1941: North Dakota

Area and Population.

The area of 70,837 sq. mi. in North Dakota, the 'Flickertail State,' makes it 16th in size in the Union. The Red River valley in the east and the Missouri River plateau in the west are fertile farm lands; the famous Badlands in the southwest — associated with Custer, Theodore Roosevelt, the Marquis De Mores, Tom Mix, and Queen Marie — are cattle country, and also include a large area of petrified forests.

A population of 641,935 (1940 census) gives the state 38th place in that regard, in the Union. About four-fifths of the citizens are native-born, but almost half of these had one or more foreign-born parents, a larger proportion than in any other state. Among the 20 per cent who are foreign-born, Norwegians are in the majority, followed (in this order) by Russians, Canadians, Germans, Swedes, and Danes. About 83 per cent of the total live outside the cities, a larger ratio than in any other state except Mississippi. The chief cities are: Fargo, 32,580; Grand Forks, 20,228; Minot, 16,557; and Bismarck, the capital, 15,496.

Education.

The Department of Public Instruction issued the following data for the school year ending June 30, 1940: Inhabitants of school age (6 to 21), 189,839; pupils enrolled in the public schools, 139,629 (21.8 per cent of the total population); average daily attendance, 130,170 (93 per cent of the enrollment); accredited high schools, 221; high school pupils, 33,895; total number of schools in session, 4,217. Of these, one-teacher schools numbered 3,392. There were 7,361 teachers employed, of whom 5,631, or 76.5 per cent, were women.

Although the school population has steadily decreased since 1929 — in 1940 it was nearly 14 per cent less — the value of school buildings and equipment in 1940 was $44,148,940, or more than 10 per cent greater than in 1929. The total of teachers' salaries was $5,319,292; the cost of transportation, $452,102 (46 per cent of the 1929 cost); school officers' salaries and expense, $327,351; library books, textbooks, and teaching supplies (provided by the district), $368,475; total cost of elementary and high schools, $9,979,781; average cost per pupil, $71.

Agriculture.

The state is more exclusively agricultural than any other in the Union. Almost three-fourths of its area is farmland; two-fifths of its people live on farms.

The State Department of Agriculture and Labor reported for 1941 that North Dakota had 33,773,714 farm acres, 41 per cent in crops. The year 1941 was reported as better than average, and markedly better than 1940, in larger acreage, in better yield, and in better prices. The year's cash income from all farm products was estimated as between $225-$250,000,000, 'a sharp increase over 1940.' The crop yields were above average because of plentiful rainfall and ideal weather during the ripening season. The acreage harvested of all the leading crops was greater than in 1940. Wheat acreage, always the big crop, second only to that of Kansas in the nation, increased by 8 per cent (7,161,206 A.). Eighteen counties produce 80 per cent of the best durum wheat in the country. The state is also a leader in the production of certified seed potatoes. The prospects for 1942 are better than for some years past, on account of good moisture in the soil.

The livestock situation was also above average. All kinds showed a marked increase over 1940, and went into the 1941-42 winter in very good condition, due to the abundance of grass feeds during the 1941 season. The Department reported for 1941 more than 3,000,000 head of livestock, including 449,082 milch cows, 713,595 other cattle, 264,412 horses and mules, 104,486 brood sows, and 657,845 breeding ewes. There were 5,102,603 lbs. of wool produced in 1940. Poultry gives the state its fourth largest agricultural income, 12 per cent of the total, with 2,524,275 laying hens in 1941, and 1,065,712 turkeys raised in 1940. Butterfat production was 15 per cent above 1940, with a 9-cent rise in prices. The state ranks first in the production of honey per hive.

Industry.

The preoccupation with agriculture results in industry that is largely devoted to processing foodstuffs, such as grains, meat, dairy products, and poultry products. Brick and tile plants, and potteries, are also increasing.

Mineral Products.

The lignite coal mines, in large beds of unknown extent, produced in 1941 more than 2,000,000 tons; and they are rapidly increasing in value and importance because of the many byproducts which are being developed from lignite coal. Bentonite, a ceramics material, exists in great quantity. Six large areas of brick and pottery clays are being worked in the west. There are extensive deposits of sodium sulphate; and increased activity in building stone, gravel, and natural gas and oil. These diverse mineral resources have been sufficiently developed to indicate that this predominantly agricultural state may have an important mineral and industrial future.

Finance.

The State Treasurer reported for the year ending June 30, 1941, revenue collections as follows: Cigarette stamp tax, $527,595; general fund, $9,034,721; income tax, $699,759; beer tax $499,133. The highway construction fund showed $4,620,011 in collections, $4,502,496 in payments, and a balance of $645,530. The teachers' insurance and retirement fund showed collections of $529,026, payments of $380,130, a balance of $251,112. The sales tax fund showed collections of $3,363,501, and payments of $3,418,246. The total of collections and transfers in all funds was $33,823,411; payments and transfers, $31,759,278; total balance in all funds, $10,211,709.

The Workmen's Compensation Fund received $1,593,232, paid $1,518,951, and had a cash balance of $4,576,176. The Unemployment Compensation Division reported receipts of $967,909; disbursements of $967,350; placed on deposit in the benefit account, $1,581,000; benefits paid, $1,576,694; and a trust-fund balance in the custody of the U. S. Treasury of $1,993,122.

State Officers.

Governor, John Moses; Lieutenant Governor, Oscar Hagen; Secretary of State, Herman Thorson; Auditor, Berta E. Baker; Treasurer, Carl Anderson; Attorney General, Alvin C. Strutz; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arthur E. Thompson.

United States Senators:

Gerald P. Nye, William Langer.