1. The town of Wahpeton, North Dakota was founded on February 16, 1871. It was named after the Wahpeton Sioux Indian tribe, which once inhabited the area.

2. On February 16, 1923, the North Dakota Supreme Court abolished the death penalty in the state. North Dakota remains one of only a few states in the US that does not have capital punishment.

3. In 1936, on February 16, North Dakota Governor William Langer was impeached by the state legislature. He was found guilty of various charges, including accepting bribes and obstructing justice.

4. On February 16, 1940, one of North Dakota's worst blizzards hit. Known as the "Blizzard of 1940," it brought heavy snow, high winds, and low temperatures, causing numerous deaths and extensive damage.

5. In 1983, on February 16, North Dakota's first female governor, Kathy O'Neal, took office. She served as governor for two years, and later became the first woman to represent North Dakota in the US Senate.