1824 by Dr. J. L. Tiarks, astronomer, and David Thompson, surveyor, who were employed by the British Government for this purpose. The point selected was about 27.5 miles north of the 49th parallel in a swamp.

The result of the Convention of 1818, as it concerns North Dakota, was that it added the area drained by the Red River of the North, south of the 49th parallel of latitude. This area was not part of the Louisiana Purchase (because it was not drained by the Mississippi/Missouri Rivers) and was not considered to be part of the United States (until the Convention of 1818). In 1823, Major Stephen H. Long established and marked a point at Pembina, which he reported to be on the 49th parallel. However, the point established by Long was later reported by a military commission to be more than 4,600 feet south of the true 49th parallel. This was important to the people of the Pembina, area, a relatively populated area, as the people needed to know which country they lived in. On March 13, 1872, a bill was passed providing for a commission to establish and mark the International Boundary. The commission met in 1872 and established an astronomical station on the west bank of the Red River. From this point, the line was run west.

The International Boundary was first surveyed and marked during the years 1872 - 1875 by surveyors of a United States and British boundary commission. From the Red River of the North to a point on the boundary two miles west of the 99th Meridian (northwest of Sarles, Cavalier County, North Dakota), the boundary was originally marked with cast-iron posts five feet high, set one mile apart along the line. From that point to the western boundary of North Dakota, the line was originally marked either with stone cairns or earth mounds, 10 to 16 feet in diameter, 5 to 8 feet high, erected about three miles apart along the line. Under a treaty between the United States and Great Britain, signed in Washington, April 11, 1908, the boundary was re-surveyed and re-marked in 1910 and 1911.

Along the section of the line to the 99th Meridian, the original cast-iron posts were reset in concrete bases and elsewhere, the stone cairns and earth mounds were replaced with new cast-iron posts, set in concrete bases, as well as placing similar intermediate monuments on the line between the original marks that had been set at three-mile intervals. U.S.- Canada boundary. Metal monument at the International Boundary, U.S. side, view to the west-northwest (car is heading west, in Canada). The monuments are inscribed “October 20, 1818” on the U.S. side and “Convention of London” on the Canadian side. Photo is from the October 28, 1973 edition of the Minneapolis Tribune and is provided courtesy of David L. Mercer, United States Border Patrol. The International Boundary posts are inscribed "Convention of London" on the Canadian side and " October 20, 1818 " on the American side. The Eastern Boundary of North Dakota The boundary between North Dakota and Minnesota, the thread of the channels of the Red River of the North and the Bois de Sioux River, is approximately 434 miles long.

The "as-the-crow-flies" distance is about 213 miles. The difference in the two mileage figures - the river distance being more than double the straight-line distance - is a result of the highly meandering route of the Red River and, to a lesser extent, the Bois de Sioux River. The enabling legislation for the State of Minnesota included the following passage: "Beginning at the point in the center of the main channel of the Red River of the North, where the boundary line between the United States and British Possessions crosses the same; thence up the main channel of said river to that of the Bois de Sioux River; then [up] the main channel of said river to Lake Traverse ...." The language provided during the constitutional convention for North Dakota reads a little differently: "...commencing at a point in the main channel of the Red River of the North, where the forty-ninth degree of north latitude crosses the same, from thence south up the main channel of the same and along the boundary line of the State of Minnesota to a point where the seventh standard parallel intersects the same; thence west...." Red River of the North.

The extremely sinuous course of the river, as it wends its way northward between North Dakota and Minnesota, more than doubles the length of the distance of the boundary between the two states (compared to the straight-line distance). North Dakota - Minnesota boundary. Sorlie Bridge across the Red River of the North at Grand Forks, ND - East Grand Forks, MN. The view is downstream, with Grand Forks, North Dakota on the left. The Sorlie Bridge was named for North Dakota Governor Arthur Sorlie of Grand Forks and dedicated in 1929. Photo by John Bluemle. The North Dakota language omits any reference to the Bois de Sioux River. Since the Red River does not extend all the way southward to the South Dakota border, it would seem that the failure to reference the Bois de Sioux River is a minor omission. The desired result is obtained by reference to the western "boundary line of the State of Minnesota ". The Southern Boundary of North Dakota [Note: By far the best and most complete discussion of the establishing and marking of the boundary between North and South Dakota is that of Gordon Iseminger, "The Quartzite Border," published in 1988 (see references).

My abbreviated discussion here is taken largely from Iseminger's book - JPB]. The boundary between North and South Dakota follows an east-west line, the Seventh Standard Parallel. The boundary is 360.57 miles long, as surveyed by Charles H. Bates of Yankton, South Dakota, during the summers of 1891 and 1892. Initially, the boundary line dividing Dakota Territory into two states would have been set at the forty-sixth parallel of north latitude in a bill introduced in 1880 in the United States House of Representatives by Granville G. Bennett, the territorial delegate to Congress. However, northern Dakota Territory people attending a public meeting in Fargo on December 5, 1880, objected to making the forty-sixth parallel the boundary between the two states. A division along this line would have placed five-sixths of the lower tier of townships in Emmons, Logan, LaMoure, Ransom, and Richland counties on the South Dakota side of the boundary, resulting in a loss to North Dakota of large amounts of land.

Not only would locating the boundary on the forty-sixth parallel have required a considerable redefining of already-established county boundaries, it would have resulted in homestead claims and improved farms being divided by the state boundary. To avoid the confusion resulting from a division of the territory along the line of the forty-sixth parallel, the Fargo convention resolved in favor of dividing the territory along the line of the Seventh Standard Parallel. This line conformed to the county boundaries already established and to the township lines already drawn by congressional survey. Bennett's bill was eventually pigeonholed and, when the Enabling Act for the Dakotas, Montana, and Washington was passed, it stipulated that the Territory of Dakota should be "divided on the line of the Seventh Standard Parallel ..." The Seventh Standard Parallel. The simple designation of the Seventh Standard Parallel as the boundary between the two states did not solve all the problems. Contrary to common assumption, the Seventh Standard Parallel was not a simple straight line from the eastern boundary of the territory to the Missouri River. In fact, there were two Seventh Standard Parallels in Dakota Territory prior to statehood. Both were well defined and the Interior Department in Washington had endorsed and reported on both of them.

