The name Dakota was taken from the general name of the Sioux tribes, and signified "many united tribes."

Agriculture is the principal occupation, and wheat is cultivated very extensively, great wheat farms of 20,000 acres being not uncommon. Horse and cattle raising is second in importance. The estimated area of grazing lands is 40,000,000 acres. The manufactures are for the most part domestic and local.

The value of farm products for 1900 was $64,252,494, as against $21,264,938 in 1890 and $5,648,814 in 1880.¹

The value of manufactured products for 1900 was $9,183,114, and that of real and personal property $143,000,000.

Wheat	(1900)	59,888,810 bu.	Value $31,733,763.
	(1890)	26,403,365 bu.
	(1880)1	2,830,289 bu.
Oats	(1900)	22,125,331 bu.	Value $5,852,615.
	(1890)	5,733,129 bu.
Corn	(1900)	1,284,870 bu.	Value $397,278.
	(1890)	178,729 bu.
	(1880)1	2,000,864 bu.
Hay and forage	(1900)	1,747,390 tons.	Value $5,182,917.
	(1890)	531,472 tons.
	(1880)1	308,036 tons.
Sheep	(1900)	451,437.
	(1890)	136,413.
	(1880)1	85,244.
Wool	(1900)	3,030,478 lbs.	Value $503,744.
	(1890)	510,417 lbs.
	(1880)1	157,025 lbs.
Livestock	(1900)		value $42,430,491.
	(1890)		18,787,294.
	(1880)1		7,555,274.

1804 to 1806.	Lewis and Clark explored the Dakotas, wintering near Bismarck, 1804-1805.
1830.	The first steamer ascended the Missouri River into the Dakotas.
1851.	The first land was obtained from the Sioux Indians.
1861.	Dakota territory was organized.
1889.	North Dakota was admitted as a state.
1892.	The Turtle Indians cede all right and title to lands in the Devil’s Lake District.
1902.	New military post established near Bismarck.

In 1889 Oklahoma, up to that time an Indian reservation, was opened for settlement. From 1850, when as "No Man's Land " it was ceded to the United States, until its opening to white settlers, these unoccupied lands were the scene of perpetual struggle between the government troops sent to enforce the proclamations against settlement and organized bands of men determined upon taking up the lands. In 1901, 3,000,000 aeres of Indian lands were opened. They now contain a population estimated at 80,000. Three counties have been organized, and the county seats have populations of from 8,000 to 12,000. The property of the settlers in this new country is estimated to be worth $9,000,000, according to the county clerks, on a basis of one third to one fourth real value. This showing for two years illustrates the rapid development of the last of the available new lands of the West. The total population of Oklahoma (1903) is estimated at 550,000, and with the Indian Territory added there would be about 1,100,000. The admission of these two territories into the Union as one or two states lies in the immediate future.

Agriculture, horticulture, and stock raising are the principal occupations, yet the increase in manufactures between 1890 and 1900 was more striking than that in any other state or territory.

The value of farm products for 1900 was $45,447,744, as against $440,375 in 1890.

The value of manufactured products for 1900 was $7,083,938, and that of real and personal property $150,000,000.

Corn	(1900)	152,055,390 bu.	Value $48,037,895.
	(1890)	234,315 bu.
Wheat	(1900)	18,124,520 bu.	Value $8,989,416.
	(1890)	30,175 bu.
Oats	(1900)	5,087,930 bu.	Value $1,079,862.
	(1890)	76,194 bu.
Cotton	(1900)	70,675 commercial bales.	Value $2,217,119.
	(1890)	425 commercial bales.
Hay and forage	(1900)	1,137,296 tons.	Value $2,883,682.
	(1890)	40,473 tons.
Sheep	(1900)	48,535.
	(1890)	16,565.
Wool	(1900)	278,425 lbs.	Value $37,750.
	(1890)	59,114 lbs.
Live stock	(1900)		value $54,829,568.
	(1890)		3,206,270.
	(1880)		876,000.
Flouring and grist mills	(1900)		value of product $3,745,434.

1889.	Oklahoma separated from Indian Territory and opened for settlement.
1890.	Oklahoma territory organized.
1891.	Cession of lands was made by Sac and Fox, Pottawattomie, Shawnee, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe Indians, which opened 300,000 more acres to white settlement.
1900.	The governor claimed that Oklahoma was entitled to admission as a state.

