|Population: 638,000 (47th in
State size: 70,702 square miles (17th in size)
State Capital: Bismarck (named after the German leader
Major cities: Bismarck and Grand Forks
Admission to union: The 39th State
Date entered the union: November 2, 1889
Origin of state name: Named after the Dakota Indian tribe. It means "allies".
Nicknames: The Peace Garden State
Bordering states: Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana,
with Canada to the north.
State bird: Western Meadowlark
State flower: Wild Prairie Rose
State tree: American Elm
Motto: Liberty and Union, Now and Forever: One and