Named after a 19th-century German leader, Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The city is situated in the south-central part of the state, on the east bank of the Missouri River. Places of interest - The 19-story State Capitol in Bismarck, North Dakota, is known as the “skyscraper of the …
The state capitol was built in the early 1930s and is still an impressive part of the city skyline. A 19-story building, it is known as the “skyscraper of the prairies.” The North Dakota Heritage Center is a historical museum on the capitol grounds. The old Governor's Mansion has been restored as a historic site. The Camp Hancock State Historic Site preserves part of a 19th-century Army post around which the town of Bismarck emerged. Bismarck is home to several universities, including Bismarck State College and the University of Mary. Visitors to Bismarck can also visit the state's largest zoo. One of Bismarck's most colorful annual events is the United Tribes International Powwow, which features exhibitions of championship Native American dancing, singing, and drumming. EconomyThe state, county, and city governments provide many jobs for the people of Bismarck. Of the people who are privately employed, many work in service industries, such as banking, health care, and tourism. Bismarck is the state's business and financial center. Located in the heart of wheat country, Bismarck is also a center for the buying and selling of grain and livestock. Cattle raising is important to the region as well. HistoryThe Bismarck region was originally occupied and farmed by Native Americans of the Mandan and related groups. The site of Bismarck was recognized by Native Americans and non–Native Americans alike as an easy place to cross the Missouri River. In the 1830s it became a river port called “Crossing on the Missouri.” In1872 a U.S. Army post was built on the site. It was originally called Camp Greeley and was later known as Camp Hancock. The fort housed soldiers who were needed to stop Native Americans from attacking the builders of the Northern Pacific Railway. In 1873, the settlement that sprang up near the fort was named after Otto von Bismarck, the “iron chancellor” of Germany. The officials who did this were hoping that Germans would help to pay for the railroad. In 1874, gold was discovered in the Black Hills in what is now South Dakota. Bismarck, then at the end of the Northern Pacific line, grew crowded and wealthy as many gold seekers bought equipment there to use on their expeditions. In 1883 Bismarck became the capital of the Dakota Territory. In 1889 the territory was divided into North Dakota and South Dakota, and both entered the Union. Bismarck became North Dakota's state capital. In 1951 the discovery of oil in North Dakota created a temporary economic boom for the city. Population (2000 census), 55,532. |