The confusion regarding the location of the Seventh Standard Parallel arose because of a mistake made in the office of the Minnesota surveyor general. It had been intended to base the survey of the Seventh Standard Parallel across the Sisseton and Wahpeton Indian Reservation on the eastern edge of the territory on the fifth principal meridian base. Unfortunately, a critical reference had been written as "miles and chains" in the Minnesota office, when it should have been written as "chains and links". Consequently, the Seventh Standard Parallel across the reservation was drawn about two and a quarter miles south of where it should have been. If the Seventh Standard Parallel were to have been "extended due west" from this point to the Montana boundary, a considerable amount of territory would have been involved, and endless uncertainty, litigation, and hard feelings would have resulted. More tempered accounts held that the Seventh Standard Parallel was a clearly defined line, except where it crossed the Sisseton and Wahpeton Indian Reservation. Because of the confusion, the location of the Seventh Standard Parallel had to be clarified. People living along the line had to know to which state they paid taxes. The location of the boundary was also a concern for the federal government.

The proposed boundary would pass through such federal jurisdictions as Indian reservations, judicial districts, land office districts, and postal districts. As reported in the New York Times on March 5, 1889, national attention was focused on the location of the elusive Seventh Standard Parallel. North Dakota and South Dakota appointed a Joint Commission to determine the location of the Seventh Standard Parallel. But, when the Commission was unable to accomplish this, the matter was turned over to the federal government to act. The state boundary had to be determined, surveyed, fixed, and marked as quickly as possible, and the boundary, once fixed, had to be one that everyone could accept. After a contentious debate, Senate Bill 3089 was signed into law on September 25, 1890. It provided that the United States Secretary of the Interior would oversee the survey of the Seventh Standard Parallel from the Minnesota border on the east to the Montana border on the west. Definition of the Seventh Standard Parallel. The Seventh Standard Parallel North of the public land survey is an extension from the Minnesota survey.

The baseline in Minnesota is the Iowa-Minnesota border and the Standard Parallels in both Minnesota and North Dakota (and eastern South Dakota) are numbered from the northern border of Iowa. The distance between the Standard Parallels, measured from south to north, is 24 miles. The Standard Parallels in both Minnesota and North Dakota are numbered (northward) from the Iowa-Minnesota border. Thus, the southern border of North Dakota is referenced to the Iowa-Minnesota border, and is 168 miles north of that line (7 x 24 =168 miles). The Seventh Standard Parallel is considered to be at 45°56'07" North Latitude. Surveying and Marking the Boundary Between North and South Dakota. On June 4, 1891, Charles Bates signed a contract to survey and install monuments along the boundary. Bates marked the boundary with quartzite monuments quarried at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The monuments were seven feet long and ten inches square at the top and were set at half-mile intervals. Each monument was marked with the initials "N.D." on the north side and "S.D." on the south side.

Mile monuments were marked with the number of miles from the initial monument (from the east) on the east side of the post. The intermediate mile posts - section line corners - were marked on their north side with the letters "S.C." (section corner) below the "N.D." and the numbers of the township and range. The first monument was located 9 chains west of the Bois de Sioux River bed along the Seventh Standard Parallel. It was not possible to be exactly accurate during the surveying process. Thus, the latitude of the Seventh Standard Parallel, near where it crosses the Bois de Sioux River is surveyed as being at a latitude of 45°56'07" North. At the western end of the state boundary, where it intersects the Montana boundary, it is at 45°56'43". This is a discrepancy of 36 seconds. Therefore, the boundary between the states of North and South Dakota is about 3,660 feet farther north on the west end than on the east. Even though it is illegal to disturb the markers, many of them have suffered in various ways since they were installed. Some have been altered, destroyed, removed, or defaced.

Some have been damaged by farm machinery. Some have been toppled by erosion. Some have been used as fence posts and others as cattle rubbing stones. In fact, when Bates had completed the survey and marking of the boundary, he told the editor of the Sturgis Weekly Record that his having erected 720 superb cattle-scratching posts qualified him for membership in the Humane Society of the United States. Some monuments are now used as handy posts for "No Hunting" or "No Trespassing" signs. Mile Post 51 is a lawn ornament on a farmstead near Havana, North Dakota (about a mile north of the state line); Mile Post 91 is located in front of the Great Plains Museum near Mandan; two monuments stand on either side of a sidewalk leading to a house in Garrison, North Dakota. It should be noted that these North Dakota - South Dakota boundary. Quartzite monument on the North Dakota-South Dakota state line at approximately mile 166½ measured from the Red River. This monument is located south of the town of Hague on the Emmons-Campbell county line. The view is to the east, with North Dakota on the left. Photo by John Bluemle.

and other monuments were not necessarily moved illegally. One monument, Mile Post 169, was broken off when it was hit by a running horse (the fate of the horse is not known). The Western Boundary of North Dakota The western boundary of North Dakota is approximately 210.95 miles long (calculated by a modern geographic information system). The survey of the eastern boundary of Montana (the western boundary of North Dakota and much of South Dakota) on the 27th meridian west of Washington, D.C. was undertaken in 1885. Surveying was initiated by astronomical observations at Mingusville (now Wibaux), Montana, by Daniel G. Major, U.S. Surveyor. North Dakota - Montana boundary. There is some uncertainty as to the exact location of the boundary. (A) The photo shows a farmstead on the Montana state line about six miles south of Beach. The buildings are in North Dakota, the fence row (along the right side of the bushes) is the state line at approximately 104° 02' 50" (as determined by a GPS receiver). (B) The photo shows the at this location.

This photo shows a view of a road, but located about 820 feet farther west than the location shown in (A). The longitude of this line is approximately 104° 03' 02.3", which is just about what it “should” be (27° + 77° 03' 02.3" - see text). Photos by William J. Bluemle. The initial position was established by measurement from an astronomical station on the Northern Pacific Railway six miles and 28.51 chains to the west, where an exchange of time signals had been made by telegraph. From the point thus found, a random line was run south to the 45th parallel. The markers, were established at one-mile intervals and constructed of either stone or native wood (cottonwood, elm, or pine). The first mention of the 27th meridian as a boundary line is in the enabling act for Idaho Territory in 1863; it marked the eastern boundary of Idaho Territory. The 27th meridian was not mentioned in the Organic Act for Dakota Territory because the original Dakota Territory extended beyond and included that line.

