Posted in North Dakota Fun Facts, State Pride February 06, 2023 by

7 Quirky Facts About North Dakota That Sound Made Up, But Are 100% Accurate

Hey, so, heads up: if you ever find yourself involved in a completely bizarre situation in which you must immediately answer questions about North Dakota or face some kind of dire punishment, it’s cool – we got you. In this totally realistic, not-at-all-unlikely-to-happen made-up scenario, you might be asked to fire off seven fun facts about North Dakota that don’t sound real, but they are. Again – don’t worry. We got you. If these aren’t some truly fun facts, well, we don’t know what counts then:

1. None of the scenes in the movie Fargo were actually filmed there (but you can still check out the infamous woodchipper at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
This is probably one of the downright weirdest things to do in North Dakota, but boy it's fun to get pictures with. Don't judge us.
Visit Fargo-Moorhead, 2001 44th St S, Fargo, ND 58103, USA
2. North Dakota is considered the 39th state because of alphabetical order instead of the literal order in which the statehoods were signed into law. President Benjamin Harrison kept it a secret as to which he signed first: North or South Dakota, so we just kinda decided collectively that we’ll go with alphabetical order on that one.
T.C. Steele/The Harrison Home Museum/David/Flickr
Thanks, Ben, very funny.
3. There are only four tower-style capitols in the United States. One of those is in Bismarck.
Erin/Flickr
Well, don't we feel special! This imposing-looking building almost doesn't seem to fit in; it's a tower in the prairie, and it certainly sticks out. You can literally see it for miles.
4. North Dakota is the nation’s largest producer of honey!
Justin Kern/Flickr
It might help that North Dakota produces enough sunflowers to fill 726 million bags of sunflower seeds per year, too, so just those fields alone are likely enormously helpful! Summer is the best time of year to see incredible sunflowers in North Dakota.
5. North Dakota produces six times more energy than it consumes, giving the excess goodies to other states.
Robert Couse-Baker/Flickr
The first wind farm to go up in North Dakota was the one built outside of Edgeley. In the years since, there have been many more to spring up - and we're a kind-hearted folk up here, so we're happy to share our surplus energy with neighbors.
6. North Dakota’s official state insect is the ladybug.
Ben Cappellacci/Flickr
Its official state dance is the square dance. Its official state fossil (yes, that’s a thing) is teredo petrified wood.
7. The coldest temperature recorded in North Dakota was –60F on February 15, 1936.
USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr
This notable historic winter storm in North Dakota was just a part of the coldest winter on record, ever.

So, there you have it: seven strange facts about North Dakota that you can give to save your life if it’s ever necessary.

You’re welcome.

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