1. July 31, 1889 - North Dakota becomes a state: On this day, North Dakota officially became a state, joining the Union as part of the 39th state. The state's capital is Bismarck, and the state bird is the western meadowlark.

2. July 31, 1917 - USS North Dakota is launched: On this day, the USS North Dakota, a battleship named after the state, was launched in Virginia. The ship played a significant role in World War II, earning nine battle stars for its service in the Pacific theater.

3. July 31, 1958 - North Dakota's first television station goes on air: KXMB-TV, the first television station in North Dakota, began broadcasting on this day. The station was located in Bismarck and was affiliated with CBS.

4. July 31, 1976 - World record for largest snowmobile parade: A world record was set on this day in Bottineau, North Dakota for the largest snowmobile parade. A total of 820 snowmobiles participated, breaking the previous record of 757.

5. July 31, 2019 - North Dakota named most affordable state for childcare: In 2019, North Dakota was ranked as the most affordable state for childcare by the personal finance website, WalletHub. This study compared the cost of childcare and quality of care in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.