State Flag

• The flag has a rich blue field with a bald eagle depicted in the center.

• There is a shield with 13 stripes on the eagles’ breast to indicate that North Dakota is one of the first 13 colonies of the Union. The 13 stars above the eagles head indicate the same thing.

• The eagle clasps some arrows and an olive branch with 3 red berries in both its claws. These are symbols of war and peace respectively.

ND Facts • Capital- Bismarck

• Population- 699,628 as of 2012

• Major Industries

– Farming

• Wheat, barley, oats, flaxseed

– Cattle

– Mining (lignite and soft coal)

– Electrical Power Generation

– Oil

• Red river Valley

– East side of the state

– Remnant of a lake bed

– Very fertile

– Very flat

• Drift Prairie

– The middle part of the state

– Covered in lakes, stream valleys, and rolling hills

– Turtle Mountains are in this region.

• The Missouri Plateau

– Western part of the state

– Large portion of the state

– Grazing land or prairie

– Badlands

– White Butte

Fun Facts • State Bird - Western

Meadowlark

• State Fish - Northern Pike

• State Flower - Wild Prairie Rose

• State Tree - American Elm

• State Grass - Western Wheatgrass

• State Fruit - Chokecherry

• State Insect - Lady Bug

• State Beverage - Milk

Fun Facts • North Dakota grows more

sunflowers than any other US state.

• North Dakota produces more honey than any other state

• Rugby, North Dakota is the geographical center of North America.

• The National Buffalo Museum is in Jamestown. They have a buffalo statue that is 26 feet high and 45 feet long.

Fun Facts

• Origin of the Name North Dakota: Dakota was what the Sioux Indians called themselves.

• State Nickname:

– Peace Garden State,

– Flickertail State,

– Roughrider State

• State Song: North Dakota Hymn

State Song • In 1926 James Foley of

Bismarck created a poem that could be sung to the tune, “The Austrian Hymn” to be North Dakota’s state song.

• The song “North Dakota Hymn” with words written by James William Foley and music composed by Dr. Clarence Simeon Putnam was adopted as the official song for the state of North Dakota on March 15, 1947.

North Dakota Hymn words by James W. Foley and music arranged by Dr. C.S. Putnam

http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=75&id=State%20Song

North Dakota, North Dakota, With thy prairies wide and free, All thy sons and daughters love thee, Fairest state from sea to sea; North

Dakota, North Dakota, Here we pledge ourselves to thee.

Here thy loyal children singing, Songs of happiness and praise, Far and long the echoes ringing, Through the vastness of thy ways; North

Dakota, North Dakota, We will serve thee all our days.

Onward, onward, onward going, Light of courage in thine eyes, Sweet the winds above thee blowing, Green thy fields and fair thy skies;

North Dakota, North Dakota, Brave the soul that in thee lies.

God of freedom, all victorious, Give us Souls serene and strong, Strength to make the future glorious, Keep the echo of our song;

North Dakota, North Dakota, In our hearts forever long.

Your Turn!

• Using facts and opinions, you will write a ND song to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZuA3bDwGrs

North Dakota is my state And I find it really great

Rolling plains and badlands too Farming, Ranching, Oil Boom,

This is what I call my home Where the buffalo do roam