Then, when the acts designating the states of North and South Dakota were written, they included the Idaho Territory language specifying the 27th meridian as the western boundary of the two new states. I am unsure just why the 27th meridian was chosen as the boundary between the two Dakotas and Montana and Wyoming. It may have been a number chosen "out of the blue" at the time Idaho Territory was established. The line does not coincide with any particular section or half-section line, or anything else of local or regional significance. As I noted, the boundary line was not intended to follow the 104th degree of west longitude, but rather it was placed on the 27th meridian west of Washington. The boundary between North Dakota and Montana is supposed to be at 104°03'02.3" (27° + 77°03'02.3"), and it is supposed to be a straight north-south line.

However, a study of 7.5 minute topographic maps shows that the North Dakota - Montana boundary is at 104°02'46" at the South Dakota state line and at 104°02'54" at the International Boundary. That is, on the north end the boundary is approximately 533 feet farther west than it is on the south end. Map of the United States (apart from Alaska and Hawaii), showing the accessions of territory from 1803 to 1853. North Dakota consists of land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and from Great Britain in1818. References Iseminger, G. L., 1988. The quartzite border: surveying and marking the North Dakota-South Dakota boundary 1891 - 1892: The Center for Western Studies, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 122 p. Kastelle, Russell E., (no date). Meridians, base lines, parallels, townships, ranges and sections in North Dakota; unpublished manuscript. Kane, L. M., Holmquist, J.

D., and Gilman, Carolyn, 1978. The northern expeditions of Stephen H. Long - the journals of 1817 and 1823 and related documents: Minnesota Historical Society Press, pp 1 - 46. Mercer, David L., 2002. Personal communication and photo. Organic Act of Dakota Territory, March 2, 1861, reprinted from the South Dakota Historical Review, vol. 1, no. 2, January 1936. Robinson, E. B., 1966. History of North Dakota: University of Nebraska Press, 610 p. Van Zandt, F. K., 1976. Boundaries of the United States and the several states: United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 909, 191 p. White, James, 1914. Boundary disputes and treaties: Toronto, 958 p. Copyright ï¿½ 2002 North Dakota Geological Survey Last modified: 20-Jul-2007 North Dakota Geography from NETSTATE The Land From east to west, North Dakota is divided into three geographic regions.

In the east is the Red River Valley. To the west of the Red River Valley is the Drift Prairie. The southwestern half of North Dakota is covered by the Great Plains. The Red River Valley is flat. It lies along the border of Minnesota and is one of the most fertile areas in the world. This area of North Dakota is farm country and wheat and other crops cover the area along with livestock. To the west of the Red River Valley is the Drift Prairie, rising from 200 to 2,000 feet over the Red River Valley. The Drift Prairie is separated from the Red River Valley in the north by the Pembina Hills. This area is marked by rolling hills, stream valleys, and numerous lakes where thousands of ducks nest every year. In the north are the Turtle Mountains. About half of North Dakota is covered by the Great Plains. The Great Plains, in the southwestern section of the state, rise about 300 to 400 feet above the Drift Prairie east of the Missouri River. The area is hilly and rich in mineral deposits. Along the Missouri River, the land is lower. This area is called the Missouri Break.

To the south and west of the river is an area of rugged valleys and buttes called the Slope. The Badlands lie in southwestern North Dakota. This strip of beautiful monuments to nature stretches about 190 miles and is about 6 to 20 miles wide. The Badlands are a valley of stone and clay where wind and water have shaped the land into strange and beautiful formations; buttes, pyramids, domes, and cones colored in shades of browns, reds, grays, and yellows. In some areas of the Badlands the rocks contain lignite coal that has been burning for many years. The clay above these coal beds has turned bright pink and red. White Butte, the highest point in North Dakota stands 3,506 feet above sea level in the Badlands. Climate (All temperatures Fahrenheit) Highest Temperature The highest temperature recorded in North Dakota is 121°, Fahrenheit. This record high was recorded on July 6, 1936 at Steele. Lowest Temperature The lowest temperature in North Dakota, -60°, was recorded on February 15, 1936 at Parshall.

Average Temperature Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 84.4 degrees to a low of -5.1 degrees. Climate Average yearly precipitation for North Dakota, from 1971 to 2000, is shown on this chart from Oregon State University. Sources: The World Almanac of the U.S.A. by Allan Carpenter and Carl Provorse, Copyright © 1998 D. Jerome Tweton and Douglas C. Munski, "North Dakota," World Book Online Americas Edition, August 15, 2001. The United States Geological Survey Website TGNN System Northern Border System The Northern Border pipeline system links supply in Western Canada with major markets in the Midwest, including Chicago. Connecting from the Canadian Mainline at the Saskatchewan-Montana border, the Northern Border System transports natural gas along 2,265 km (1,407 miles) of pipeline southeast through Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa to Chicago, Illinois. There are access points to Midwest markets through multiple interconnects. In fact, about 17 per cent of the gas imported into the United States from Canada in 2008 was carried on the Northern Border pipeline.

The Northern Border System is eyeing expansion to sources of Rockies gas through the Bison pipeline project which is in development. The Bison pipeline project will involve the construction of approximately 486 km (302 mi) of pipeline that will extend northeastward from the Dead Horse region in Wyoming to interconnect with the Northern Border pipeline in Morton County, North Dakota. From there, natural gas will be transported on Northern Border to Midwest markets. The Northern Border System is part of TransCanada's network of 57,000 km (35,500 mi.) of wholly owned and 11,500 km (7,000 mi.) of partially owned natural gas pipelines connecting major supply basins with major markets all across North America. TransCanada is one of the continent's largest providers of gas storage and related services with approximately 380 Bcf of storage capacity - that's the second largest in North America. In total, TransCanada delivers approximately 20 per cent of the natural gas consumed in North America each day. TransCanada operates and effectively owns 16.7 per cent of the system through its 33.3 per cent interest in TC PipeLines, LP.

