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History

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1682 Robert de La Salle claimed much of North Dakota for France.
1738 French fur trader Pierre de La Verendrye visited the land and met with the Mandan.
1801 Alexander Henry established a trading post at Pembina.
1803 The United States bought the land as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
1804 Lewis and Clark built Fort Mandan and spent the winter in North Dakota. They meet Sacagawea.
1812 A Scottish settlement near Pembina is founded.
1818 North Dakota is part of the Missouri Territory.
1828 Fort Union is established by the American Fur Company.
1837 The majority of the Mandan Indians are killed by a smallpox outbreak.
1851 The first permanent white settlement was established at Pembia.
1861 Dakota territory was established it included both North and South Dakota.
1863 Homesteading is opened up for much of the land.
1871 The city of Fargo is founded.
1873 The Northern Pacific Railroad reached Bismarck.
1880 North Dakota is admitted to the union as the 39th state.
1883 Bismark becomes the capital of the territory.
1885 The American Bison is nearly extinct.
1889 North Dakota becomes the 39th state.
1915 The Nonpartisan League (NPL) is formed by Arthur Townley to help small farmers.
1951 Oil is discovered near Tioga.
1960 Lake Sakakawea is formed when the Garrison Dam is completed.
1997 The Red River Valley is flooded destroying much of the city of Grand Forks.