Gilded Age (1878-1889)







Map of Lewis and Clark's expedition



North Dakota and South Dakota Were Admitted to the Union

November 2, 1889

After controversy over the location of a capital, the Dakota Territory was split in two and divided into North and South in 1889. Later that year, on November 2, North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted to the Union as the 39th and 40th states. This vast territory was one of the last American regions to be settled.



The first European explorers entered the region in 1738. At that time, at least eight Native American tribes populated the area, including the Crow, Cheyenne, and Dakota (Santee Sioux). The Native influence still characterizes many parts of the states.

page 1 of 3



Library Of Congress | Legal Notices | Privacy | Site Map | Contact Us









