1. In 1912, North Dakota Governor John Burke was elected to his fourth and final term in office. Burke was a popular progressive governor who helped to establish the state's first labor laws, improved public education, and supported women's suffrage.

2. On January 9, 1997, the city of Grand Forks was devastated by a massive flood that forced the evacuation of nearly 50,000 residents. The flooding was caused by a combination of heavy snow melt and torrential rains, and resulted in over $3.5 billion in damages.

3. In 1981, North Dakota native and future NFL quarterback Carson Wentz was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. Wentz grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota, and went on to play college football at North Dakota State University before being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016.

4. January 9 also marks the beginning of the Legislative session in North Dakota. Legislators from across the state gather in Bismarck to introduce and debate new laws and policies. The session lasts for 80 days and takes place every odd year.

5. On January 9, 1976, the week-long "Great Northern Railway Bridge Collapse" was finally resolved when engineers finished erecting a replacement span over the Sheyenne River at Valley City, North Dakota. The bridge had initially collapsed under the weight of a train loaded with grain, but no one was injured in the incident.