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Editors Note: The Week (an online news site – posted March 18, 2011) recently ran a story featuring some great stats about North Dakota. We’ve already bragged about some of these, but sure like sharing them again! Enjoy.
Just one of the many relocators to North Dakota that are increasing the state's population, Dessie Baxter moved her family from California to Bismarck. "I have found that people here are not out for themselves but for what is best all around."
As states like Michigan, California, and Illinois grapple with booming deficits and unwieldy public sector entitlements, it’s easy to forget that not every state in the union is scraping pennies together. Take North Dakota, America’s third least-populated state. According to U.S. Census data, the Peace Garden State has been growing steadily for years; its largest cities’ populations have surged dramatically. Here, a look at the numbers behind America’s most successful state:
105,549
Population of Fargo, North Dakota’s most populous city. The figure, from the latest census results, is a record high, and places Fargo above cities such as Berkeley, Calif., and Green Bay, Wis.
672,591
Population of North Dakota
4.7 percent
North Dakota’s population growth from 2000 to 2010. That’s lower than average, says USA Today, but “robust for a region that has suffered for decades from a depopulation of the Great Plains.”
17th
North Dakota’s ranking in state-by-state income per capita. It was 38th in 2000.
$147,400
The median price of a house or condominium in North Dakota in 2009.
$94,000
The median price of a house of condominium in North Dakota 2000. Yes, says Ann Brenoff at WalletPop, North Dakota is still in the middle of a housing boom.
0.95 percent
Share of houses foreclosed upon in the third quarter of 2010
3.7 percent
North Dakota’s unemployment rate, the lowest in the country. It hasn’t risen above 5 percent since 1987.
$3.2 billion
Value of agricultural commodities exported in 2009 — an 88 percent increase over the 2005 figure
169
Number of active oil rigs in the state as of February 2011, a record high
4.3 billion
Barrels of recoverable oil in North Dakota and Montana, according to the U.S. Geological Survey
400,000
Number of barrels of oil a day North Dakota could potentially produce by the end of the year
$2 billion
Amount set to be paid into the state treasury in oil, gas, and production taxes during the 2011-2013 budget cycle
$1 billion
The state of North Dakota’s current budget surplus. By contrast, neighboring Minnesota has a $5 billion budget deficit.
Sources: USA Today, U.S. Census, WalletPop, Bismarck Tribune, Huffington Post, CNN
Family first. That simple priority motivated John Nelson to return to North Dakota, Grand Forks and his former company, SimmonsFlint, as an account manager.
“The strong sense of family and community in the Grand Forks region is what residents value most and what brings Boomerangers back,” reveals the January 2010 Launch Grand Forks Findings and Recommendations report. Sixty-three percent of respondents agreed: family first is what they value most about living in the Grand Forks region.
John Nelson with his wife Jill and their daughter Miabella.
Nelson and his wife Jill couldn’t agree more. When Miabella was born eight months ago, the couple was filled with joy, excitement and slight panic, like any new parents, especially those living 1,000 miles from the people who shaped them: their parents, their friends, their community.
“You don’t realize what you took for granted until you’ve moved away. A sense of community, safe schools, family first,” explains Nelson. “We take it for granted in North Dakota, but it’s not like that everywhere.”
The Nelsons packed up their ski gear and hiking boots, their professional experience in Colorado and Miabella’s diapers and drove home to North Dakota and their future closer to family.
“Grand Forks is safe, friendly, familiar—yet full of opportunity,” explains Nelson. “It’s the perfect place for us to grow.”
When Nelson called Grand Forks home six years ago, he had different priorities. A band member and regular performer with Crimson Creek players, Nelson was heavily involved in Grand Forks’ music scene. As a high schooler, a college student and a young professional, he regularly shared his musical talents with the community, from Summer Performing Arts (SPA) performances to his college band “Drambuee” to his funk and soul band, Groove Union aka Fatlip.
Nelson’s musical interests even blended into his professional life, as he formed Matrix Recording Studio in the old hospital building in downtown Grand Forks. The studio is still in operation today as Blue Tower Studio in downtown Denver.
Amanda Bentow, president of the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals (GGFYP) group, explains, “We know that a lot of young professionals move back to Grand Forks because of their family connections, and we’re excited that people like Nelson are seeing the opportunities in the area and coming back to their roots.”
And he isn’t the only Flint employee to return to North Dakota after experiencing life in a bigger city. Libby Hall joined the agency last year after spending five years in Minneapolis. Twenty-four-year-old Hall, recent bride and new media strategist, came back for family, old and new: her parents in northern North Dakota and her husband Jameson. “It’s nice to be closer to our families,” says Hall.
In reference to North Dakota, Nelson says, “I just can’t think of a better place for my young family to call home.”
Written by Guest Blogger – Angie Laxdal (@angie_lynnae) | Angie Laxdal was born and raised in Crystal, North Dakota. She graduated from North Dakota State University in 2009 and currently works as a public relations specialist at SimmonsFlint in Grand Forks. Angie and her husband Kelby love living, working and playing in the Red River Valley.
The Roxy marquee in Langdon, North Dakota is still lighting up main street.
NBC Nightly News took notice this week of North Dakota. Specifically, they looked at how the small town theater is a measure of success in many North Dakota cities. It’s a great video and it’s pretty fun to hear Brian Williams say “… the GREAT state of North Dakota.”
Why yes, Brian, it is! Comment on your favorite hometown theater if you get the chance.
View the video: A Movie Theater Survives, Main Street Thrives
Lending Tree recently took notice of North Dakota saying “North Dakota may not have the sunny beaches of Florida or California, but the state outshines all others in some recent housing and economic rankings reports.” A couple of stats they notice included:
- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) found North Dakota to be the state with the lowest numbers of loan delinquencies.
- A report by LendingTree’s Chief Economist Cameron Findlay found North Dakota ranked #1 in terms of the best housing and loan conditions.
- A study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber Foundation identified North Dakota to be the nation’s top overall economic growth performer over the past decade.
Not only did they notice our good economic climate, they also noticed New Salem Sue too. Check out “North Dakota outshines other states in recent housing and economic reports” at the Lending Tree blog.
Fox Business News took a live look at Fargo’s Microsoft Campus from their new building. I could tell you the tale, but it’s best heard straight from them. Visit FoxBusiness.com to view North Dakota, Microsoft Rise Above the Recession.
