北达科他(North Dakota)

美国中北部一州。面积约183,022平方公里。首府俾斯麦。密苏里河流经该州，北红河形成该州东部边界。全州都发现有史前人类活动的遗迹。在欧洲人到来时，这里的居民是大平原印第安人的各个部落。1803年的路易斯安那购地使它成为美国的一部分。其东北角则藉由1818年与英国的交易而取得。1804～1805年路易斯和克拉克远征在印第安人中渡过了一个冬天。1861年成为达科他准州的一部分。在与南达科他州分离後，1889年被接纳加入美利坚合众国，成为第三十九个州。20世纪北达科他州的历史是以日益增加的农业机械化、逐步扩大的农场以及农村人口的减少为标志的，1950年代石油生产在当地起步，1960年代一系列空军机场和导弹基地在此建设。较大的城市有法戈、格兰德福克斯（Grand Forks）和迈诺特（Minot）。人口约642,000（2000）。

English version：

North Dakota

State (pop., 1997 est.: 641,000), U.S. Situated in the northern central region, it covers 70,665 sq mi (183,022 sq km); its capital is Bismarck. The Missouri River crosses it; the Red River forms its eastern boundary. There is evidence of prehistoric inhabitation throughout the state. At the time of European contact, it was inhabited by various tribes of Plains Indians. It became part of the U.S. with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The northeastern corner was added by a treaty with Great Britain in 1818. In 1804-5 the Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered there among the Indians. In 1861 it became part of the Dakota Territory. Separated from South Dakota, it was admitted to the Union in 1889 as the 39th state. In the 20th century North Dakota's history has been marked by the increasing mechanization of agriculture, the enlargement of farms, and the loss of a rural population. In the 1950s it became an oil-producing state, and in the 1960s air bases and missile sites were built there. Its larger cities include Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot.