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TIMELINE

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North Dakota Timeline map
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1 | 2 Timeline (Page 1)

1600's - 1700's
  • (1610) Henry Hudson claimed Hudson Bay watershed for England, including eastern North Dakota
  • (1682) LaSalle claimed Mississippi River drainage, including Missouri River drainage in North Dakota for France
  • (1713) France gives England northern North Dakota
  • (1738) French explorer, Pierre Gaultier de la Verendyre, visited Mandan villages
  • (1762) Land claimed by LaSalle for France given to Spain
  • (1794) Rene Jusseaume established fur post near Knife River
  • (1797) English explorer, David Thompson, mapped northern part of state
1800's
  • (1801) First white settlement established in Pembina
  • (1803) Spain returned Missouri River watershed to France; Louisiana Purchase transferred area from France to United States
  • (1804) Lewis and Clark arrived, built Fort Mandan
  • (1806) Lewis and Clark expedition arrived at Fort Mandan on return to east
  • (1812) William Douglas established a Scottish settlement near Pembina
  • (1818) North Dakota became part of Missouri Territory
  • (1828) American Fur Company opened Fort Union, remained the most important trading post in the area for 40 years
  • (1837) Smallpox epidemic annihilated Mandan Indians
  • (1851) Permanent agricultural settlement established at Pembina
  • (1860) Regular steamboat service began on Missouri River
  • (1861) Dakota Territory officially organized; William Jayne appointed first governor
  • (1863) Dakota Territory opened for homesteading
  • (1867) Fort Totten Indian Reservation established
  • (1868) Laramie Treaty defined Sioux lands as west of Missouri River in Dakota Territory; Joseph Rolette was first homesteader
  • (1870) Fort Berthold Indian Reservation established
  • (1874) Col. George A. Custer explored Black Hills, verified existence of gold
  • (1875) U. S. War Department allowed white settlement on Indian lands causing major uprising
  • (1876) Custer defeated at Little Big Horn River
  • (1878) Ranching began in western Dakota Territory
  • (1879) Great Dakota land boom began
  • (1882) Last Indian buffalo hunt occurred; fire destroyed much of Grand Forks
  • (1883) Territorial capital moved to Bismarck from Yankton
  • (1884) Fire destroyed half of city of Devils Lake
  • (1886) Severe winter ended open range ranching
  • (1889) North Dakota became 39th state
  • (1890) Sitting Bull killed
  • (1893) Fire destroyed business section of Fargo
  • (1898) Fire destroyed Bismarck business section


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Timeline continued...
Henry HudsonBuffalo HuntMandan IndiansLewis and ClarkKnife RiverSitting BullGeorge Custer


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