Template:ND Historical Timeline Intro

North Dakota's history includes a rich native American presence archeologically documented back to the about 5500 B.C. In the 1600's Cheyenne, Dakota-Sioux, Mandans and Hidatsas lived in the land which is now North Dakota.

In 1610 Henry Hudson claimed part of eastern North Dakota for the English; while in 1682 LaSalle claimed parts of North Dakota for France. During the 1700's the area now known as North Dakota was passed between the French, Spanish, and English while fur traders hunted the rich river lands for furs. In 1800 Alexander Henry Jr. established a post at Park River which soon became the site of the first white settlement in North Dakota.

1804-1805 “Corps of Discovery” expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark entered North Dakota and wintered near the present town of Washburn. In 1818, following the War of 1812, what is now North Dakota became part of the Missouri Territory when the 49th parallel was agreed to as the boundary between the U.S. and Great Britain. The 1830's saw the area divided between the territories of Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. In 1849 land east of the Missouri River became part of the Minnesota Territory and in 1854 became part of the Nebraska Territory. 1861 brought the organization of the territory of Dakota.

In 1870 after much contention between the native residents and white settlers, the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation was established and treaties between the Sioux and Chippewa nations and the U.S. government ceded most of eastern North Dakota to the Federal government.

1879 marked the Great Dakota Land Boom. 1885 produced the first Dakota Territorial census. 1889 the state of North Dakota was admitted to the Union.