Landsat Image of the North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota Border Region MINNESOTA BORDER REGION Click on the photo for an enlarged image. (69K) The southernmost 20% of the previous image overlaps into the top portion of this image. "North" is indicated by a black arrow in the extreme upper-right corner. Unlike the previous image, taken in spring, this image is taken at the end of summer. Reflectance induced by the presence of crops and/or stubble in fields results in a greater dominance by reds. The arcuate feature in the top, left-center portion of the image represents a sediment fan deposited into Glacial Lake Agassiz by the Sheyenne River (see also previous image ). The river ("River Warren") channel that formed the southern outlet of this enormous lake is in part reflected by the presence of the two elongate lakes in the right-central portion of the image: Lake Traverse (northernmost) and Big Stone Lake (southernmost). The north-south continental divide extends across Lake Traverse: its northern (controlled) outlet directs waters northward into the Red River-Nelson River drainage; its southern outlet directs waters into the Minnesota-Mississippi drainage.

The prominent, northward-pointing, triangular feature in the southern half of the image is the Prairie Coteau (Coteau des Prairies). Its tip just cuts across the North Dakota / South Dakota border. This feature is largely supported by glacial sediments, which in places may approach 250 m in thickness. During the last (late Wisconsinan) glaciation, the Prairie Coteau played a prominent role in splitting glacier ice into two lobes: the James Lobe, which advanced southward along the west flank of the feature, and the Des Moines Lobe, which advanced southward along the east flank. The Prairie Coteau and the landscape/soil impact of the Des Moines Lobe advance are both nicely reflected in the next image . (Image #1060-16485, USGS EROS Data Center, 21 September 1972). North Dakota travel guide - Wikitravel Most of the State:UTC -6/-5 Southwest:UTC -7/-6 North Dakota [1] is a state in the Great Plains of the United States .

It is bordered on the west by Montana , on the east by Minnesota , on the south by South Dakota , and on the north by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba . North Dakota, the 39th state, was admitted to the Union in 1889. The year 2005 marked the bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark expedition which began in Illinois and passed through North Dakota on the way to the Pacific Northwest , with help from a Shoshone Indian girl, Sakakawea, as their guide. North Dakota's 53 counties cover approximately 70,655 square miles (183,000 sq km) and has a population of 672,591 in 2010 census. Cities[ edit ] Fargo - North Dakota's largest city, home of North Dakota State University, the cultural, medical, and economical center of the state Bismarck - The State Capital, a recreational hot-spot, the scenic Center of North Dakota, and is growing every day Devils Lake - The heart of North Dakota lake country Dickinson - The crown of the Southwest, gateway to the Badlands Grand Forks - Home to the University of North Dakota.

UND's School of Medicine and School of Law are located in Grand Forks. Jamestown - The Buffalo City, pride of the Prairie Minot - The Magic City, the primary city in northwest North Dakota Understand[ edit ] North Dakota is a large, sparsely populated state. It was settled mainly by farmers of Scandinavian and German descent. North Dakota's population has scarcely changed since 1915, but its urban-to-rural ratio has changed dramatically over the years. One-sixth of the people in the state live in Fargo, and that figure is growing all the time. The state's economy is (the the most vibrant in North America. It's close to being one of the top five oil and wind energy producers in the world. It has also year after year posted the least crime and unemployment rate in the Country. Plus, it is on the verge of being the world's main base for testing, research and development of UAV's) based on its agriculture, food processing, mining, tourism and machinery. North Dakota is the least-visited state in the union, not surprising given its location. But there is something to be found for those willing to venture into the unknown.

North Dakota is living proof that there is much to see and do off the beaten tourist path and in small towns. Outdoor activities abound year round: hiking, biking, camping (tent and RV), boating, fishing, sailing, tubing, birding, photography, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, archery, and more. If you fancy disc golf, there are fourteen regulation courses in the state. Or you can simply take a scenic drive through hills and lakes, badlands, or plains. Military buffs will enjoy visiting the old frontier forts. Nature lovers can see hundreds of species of birds, animals, fish, and wildflowers. Geological formations of almost every type are here. You can dig for fossils or hunt for unique mineral specimens. North Dakota is a significant state to Native Americans, full of sacred and historical places that are open to tourists. There are lots of resources to learn about Native American history and culture [3] . If you are interested in an authentic experience, make sure to head to the United Tribes International Powwow that is hosted in Bismarck every fall [4] . Whatever you do, make sure to respect Native lands and traditions. If you see any possible artifacts, do not disturb them.

Famous North Dakotans include: former CBS newsman Eric Sevareid (Velva, ND), actress Angie Dickinson (Kulm, ND), "Fever" singer Peggy Lee (Jamestown, ND), "bubbling machine" bandleader Lawrence Welk (Strasburg, ND), and author Louis L'Amour (Jamestown, ND). By plane[ edit ] Scheduled airline service is available in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot, and Williston. Delta Air Lines [5] offers daily flights to all destinations. United Express [6] serves Bismarck and Fargo. Allegiant Air [7] serves Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot. Frontier Airlines [8] also serve Bismarck and Fargo. Great Lakes Airlines [9] Dickinson and Williston. By car[ edit ] Interstate 94 runs east-west through the southern side of the state. Interstate 29 runs north-south on the eastern edge of the state. U.S. Highway 2 runs east-west through the northern side of the state. U.S.

Highways 85, 83, 281, and 81 run north-south through the state. U.S. Highway 52 runs northwest-southeast through the state. For those arriving from Canada, 24-hour customs stations are available at SK 39 (U.S. 52) in Portal, MB 10 (U.S. 281) at the Peace Gardens, and MB 75 (I-29) near Pembina. By train[ edit ] Amtrak 's [10] Empire Builder line serves Fargo, Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Rugby, Minot, Stanley, and Williston. The best way to get around the state is by car. By rural bus[ edit ] Jefferson Bus Line (888-864-2832) has a route that goes along US I-29, which goes north and south. Greyhound (800-231-2222) goes along the other major interstate, I-94, which goes east and west.

