Welcome to North Dakota
Your life in the Peace Garden State begins
Welcome to North Dakota
North Dakota, also known as the Peace Garden State, is the 47th largest country in the US with a population of 760,900 people. Known as the happiest state in the country, North Dakota is known for its friendly residents, scenic landscapes, and Native American culture.
North Dakota's largest industries include tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy, and coal gasification. The state's natural resources include lignite, gas, oil, and petroleum.
The Peace Garden State has plenty to attract visitors and residents alike, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Enchanted Highway, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Lake Metigoshe State Park, and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site.
North Dakota Self-Storage Facts
As more folks continue to move into North Dakota than move out, the self-storage sector has found opportunities to build new storage space or convert vacant retail stores into storage facilities in growing markets. But North Dakota has a good amount of self-storage currently with a total of 4,429,617 square feet in existence. That's 6.03 square feet per person, an amount greater than the nationwide average of 5.4 square feet per head. With an oversupply of storage, monthly rental prices in North Dakota are more affordable for consumers compared to the rest of the country.
Below are some statistics that provide an overview of the self-storage industry in North Dakota:
161
North Dakota is home to an estimated 161 self-storage facilities.
4,429,617
North Dakota self-storage facilities cover 4,429,617 square feet of storage space.
6.03
North Dakota storage facilities offer 6.03 square feet of storage per person, which is lower than the national average of 5.4 square feet per person.
Reasons to Move to North Dakota
Thinking about making the move to North Dakota for good? Here are 10 reasons you'll love the Peace Garden State.
1
Perfect for pasta lovers. The majority of the pasta made in America is from North Dakota durum wheat. The city Grand Forks holds a huge pasta party every year to honor the crop.
2
Easy to find employment. North Dakota has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, meaning you should have no trouble finding a job if you make the move.
3
The World's Largest French Fry Feed. Every year in Grand Forks, residents host the world's largest French fry feed during Potato Bowl USA. In 2015, 5,220 pounds of fries were served.
4
Get Your snow angel on. North Dakota holds the Guinness World Record for the most snow angels made at the same time in the same place. Join in on the fun if you make the move.
5
The world's largest (fake) buffalo. In Jamestown, North Dakota, you can stand beside the world's largest fake buffalo called "Dakota Thunder," which is 26 feet tall!
6
Quirky names for cities and places. North Dakota has some quirky and oddly named cities and places so if you'd get a kick out of living in a place called Buttzville or On-a-Slant village and bragging to your friends back home about it, North Dakota might be for you.
7
Lawn mower racing. Ever wanted to race your friends on a riding lawn mower without being harshly judged by onlookers? Well you can if you move to North Dakota where mowers are customized to reach speeds of 60mph for competitive races.
8
A whole lot of pancakes. Much like the French fry feed, the largest pancake feed is held in Fargo, North Dakota and it served up 34,818 pancakes back in 2008.
9
Great for snow bunnies. If you just can't get enough of cold weather and the snow, you'll love North Dakota because it's got really long winters and short (but hot) summers.
10
Melting pot of food. North Dakota cuisine can offer several different kinds of cuisine from Norwegian to Native American to German. In North Dakota, you'll be able to enjoy dishes like Fleischkuekle (a German meat-filled pastry), hotdish (a casserole topped with tater tots), and Knoephla (a German potato dumpling soup).
Moving to North Dakota
North Dakota has a population of roughly 760,900 people. Between 2018 and 2019, the population increased by 0.11 percent. In recent years, people moved both into and out of North Dakota, but more people are moving in than out. The main reason for moving either into or out of the state was employment. Other reasons for moving included family reasons and retirement.
North Dakota Economic Outlook
North Dakota's GDP for 2018 was approximately $51.16 billion, according to Statista. The state's unemployment rate is 2.5 percent as of September 2019, which is lower than the national unemployment rate (3.6 percent as of October 2019).
North Dakota is expected to see a 0.4 percent job growth rate through 2020, adding approximately 2,200 new jobs. One piece of good news is that the energy sector slowly revitalized after a three-year slump. The state's population and the labor force are starting to grow thanks to the oil sector drawing migrants again. North Dakota's other major industries, wind farms and agriculture, are subject to volatile economic conditions, according to Kiplinger.
North Dakota has a cost of living score of 89.9, meaning it's cheaper to live there than the US as a whole.
Below is a break down of North Dakota's largest sectors by GDP:
Who are North Dakota's Largest Employers?
Places to live in North Dakota
North Dakota covers approximately 71,432 square miles and is home to 53 counties. The three largest cities include Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks.
Fargo
Fargo is North Dakota's largest city with a population of 127,422. Over 15 percent of the state's entire population lives in Fargo and it's probably because of the city's variety of entertainment and activities, which includes art galleries, museums, and outdoor activities like golf, biking, running, curling, fishing, swimming, and more.
Bismarck
Bismarck is the second-largest city in North Dakota and has a population of roughly 75,858 residents. It's also the capital city of North Dakota and provides tons to do on your days off, such as hiking, golf courses, restaurants, shops, and cafes.
Grand Forks
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in North Dakota with a population of 58,500 people. Nestled on the western banks of the Red River of the North in Red River Valley, Grand Forks is full of small-town charm and an array of things to do to keep yourself entertained, including North Dakota Museum of Art, Splashers of the South Seas (indoor water park), and the Greenway.