State symbols

State bird: Western Meadowlark

Western Meadowlark

Not to be confused with Eastern MeadowlarkThe Western Meadowlark is a medium-sized icterid bird, about 8.5 in long. It nests on the ground in open country in western and central North America. It feeds mostly on insects, but also seeds and berries...

, Sturnella neglecta

State fish: Northern pike

Northern Pike

The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...

, Esox lucius

State horse

State horse

Twelve U.S. states have designated a horse breed as the official state horse. The first state horse was designated in Vermont in 1961. The most recent state designations occurred in 2010, when North Carolina and South Carolina both declared state breeds...

: Nokota horse

Nokota horse

The Nokota horse is a feral and semi-feral horse breed located in the badlands of southwestern North Dakota in the United States. The breed developed in the 19th century from foundation bloodstock consisting of ranch-bred horses produced from local Indian horses mixed with Spanish horses,...

State flower: Wild Prairie Rose

Wild Prairie Rose

Rosa arkansana is a species of rose native to a large area of central North America, between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan south to New Mexico, Texas and Indiana.There are two varieties:*Rosa arkansana var...

, Rosa arkansana

State tree: American Elm

American Elm

Ulmus americana, generally known as the American Elm or, less commonly, as the White Elm or Water Elm, is a species native to eastern North America, occurring from Nova Scotia west to Alberta and Montana, and south to Florida and central Texas. The American elm is an extremely hardy tree that can...

, Ulmus americana

State fossil

State fossil

Most American states have made a state fossil designation, in many cases during the 1980s. It is common to designate one species in which fossilization has occurred, rather than a single specimen, or a category of fossils not limited to a single species....

: Teredo Petrified wood

Petrified wood

Petrified wood is the name given to a special type of fossilized remains of terrestrial vegetation. It is the result of a tree having turned completely into stone by the process of permineralization...

State grass: Western Wheatgrass

Western Wheatgrass

Pascopyrum is a monotypic genus of grass containing the sole species Pascopyrum smithii, which is known by the common name western wheatgrass. This is a sod-forming rhizomatous perennial grass which is native and common in North America. It grows in grassland and prairie in the Great Plains, where...

, Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Löve

State nicknames: Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Peace Garden State

State mottos:

(Great Seal of North Dakota

Great Seal of North Dakota

The Great Seal of the State of North Dakota is the official seal of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The coloring added to the seal varies by source.-Description:The seal is based on the description of the seal of the Territory of Dakota, enacted in 1862-3....

) Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable

(Coat of Arms of North Dakota

Coat of arms of North Dakota

The coat of arms of North Dakota is probably the most obscure symbol of North Dakota. Though nominally created for use by the state government and National Guard units, the arms have seen little use since their creation in 1957...

) Strength from the Soil

State song: North Dakota Hymn

North Dakota Hymn

The "North Dakota Hymn" is the state song of the U.S. state of North Dakota. It was written by a poet named James Foley in 1926 in such a way that it could be sung along with the tune of "The Austrian Hymn". C. S. Putman arranged the music with distinct ragtime syncopation.-Lyrics:The "North Dakota...

State dance: Square Dance

Square dance

Square dance is a folk dance with four couples arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music and going counter-clockwise until getting to Couple 4. Couples 1 and 3 are known as the head couples, while Couples 2 and 4 are the side couples...

State fruit: Chokecherry

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana, commonly called chokecherry, bitter-berry, or Virginia bird cherry, is a species of bird cherry native to North America, where it is found almost throughout the continent except for the Deep South and the far north.-Growth:It is a suckering shrub or small tree growing to 5 m tall...

State march: Flickertail March

State beverage: Milk

Milk

Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...

State seal

Seals of the U.S. states

The following gallery displays the official seals of the 50 states, federal district, and territories of the United States of America:-See also:* Coat of Arms of the U.S. States* Seals of Governors of the U.S. States* Flags of the U.S. states...

: The Great Seal of North Dakota

Great Seal of North Dakota

The Great Seal of the State of North Dakota is the official seal of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The coloring added to the seal varies by source.-Description:The seal is based on the description of the seal of the Territory of Dakota, enacted in 1862-3....

: "A tree in the open field, the trunk of which is surrounded by three bundles of wheat; on the right a plow, anvil and sledge; on the left, a bow crossed with three arrows, and an Indian on horseback pursuing a buffalo toward the setting sun; the foliage of the tree arched by a half circle of forty-two stars, surrounded by the motto "Liberty and Union Now and Forever, One and Inseparable"; the words Great Seal at the top; the words State of North Dakota at the bottom; October 1st on the left and 1889 on the right."

State Coat of arms

Coat of arms of North Dakota

The coat of arms of North Dakota is probably the most obscure symbol of North Dakota. Though nominally created for use by the state government and National Guard units, the arms have seen little use since their creation in 1957...

:

"Device: On an Indian arrowhead point to base or a bend vert charged with three mullets of the first, in base a fleur-de-lis of the second.

Crest: On a wreath or and azure, a sheaf of three arrows argent armed and flighted gules behind a stringed bow fessways or with grip of the second (gules)."

State license plate: "The background has a blue and white sky above golden plains and hills with a buffalo and some grain on the plains. The phrase "Discover the Spirit" is at the top and the phrase "Peace Garden State" is below the state name at the bottom."

State creed:

"We believe in North Dakota, in the beauty of her skies, and in the glory of her prairies.

We believe in the People of North Dakota, in their strength of Body and Mind, in their High Sense of Right, and in their Desire to establish a Great Commonwealth wherein the things that count for Human Welfare shall be first.

We believe that by Thought and Act we can magnify our State and the Life of our People, bind the East and the West, the North and the South by Roadways, Communication and Good Will, and give our Sons and Daughters the Opportunity to Work at Useful Tasks within our borders.

We pledge to those seeking new homes the Hand of Hospitality and extend to them a Welcome to our Commonwealth where they may find Peace and Happiness.

We pledge that the freedom our Fathers won here and elsewhere shall continue as the Heritage of our Children.

We, as a People, because of growing Intelligence and a Nobler Outlook, seek Unity of Purpose; we desire to lead a Richer Common Life, and hope to render a Larger Service to the State and the Nation."

State art museum: North Dakota Museum of Art

North Dakota Museum of Art

The North Dakota Museum of Art is the official art museum of the U.S. state of North Dakota. Located on the campus of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, the museum is a private not-for-profit institution...

State slogan: Legendary

State websites:

ND state government: http://www.nd.gov

ND Department of Commerce: http://www.ndtourism.com

ND Parks and Recreation department: http://www.ndparks.com

ND Department of Health: http://ndhealth.gov

ND university system: http://www.ndus.edu

Job Service North Dakota: http://www.jobsnd.com

See also

• List of North Dakota-related topics
• Lists of United States state insignia
• State of North Dakota