New Town Bus Line (701-852-2477) starts in New Town, ND, heads east on Highway 23 up to Minot, then continues on Highway 2 to Grand Forks. It always runs from Minot to Bismarck on Highway 83. Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Adventure Activities: Turn off that reality TV and visit a place with real life adventure: North Dakota. When it comes to outdoor activities, North Dakota is hard to beat. Golf the Lewis & Clark Trail, sail across Lake Sakakawea. No matter if it's bicycle or binoculars - an adventure awaits you. Search for activities like hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, boating, skiing, snowmobiling, golfing, wildlife viewing and horseback riding. From serene to extreme - North Dakota has it. Don't let all that fresh air go to waste, go out and have some fun!

Agri-tourism: In North Dakota, one may answer a lot of questions about agriculture - like "Where does milk come from?" and "How do you make spaghetti?" Here, you can live out a real ranch vacation, become a cowboy, even get your hands dirty with some of the best soil in the world. An Education Vacation in agriculture is one recommended way to experience North Dakota Agri-Tourism. Discover North Dakota's ranches, farms & gardens. See it all from the seat of a saddle or just stop and take a moment to appreciate the waving greens, the golden amber waves of grain and the immense modern farm equipment. American Indian Experience: They are the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, the Yanktonai, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa and other Dakotah/Lakotah (commonly known as the Sioux) tribes, along with the Pembina Chippewa, Cree and Métis. Though the individual tribes have distinct and different origins, histories and languages, Plains Indians are united by core beliefs and values that emanate from respect for the earth and an understanding of humankind's relationship with nature.

Visitors are welcome to explore the reservations and discover the beauty of Indian culture. Archaeology and Paleontology: Millions of years before North Dakota was a state, prehistoric creatures were living out their legendary adventure. Today, you can visit - and excavate at - fossil-bearing sites ranging in age from 30 years to 73 million years. Arts and Entertainment: Concerts, festivals, galleries and more abound in North Dakota. See top-name acts at a casino or larger venues like the Fargodome, Bismarck Civic Center, Minot All Seasons Arena or Grand Forks’ Alerus Center, Ralph Englestad Arena and Chester Fritz Auditorium. Art, created by or simply appreciated by North Dakotans, can be experienced in many ways. Check out the North Dakota Council on the Arts for a good overview. You’ll also want to visit the North Dakota Museum of Art, Plains Art Museum and the many art and craft fairs you’ll find on local CVB websites. Biking: North Dakota’s varied topography offers mountain bikers many choices for riding.

From the one million acres of rugged buttes in the Little Missouri National Grassland to the rolling hills of the Turtle Mountains, North Dakota has many areas for mountain biking, including the Maah Daah Hey Trail, waiting to be discovered. Birding: nearly four hundred species of birds inhabit or visit North Dakota. Boating: North Dakota’s lakes and rivers are well equipped with boat landings and great reasons to get out on the water, like legendary fishing. Camping: Whether you're traveling by luxury RV or with a pup-tent in the back of the pick-up, camping adventure awaits you at 1,300 North Dakota campsites. With 17 State Parks and Recreation Areas and countless local camping facilities, North Dakota is a great place to camp. There is abundant activity available in every park. Pack the s'mores, sing some campfire songs and keep an eye towards the sky in case the Northern Lights join your party. Canoeing/Kayaking: North Dakota’s canoeing waters are as diverse as the state itself. Whether canoeists prefer the scenery presented by agricultural plains, rugged Badlands, thickly wooded slopes or gentle river bluffs, North Dakota’s rivers offer a challenge to beginners and experienced paddlers alike.

Casinos/Gaming: You'll find fun and excitement throughout the year in North Dakota's casinos. Enjoy a variety of gaming experiences, fine dining and accommodations. Visit casino websites for concert and event listings. Education Vacation: One of the fastest growing travel trends is in education vacations. This is an opportunity for visitors to customize their North Dakota experience - have fun and learn new skills - in a variety of areas, including: •Agriculture •American Indian Studies •Art •Birding •Culinary Arts •Living History •ND Immigrant Cultures •Paleontology Energy: When you drive to the store or flip on a light switch, the energy has to come from somewhere. See how energy is produced in North Dakota by visiting the energy related attractions. Family Fun: Building memories - that's what family fun is all about. In North Dakota, your family can follow the trail of Lewis & Clark, dig for fossils buried for millions of years, splash down at a water park, tell ghost stories around a campfire ... and that's just the first day! Fishing: Fishing is good, but let's be honest. Every one of us would rather be catching. Fortunately, North Dakota is famous for its productive fisheries.

Our plentiful lakes and rivers are teeming with game fish like northern pike, walleye, perch, trout and bass. Water levels, species diversity, fish sizes and populations are up. So, if you're up for more action, more trophy catches and more fun, North Dakota is your fishing hotspot. Forts: Experience North Dakota's legendary military history through a visit to a fort or state historic site. As settlers pushed west, forts were established to provide protection and central meeting places. The North Dakota State Historical Society operates most historic forts in the state. Geocaching: High-tech treasure hunting with the help of a Global Positioning System (GPS) provides another opportunity for outdoor adventure the whole family can enjoy. The North Dakota state parks system offers a wide variety of natural and historic settings, landmarks and architectural works, to make this state a great getaway for an enjoyable geocaching experience. Come explore the state parks of North Dakota and test your cache seeking skills in some of state’s most scenic and historic settings. Golfing: North Dakota has more golf courses per capita than any other state in the nation, more than 100 courses total.

Hiking: Public lands in North Dakota, including state parks, wildlife management areas and refuges, grasslands, national parks, historic sites and recreation areas are open for day hiking of various lengths. Hiking sites include trails with historic or natural features specifically marked for self-guided interpretive walks. These short hikes are excellent for individuals, families or large group learning experiences. Horse and Auto Racing: If you have a need for speed, there's nothing like a Friday night spent cheering for your favorite driver. Hunting: One of the problems hunters face here is the many options in fall. Making a choice is tough. Hunters can decoy ducks or geese in the morning, chase pheasants in the afternoon and be back in their decoy spread again for the evening flight. Or they can bowhunt for mule deer in the drop-dead gorgeous Badlands. North Dakota is known as the duck factory in the lower 48 states, boasting some of the best duck hunting in the country for birds raised within its borders – and some of the best hunting for birds making southern migrations from nesting grounds in Canada.

