1. In 1889, the Dakota Territory was divided into two separate states: North Dakota and South Dakota. February 5 was the day that the United States Congress approved the statehood of North Dakota, making it the 39th state in the nation.

2. In 1917, a party of five men set out on a mission across icy Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota to deliver supplies to a group of railway construction workers. Tragically, the ice broke beneath them and all five men drowned. This event is known as the "Sakakawea Five Tragedy" and is memorialized near the lake's shore.

3. In 1934, the town of Minot, North Dakota was struck by a major fire that destroyed nearly a third of its downtown area. The fire was so extensive that it could be seen from neighboring cities, and it took nearly five hours to bring it under control.

4. On February 5, 1948, an airplane crash killed all 20 passengers and crew members onboard. The Douglas DC-3 aircraft was traveling from Minneapolis to Billings when it crashed in a blizzard in western North Dakota. This disaster remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the state's history.

5. In 2002, North Dakota's then-Governor John Hoeven declared February 5th to be "Spirit of the Heart Awareness Day" in the state. This day aims to raise awareness about heart disease and promote healthy habits to prevent it. North Dakota has one of the highest rates of heart disease in the country, making this initiative especially important for the state's residents.