North and South Dakota were one territory until 1889. Dakota was named for the Dakota, Sioux tribe which lived in the region. Dakota is the Sioux word for "friends" or "allies."

"We believe in North Dakota, in the beauty of her skies, and in the glory of her prairies." *

From the fertile Red River Valley of the east, abundant with oceans of wheat, to the vast plains and rolling hills, to the Missouri plateau and Badlands of the west, there is majesty in the open land of North Dakota. There is majesty in the skies of the day, and there is majesty in the stars of the night.