Upland hunters come from around the country for a shot at ring-necked pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge. Big-game hunts are available, too. Record numbers of deer licenses have been issued in recent years. More often than not, hunters go home not only with game, but wonderful stories to share for years to come. Lewis and Clark Trail: Meriwether Lewis called them "the handsomest plains I ever beheld." North Dakota still boasts breathtaking scenery and its hospitality continues to leave a lasting impression on visitors. Lewis and Clark did all of the hard work, charting and exploring the West, and now you can have all of the fun! Take your own journey to a powwow, drape yourself in a buffalo robe or meander through remains of the home of Sakakawea, the Lewis & Clark Expedition's legendary Indian interpreter and guide. Motorcycling: There is nothing quite like motorcycling in North Dakota. Great highways dissect 70,000 square miles of rural bliss and take riders effortlessly between the state’s larger cities.

You will find things here you won’t find anywhere else: stress-free riding, the nicest people, the North Dakota Badlands, Pembina Gorge, rolling hills and grasslands and the wide open farmland of the Red River Valley. RVing: On highway, there are 350 miles of scenic byways and backways to lead you to some of our favorite “hidden gems.” Create your legendary adventure by way of national park sites, state parks, city and county campgrounds, prairies, Badlands, grasslands and valleys. Scenic Drives: take a break from it all and cruise on one of North Dakota's many scenic drives. Sporting Teams: Be a part of the action in North Dakota. Pound on the glass, feel each step before the slam dunk, hear the crack of the bat and ready your glove for the pop fly. Here you can enjoy minor league baseball junior and hockey and never have to worry about the nose-bleed section.

Teams include: •American Association Baseball RedHawks - Fargo, •NAHL Hockey Bobcats Hockey - Bismarck, •USHL Hockey Fargo Force - Fargo Western Experience: North Dakota is often known as the place to visit for a "Real American" experience. In fact, it's why North Dakota is frequently ranked in the Top Five for U.S. destinations by international guests. Wineries: North Dakota is home to a growing number of wineries and vineyards, and the popularity of North Dakota wines is growing. From pumpkin to rhubarb, apple to honey - there's a variety to excite the palate. Tours and tasting is available. Sheyenne River Speedway, 698 Prospect St (Lisbon, ND 58054), [28] . The Sheyenne River Speedway in Lisbon, ND offers family entertainment and exciting WISSOTA dirt track racing action every Sunday night. Loyal Fans, Talented Drivers and Proud Volunteers have been creating memories and traditions for more than 40 years.

Bring your family, talk with friends, meet the drivers, take some photos and enjoy watching the exciting WISSOTA Super Stocks, WISSOTA MW Modifieds, WISSOTA Street Stocks, Bombers and Hornets racing side by side for the checkered flag and create your own memories. edit Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] North Dakota doesn't have much to boast in terms of culinary arts, but there are a few things you can find, if you dig deep enough. Many of the privately-owned steakhouses are absolutely superb, which is unsurprising concerning there are about four times as many cows as there are people in North Dakota. Not to mention that many of the fruits and vegetables are grown right there in North Dakota's fine soil. Since much of North Dakota's population has descended from Scandinavian immigrants, you can sometimes find restaurants specializing in such foods. Homemade 'lefse', a traditional soft Norwegian flatbread made with leftover potatoes, flour, butter, and milk or cream, may seem odd at first, but is worth a try. Lutefisk is also worth mentioning, but it's an... Acquired taste, to say the least.

It is made from aged stockfish (air-dried whitefish) or dried/salted whitefish and lye. It is gelatinous in texture. No, this is no joke. Its name literally means "lye fish". Don't forget about the small towns, either. Some of the best stops you can make in North Dakota are in the small little communities littered across the state, many of which have less than 2,000 people -- and some have less than 100. Drive-ins, pizza places, Mexican restaurants, and more are all over the place, and most of them serve genuine homemade food, and often from scratch. Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] There's no beating around the bush; there's a lot of drinking in this state. Many small towns have a typical unglamorous history of starting out as a railroad track. Then came the grain elevators, and soon followed the bars and the brothels. isn't uncommon for a small town to have two, three, or even four bars. Alcohol is widespread around the state, and it's often customary to invite a friend over to have a beer, rather than a cup of tea or a cup of coffee like most other places.

Urban concerns[ edit ] Industrial oil development, mainly taking place in the area between Minot, Williston, and Dickinson, has made most highways unsafe for bicyclists. Crime has significantly increased, especially in Williston, which has doubled in size in a few short years. Wilderness[ edit ] The venomous rattlesnake can be stumbled on by mistake. Rattlesnakes should be avoided and never disturbed. Cougars or mountain lions are found in Central and Western North Dakota. Bison may be beautiful but a male bison can run faster than you can and may trample or maul if it feels threatened. The same applies for moose, who are often aggressive. Always maintain a safe distance (30 yards or more) from large animals. Deer are known to cross roads all over North Dakota so drive aware of deer crossings, especially in the early morning or dusk hours. Never forget that North Dakota's peaceful valleys can give way to challenging ravines and trenches, raging rivers and clay roads, cactus and thorns. A walk around Lake Sakakawea's beautiful shores can turn into a rescue mission, since lakes are deep shorelines are sometimes unsteady. Use lifejackets when on rivers.

In winter, always be prepared for dangerous cold and keep a winter survival kit in vehicles. Know the thickness and quality of the ice before venturing out (Ask a local if unsure). Never explore North Dakota in the winter without proper gear. Blaze orange clothing during deer season is a must. Much of North Dakota's most beautiful scenery is untouched. You are likely to be perfectly safe in North Dakota's cities and on highways. But when you travel away from the highways to reach the great scenery North Dakota has to offer, be sure to have a travel companion (or notify a trusted person of your travel plans) and plenty of supplies in case you become stranded. Since North Dakota is one of America's least populated states, there is a lot of untouched land for you to explore. Severe Weather[ edit ] Portions of the state can be effected by potentially dangerous thunderstorms during the spring and summer seasons. These thunderstorms will often produce large hail along with damaging winds and frequent lightning. Though isolated in incidence, it is not uncommon for them to spawn small scale tornadoes as well. Despite their size, they can be incredibly powerful and endanger unsuspecting travelers during this time of year.