This has been called the "Coyote State."

Two thirds of the population are engaged in agricultural pursuits. Wheat, corn, and oats are the leading products, and stock raising is very profitable. Milling is an important industry, and the state is very rich in minerals, gold and silver leading.

The value of farm products for 1900 was $66,082,419, as against $22,047,279 in 1890.

The value of manufactured products for 1900 was $12,213,239, and that of real and personal property $172,225,085.

Wheat	(1900)	41,889,380 bu.	Value $20,957,917.
	(1890)	16,541,138 bu.
Corn	(1900)	32,402,540 bu.	Value $7,263,127.
	(1890)	13,152,008 bu.
Hay and forage	(1900)	2,378,392 tons.	Value $5,954,229.
	(1890)	1,541,524 tons.
Oats	(1900)	19,412,490 bu.	Value $4,114,456.
	(1890)	7,469,846 bu.
Sheep	(1900)	507,338.
	(1890)	238,518.
Wool	(1900)	3,426,945 lbs.	Value $525,652.
	(1800)	1,074,289 lbs.
Live stock	(1900)		value $65,173,432.
	(1890)		29,689,509.
Gold	(1900)	84,723 fine ounces.
Silver	(1900)	317,263 fine ounces.
Copper	(1900)	contents of matte 2,175,549 lbs.

1857.	The first settlement was made at Sioux Falls.
1861.	Dakota was organized as a territory.
1872.	The first railroad entered the state.
1889.	South Dakota was separated from North Dakota and admitted as a state.
1890.	The Sioux reservation, containing 9,000,000 acres, was opened to white settlers.
1892.	The Yankton Sioux ceded part of their reservation between the Choteau and Missouri rivers.
1893.	The state legislature passed an act to promote irrigation.
1902.	Oil discovered thirty miles from Sisseton.

The name comes from an Indian word, and means "broad plain."

It is estimated that 12,000,000 acres can be made fit for cultivation by means of irrigation. The elevation of the state (average probably 6400 feet) also limits agricultural production, as cereals and other ordinary products of the section will not thrive above 7500 feet. Stock raising is the leading pursuit. Mineral resources are still to a great extent undeveloped. There are about 13,000,000 acres of coal fields, and large oil districts.

The acreage irrigated in 1900 was 605,878, and its value $2,886,949.

The value of farm products for 1900 was $11,907,415, as against $2,241,590 in 1890 and $372,391 in 1880.

The value of manufactured products for 1900 was $4,301,240, and that of real and personal property $37,892,303.

Oats	(1900)	763,370 bu.	Value $292,630.
	(1890)	388,505 bu.
	(1880)	22,512 bu.
Wheat	(1900)	348,890 bu.	Value $191,195.
	(1890)	74,450 bu.
	(1880)	4,674 bu.
Hay and forage	(1900)	462,101 tons.	Value $2,332,028.
	(1890)	147,963 tons.
	(1880)	23,516 tons.
Sheep	(1900)	3,327,185.
	(1890)	712,520.
	(1880)	450,225.
Wool	(1900)	27,758,309 lbs.	Value $4,036,227.
	(1890)	4,146,733 lbs.
	(1880)	691,650 lbs.
Live stock	(1900)		value $39,145,877.
	(1890)		18,785,301.
	(1880)		9,182,107.
Coal	(1900)	3,584,466 tons.
	(1880)	589,595 tons.
Coke	(1900)	15,630 tons.
Iron and steel	(1900)	manufactured product 9,422 tons.
	(1890)	8,308 tons.
	(1880)	8,741 tons.

1841.	The first emigrant train for Oregon and California crossed Wyoming.
1867.	Gold was discovered and Cheyenne city established.
1868.	Wyoming territory was organized from Dakota, Idaho, and Utah.
1876.	The battle of the Big Horn.
1890.	The territory was admitted into the Union as a state.
1894.	A rich gold strike is made in Dutch Tom Gulch.
1902.	Completion of the longest aerial tramway in the world, extending from Battle Creek to Grand Encampment, a distance of sixteen miles.

¹Includes South Dakota.
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© 2001, Lynn Waterman