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Since 1940 it has voted Republican for president (except in 1964), but elects many Democrats to Congress. The current governor of North Dakota is [[John Hoeven]], a Republican. <ref>http://governor.nd.gov/</ref>
Since 1940 it has voted Republican for president (except in 1964), but elects many Democrats to Congress. The current governor of North Dakota is [[John Hoeven]], a Republican. <ref>http://governor.nd.gov/</ref>
==Population==
==Population==
The original native American tribes in what is now North Dakota qwere the [[Mandan]], [[Sioux]], Arikara, [[Chippewa]], [[Cheyenne]], Assiniboine, and Hidatsa. Today only the Sioux and Chippewa remain; they comprise about 4% of the population.
The original native American tribes in what is now North Dakota were the [[Mandan]], [[Sioux]], Arikara, [[Chippewa]], [[Cheyenne]], Assiniboine, and Hidatsa. Today only the Sioux and Chippewa remain; they comprise about 4% of the population.
Three out of four residents today are descended from German and Norwegian pioneers who arrived 1880 to 1914. Many of the German speakers came from Russia, and are known as "Russian Germans." Religion is strong, especially in Lutheran and Catholic churches.
Three out of four residents today are descended from [[German Americans|German]] and Norwegian pioneers who arrived as farmers in growth years, 1880 to 1914. Many of the German speakers came from Russia, and are known as "Russian Germans." [[Yankees]] arrived too; they became townspeople, not farmers. Religion has always been strong, especially in Lutheran and Catholic churches.
Norwegian folk came to North Dakota with a reputation for honesty, hospitality, and thrift; they soon acquired new traits involving good manners, a greater respect for women, more democratic ideas, and disregard for European class distinctions. "In Norway," one pioneer recalled, "we were in many respects a helpless tool in the hands of the state. There we had the state church. The child must be baptized or a fine must be paid." Ole Lima said that when his people came to America they became "a more wideawake people and more independent thinking. . . . The Norwegian, who has lived a while in America, is more civilized than if he had not been here. He has seen more, experienced more, thought more, and all this has opened his eyes and broadened his view."<ref> Quoted in Robinson (1966) p 548</ref>
Norwegian folk came to North Dakota with a reputation for honesty, hospitality, and thrift; they were modernizers and soon acquired new traits involving good manners, a greater respect for women, more democratic ideas, and disregard for European class distinctions. "In Norway," one pioneer recalled, "we were in many respects a helpless tool in the hands of the state. There we had the state church. The child must be baptized or a fine must be paid." Ole Lima said that when his people came to America they became "a more wideawake people and more independent thinking. . . . The Norwegian, who has lived a while in America, is more civilized than if he had not been here. He has seen more, experienced more, thought more, and all this has opened his eyes and broadened his view."<ref> Quoted in Robinson (1966) p 548</ref>
On the other hand the German Russians were traditionalists. They arrived later, worked poorer farms, and were not as well off as other groups. Negatively influenced by their miseries and isolation in Russia, they saw themselves a downtrodden class cheated by businessmen and railroads; they raised large with harsh discipline; they did not believe so much in schooling, treated their
womenfolk as inferior, were slow to diversify their farms, and supported radical far-left political movements.<ref>Robinson (1966) p 557 </ref>
==Climate==
==Climate==
The climate is harsh winter and summer, with light rainfall. Eric Sevareid (1912-1992), who survived to become a famous newscaster, recalls growing up in a village north of Minot:
The climate is harsh winter and summer, with light rainfall. Eric Sevareid (1912-1992), who survived to become a famous newscaster, recalls growing up in a village north of Minot:
==Notable people from North Dakota==
==Notable people from North Dakota==
*[[Dick Armey]], a former US Representative who played a significant role in the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives in 1994, was born in Cando.
*[[Dick Armey]], a former US Representative who played a significant role in the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives in 1994, was born in Cando, then moved to Texas.
*[[Louis L'Amour]], an author who specialized in writing Westerns, was born in Jamestown.
*[[Louis L'Amour]], an author who specialized in writing Westerns, was born in Jamestown.
*[[Sacagawea]], who served as a guide on Lewis and Clark's expedition, spent several years living in a village in what is now North Dakota.
*[[Sacagawea]], who served as a guide on Lewis and Clark's expedition, spent several years living in a village in what is now North Dakota.
* [[Lawrence Welk]], band leader
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* Arends, Shirley Fischer. ''The Central Dakota Germans: Their History, Language, and Culture.'' (1989). 289 pp.; the state's largest ethnic group
* Arends, Shirley Fischer. ''The Central Dakota Germans: Their History, Language, and Culture.'' (1989). 289 pp.; the state's largest ethnic group