1. In 1889, North Dakota was admitted as the 39th state in the United States. The state was carved out from the Dakota Territory, which also included present-day South Dakota, and was named after the Dakota Sioux tribes that inhabited the area.

2. In 1948, a record-breaking snowstorm hit North Dakota, dumping more than 30 inches of snow in some areas and causing major travel disruptions and power outages. The storm, which lasted for several days, is one of the worst blizzards ever recorded in the state.

3. In 1959, North Dakota became the first state in the US to adopt a state-owned bank. The Bank of North Dakota was established to promote economic development and provide low-cost financing to farmers, small businesses, and students.

4. In 1987, North Dakota native Peggy Whitson became the first woman from the state to be selected as an astronaut by NASA. Whitson went on to set several records in space, including spending a total of 665 days in orbit over multiple missions.

5. In 2016, North Dakota made international news when protests erupted over the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a controversial oil pipeline that was set to run through Native American tribal lands and potentially endanger their water supply. The protests, which lasted for several months, drew national attention to issues of tribal sovereignty and environmental justice.