1. In 1881, a major snowstorm swept through North Dakota on January 16, causing significant damage to homes, buildings, and crops.

2. On January 16, 1923, the infamous "Hatchet Lady" Nellie Sheridan Wilson was sworn in as North Dakota's first female state treasurer.

3. In 1943, the state's first radio station, KFYR, began broadcasting from Bismarck on January 16, becoming a popular source of news and entertainment for North Dakotans.

4. On January 16, 1971, the North Dakota State University Bison football team won their first national championship by defeating Montana State 30-3 in the NCAA Division II championship game.

5. In 2014, on January 16, North Dakota became the first state in the US to allow law enforcement to use drones equipped with non-lethal weapons such as stun guns and tear gas. This decision was widely debated and criticized, with concerns about privacy and civil liberties.