North Dakota, known for its vast plains, rich agricultural heritage, and resilient communities, bears a name that directly links it to the Indigenous peoples who have inhabited the region for thousands of years. However, before it became "North Dakota," the Territory underwent several administrative and geographic transformations, holding different designations as European and American influences expanded westward.
Unpacking the Indigenous and Territorial Roots of North Dakota's Name
There wasn't a single, overarching "original name" for the entire landmass in the colonial sense, but its current name is a direct homage to its first inhabitants.
The Dakota: "Friends" or "Allies"
The name "Dakota" comes directly from the Dakota people, a group within the larger Sioux Nation (which also includes the Lakota and Nakota).
- Meaning: The word "Dakota" (or "Dakhóta") means "friends" or "allies" in their language. This self-designation reflected the strong ties and alliances within their various bands and communities. The Dakota people historically occupied vast territories across the northern Great Plains, including areas that would become North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and parts of Canada.
Early European and American Territorial Designations
Before being formally named "Dakota," the region that would become North Dakota was part of several larger, vaguely defined territories claimed by European powers and then the United States.
- Louisiana Territory (1803): The vast majority of what is now North Dakota was acquired by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 from France. This enormous acquisition was known as the "Louisiana Territory."
- Missouri Territory (1812): As more organized governance became necessary, much of the Louisiana Territory was reorganized. From 1812, the area was part of the "Missouri Territory."
- Unorganized Territory (1821-1861): After Missouri achieved statehood in 1821, a large northern portion, including present-day North Dakota, became "unorganized territory." Various parts were later absorbed into other temporary designations, like the Wisconsin Territory and Iowa Territory, but these were typically for the southern parts of the eventual Dakota Territory. The northern regions remained largely unorganized or loosely managed.
- Nebraska Territory (1854): With the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, the southern half of present-day North Dakota (south of the 49th parallel, which defined the US-Canada border) became part of the enormous "Nebraska Territory." The northern half was still largely unorganized.
The Creation of Dakota Territory (1861)
The pivotal moment in the state's naming history came with the official creation of the Dakota Territory.
- Organic Act (1861): On March 2, 1861, Congress passed the Organic Act establishing the "Territory of Dakota." This Territory was immense, encompassing not only present-day North and South Dakota but also large portions of Montana and Wyoming. The name "Dakota" was chosen directly to honor the powerful and numerous Dakota people who were the predominant Indigenous inhabitants of the region.
The Division: North and South Dakota (1889)
As settlement increased and population grew, the vast Dakota Territory became too large and unwieldy for a single administration. Differing economic interests, geographic centers, and political aspirations between the northern and southern halves led to calls for division.
- Statehood (1889): On November 2, 1889, the Territory of Dakota was officially divided and admitted to the Union as two separate states: North Dakota and South Dakota. The distinction was added to the existing, widely recognized territorial name.
The "original name" that directly preceded and influenced modern "North Dakota" was "Dakota," officially established with the creation of the Dakota Territory in 1861. This name was chosen specifically to honor the Dakota people, whose ancestral lands covered much of the region. Before this, the area was part of various larger U.S. territorial claims like Louisiana and Missouri. Ultimately, the simple geographic descriptor "North" was added to formalize the division from its southern counterpart in 1889, giving the state the name we know today.