Travelers to and through the state, particularly its central and southern-most regions, during the spring/summer seasons should monitor the weather conditions as they can change very rapidly. Refer to the Tornado safety page for more information. The state is known for enduring incredibly long, harsh winter seasons. Blizzards and ice storms often occur and can be life-threatening to unprepared travelers. As with any severe weather situation, keep yourself up to date on the latest weather conditions if you are planning to travel to or through the state during the winter season. Respect[ edit ] North Dakota is generally conservative. Expect similar treatment to most other flyover states. Discrimination, homophobia, and similar issues are not as bad as they are in other parts of America. Violence, however, is incredibly rare outside of bars. North Dakota prides itself with being humble, calm, and welcoming. And though it may seem that the five Nodak conversation topics -- farming, trucks, guns, women, and beer -- are all there is, there's much more once you sit down and relax. Modesty is very important. Arguing over the bill is common. If you're visiting someone's house, it might be nice to bring something to snack on.

Or, even better, something to drink. In farmhouses, taking off your shoes at the doorway might not be that big of a deal, but you can always ask. Respect crops and livestock. Respect the outdoors, since North Dakota is one of the few places with virtually untouched natural parks left. The locals take a lot of value in it. Not to mention that Turtle River State Park has a small Bald Eagle population. The state still has a large number of churchgoers, and many people hold their faith dear to them. Do be careful when bringing up religion, especially when it involves Christianity or Islam. If you're not from a place adjusted to the cold, you're there in the wintertime, and a North Dakotan mushes you outside, go with them and deal with the freezing chills. Laugh about it while you do, too! Consider it a trial by fire. ...Or, ice, rather. They think it's fun to see how others adjust to their climate. But, don't fret; if you're out there with a hat, gloves, thick snowpants, and a jacket, you will be just fine. It's all in good fun.

Besides, if you haven't had a snowball fight in two or three feet of snow, you might not even know what fun is. The rule of thumb is head inside when you can't feel your fingers, toes, cheeks, and nose. Get out[ edit ] If you're leaving North Dakota by car, you may wish to take Interstate 29 north to Winnipeg , or Interstate 94 east to Minneapolis . The adventurous might choose to drive US 85 straight through the Badlands south to Sturgis , either to see the motorcycle rally, or en route to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and other attractions of the Badlands and Black Hills . Minnesota - Known for cold winters and its ten thousand lakes, North Dakota's eastern neighbor is an ideal destination for wilderness enthusiasts and shoppers destined for the Twin Cities and Mall of America. Iowa's northern and western borders Iowa's northern and western borders (or, "The Land Between Three Rivers and a Funky Diagonal") When Florida became a state on March 3, 1845, it created an imbalance between free and slave states in the Union.

Since about the beginning of the 19th century, free and slave states were admitted to the Union in pairs, the most notable pair being Maine and Missouri in the Missouri Compromise. Michigan and Arkansas followed about 15 years later, and eight years after that it was time for a new round. With Florida's admission, Iowa was the next candidate for statehood. At the time, Iowa Territory extended all the way up to the British Empire, in what today are Manitoba and Saskatchewan, bordered on the west by the Missouri River and the east by the Mississippi River. It included eastern South Dakota, three-fourths of North Dakota, and more than half of Minnesota. But as with most territories, the final boundaries for a state would be pared down from the original territory. Many sources put a diagonal in the first state border proposal made in 1845. A line would extend from the mouth of the Big Sioux River at present-day Sioux City to the mouth of the Blue Earth River just west of present-day Mankato. From there, the Minnesota River would be the border up to the Mississippi River, and then the Mississippi would be the state's eastern border.

(Hence, the subtitle above.) In the following discussion about the borders, I will often refer to present-day sites and highways, to provide a sense of location. Keep in mind, though, that had either of these borders been accepted, the history of those cities and highways would be very different. Maybe they wouldn't exist at all. Full version of the northern boundary here . Interstates in Minnesota that would be in "Iowa" are also on this map. This graphic shows how the diagonal would have cut off Iowa's northwestern corner. Black dots are in the proposed state of Iowa, gray dots out. The line seems to go almost directly over the southwestern and northeastern corners of O'Brien County, which would put half the town of Primghar inside Iowa and half outside it. (In addition, today's Sioux City would likely have a really skewed street grid.) The line would also go right through West Okoboji Lake and near today's west junction of US 71 and IA 9. In retrospect, though this portion of Iowa was virtually unsettled by whites at the time, such a line would cut off some very productive farmland. Prominent dissent: Author Mark Stein includes no mention of this diagonal proposal.

Instead, he says that Territorial Governor Robert Lucas proposed borders that would include ALL of Minnesota south of the Minnesota River plus that portion of what is now South Dakota east of the Big Sioux River to its source with a line east to somewhere northwest of Big Stone City, SD. (Geographic quirk: The Big Sioux flows south through western Sioux Falls then turns back north to I-90 before going east and south again - that would make for a weird border dip!) This would have given the state a big lobe to the northwest plus, again, the southern half of what is now the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Congress rejected the first proposal, whatever it was - perhaps because of the diagonal when the township-and-range system was well-established, but that's only my speculation. It sent back a new one - one that chopped off about a third of the present state. Sources agree that the western border was not the Missouri River, and that the proposal went north into present-day Minnesota, but beyond that, there are discrepancies that vary enough to be completely confusing.

Descriptions I have seen: "two counties into Minnesota and no farther west than Des Moines" (1) "60 miles east of the Missouri River and slightly north of the current Minnesota border" (2). Depending on where you measure from, this could be a short distance west of modern-day IA 148 or the same line mentioned below. "The western boundary was to be essentially a northern continuation of Missouri's western boundary (the meridian passing through the mouth of the Kansas River). Iowa's northern boundary was to be the line of latitude passing through the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers." (3) This line marked Missouri's entire western border until 1837, when the northwest corner was officially added to the state, and in Iowa it passes just to the east of IA 4's route between Emmetsburg and IA 175; IA 25 would be entirely east of this line. This line would make sense along the idea that Iowa should be no narrower than Missouri. A geographic problem with this description is that a whole-number line of latitude does not pass through the river point. However, 44 degrees 10 minutes is remarkably close, so that may be the intended line.

