Press Releases
November 2, 2012
Conrad Salutes North Dakota's 123rd Birthday
Washington -- U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) congratulated North Dakota and wished it a "Happy Birthday" Thursday, the 123rd anniversary of its gaining statehood on November 2, 1889.
"North Dakota has been blessed with many resources, but the best, strongest, and most valuable of all has always been our people," Conrad said. "Through the years, we've known great success, as well our share of challenges. It has always been the strength, courage, innovation and spirit of North Dakotans that made the difference.
"North Dakotans have been at the front lines of defending America through the years, the state hosts some of the nation's most important military bases, and is 'home' to countless heroes who have bravely gone into harm's way to protect our nation. We are a leading food producer, rapidly becoming America's number one source of energy, and we're launching new frontiers in science and health at our world class universities."
When President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation, on November 2, 1889, creating the states of North Dakota and South Dakota from what had been Dakota Territory, America was just 24 years past the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Since that day, the nation added 10 more states, 21 other men served as President of the United States, the nation fought and won two World Wars, and 12 Americans walked on the surface of the moon.
"In every one of our nation's endeavors, North Dakotans have held, and continue to hold, important and sometimes even critical roles," Conrad said. "Our state has a rich history, an abundance of resources, and a beauty matched by few other places on the planet. The pride we take in North Dakota's accomplishments over the past 123 years is exceeded only by our confidence in the fact that that even greater things lie ahead for our state and our people."