"Congress presented for the approval of the people of the Territory a new western boundary which passed from north to south on a line about forty miles west of Des Moines. The northern boundary was on a line with the juncture of the Blue Earth and St. Peter's [Minnesota] Rivers, in Minnesota." (4) But then this description seems to contradict itself: "Had Congress prevailed, Iowa to-day would be but little more than half as wide from east to west as it is, and would extend thirty miles farther north, into Minnesota." A line 40 miles west of Des Moines (the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers) would be somewhere in the vicinity of Panora - practically right on top of IA 4 in that area. It's about two-thirds, not half, as wide as the current state, even when measured from the Burlington area. Des Moines itself is west of the state's vertical center line. Not only that, but the Blue Earth's mouth is about 42 miles north of the present-day northern border, not 30, and 44° N is 34.5 miles north.

94 degress West longitude and a line passing through the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers. (5) An undetailed map of this plan, created for an Iowa Public Television documentary, puts the west and east forks of the Des Moines River just to the west of this line, southeast of present-day Humboldt. But it also has a problem: It places the Blue Earth's mouth to the east of the 94-degree line. In reality, the mouth is about 1.6 miles west of this line. The point of 43°10' N and 94° W is the intersection of Main and Broad in downtown Mankato - between 1000 and 2500 feet away from the Minnesota River. The extension of the former Missouri border as mentioned in the third bullet point (despite the fact that it had stopped being Missouri's western border north of Kansas City nearly a decade earlier) and a line NORTH of the Minnesota/Mississippi confluence that could quite possibly be 45° N. (6) Today, this line of latitude is approximately a mile and a half south of the MN 36 expressway through the suburb of Roseville and on Broadway Street in Minneapolis.

Downtown Minneapolis is about three miles south of this line. This map draws out the options as best I understand them, with the exclusion of the last one. A north-south red line labeled "'Platte Purchase' line extension," the farthest west, is the continuation of the "meridian passing through the mouth of the Kansas River"; a second red line is 94° W. A vertical pink line marks the middle option, and a horizontal pink line shows 44° N. IA 4, US 14 and 169 are drawn in, as well as I-90, to help illustrate where the state lines would be. Kossuth County's eastern border and a line of four counties in southern Iowa - right by the easternmost line on either side - are also drawn for illustration. Coincidentally (or not), 94° W is also at or near the dividing line between "P" and "R" county roads. Given these lines, I think either the Platte Purchase extension or 94° W would have been the line in question. Trying to negotiate the latter border after the actual paths of the rivers were found, though, would be awkward to say the least.

Putting a tri-state corner so near but not at a river, with one state shut out of the riverfront, probably would not be a good situation for commerce and development. A shift west of even one minute, to 94°1' W, would solve this problem and give "Iowa" a small piece of the Minnesota River riverfront, while 94°3' would put the Blue Earth's mouth in the state. Had either plan been implemented, neither Burlington (the original territorial capital) nor Iowa City (the second territorial capital) would have been centered in the state; perhaps consideration would have been given to the town of Prairie Rapids, which would later change its name to Waterloo. Regardless of where the proposed border was actually drawn, when confronted with this too-much-off-the-back state outline, Iowans said, "Adopt that? In a pig's eye!" (This is a Minnesota joke: Around the time Iowa's statehood was being planned, a village was founded on the Mississippi River across from what would have become Iowa under the first plan. This village was called Pig's Eye, and is better known today as St.

Paul.) It was back to the drawing board again, and this time, taking 43°30' N as the northern border for the entire way from the Mississippi to the Big Sioux was judged as acceptable. The south line remained in dispute for a few more years - for that, see my page on the Sullivan Line . The Minnesota Historical Society, unfortunately, gets its facts wrong in more places than one. This map is on a 1992 marker at the US 59/MN 60 Minnesota Welcome Center, about four miles north of the state line. The relevant text on the marker says: "When Iowa prepared to join the union in 1844, its constitutional convention voted to set the new state's northern boundary along the line [45° N] shown above, including the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. ...

Iowa's northern border was [later] fixed on the latitude of 43.30, and when Iowa became a state on August 4, 1846, the future state of Minnesota's southern boundary was set even before the Minnesota Territory was organized." The only other place that I have seen 45° considered as a line for Iowa's northern border is in Stein's book, and even there it's not explicity labeled as such. If 45° had been considered, it would have been very early in the process, possibly in 1844 as mentioned on the marker; otherwise, only southeastern Minnesota was even under consideration. But I DO know that that statehood date is flat out wrong; Iowa became a state on December 28, 1846. Sources: (1) Irwin, Ann and Reida, Bernice. Hawkeye Adventure. Lake Mills, IA: Graphic Publishing Co. Inc., 1966/1975, p. 202-3. This happened to be my sixth-grade Iowa History book.

(2) Iowa Public Television, "Iowa Pathways: The Path to Statehood." Accessed May 20, 2007. (3) Wikipedia version of "Iowa" as posted on answers.com . Accessed May 20, 2007. In turn, that webpage cites Meining, D.W. The Shaping of America: A Geographical Perspective on 500 Years of History, Volume 2: Continental America, 1800-1867. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1993, p. 437-8. This information (as of May 2007) is not on the "Iowa" page on Wikipedia itself (and had a book not been cited, it would not have been listed here). (4) Sabin, Henry and Sabin, Edwin. The Making of Iowa ( Chapter 3: The Birth of a State ). Chicago, IL: A. Flanagan Co., 1900, republished online by the Iowa GenWeb Project.

(5) Iowa Public Television, "Iowa Pathways: The Path to Statehood: Western Boundary Debate." Same site as source #2, but with a visual aid: A segment of "The Path to Statehood," The Iowa Heritage: Program #3, Iowa Public Television, 1978. (RealPlayer) The fact that the same website has two different border markings shows the confusion here. (6) Stein, Mark. How the States Got Their Shapes. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2008, p. 95-100. (Stein discusses the southern border without using the words "Honey War." What's up with that?) Page created May 20, 2007; last updated December 26, 2008

Question: What is on the northern border of South Dakota?
Answer: North Dakota