The Dakotas

For other uses, see The Dakotas (disambiguation).

The Dakotas

The Dakotas is a collective term that refers to the U.S. states of North Dakota and South Dakota together. The term has been used historically to describe the Dakota Territory, and is continued to be used to describe the collective heritage,^[1] culture, geography,^[2] fauna,^[3] sociology,^[4] the economy,^[5][6] and even cuisine^[7] among the two states.

The two states combined have a population of 1,459,227, a little less than Idaho, or at the 40th place. The number of inhabitants increased by 13,552 from the year before. The Dakotas have a total area of 147,878 square miles (383,177 square kilometres), which rank 4th among U.S. states, right before Montana. The two states also have a population density of 9.8 per sq. mi (3.8 per km²).

The name "Dakota" comes from the Tipi Sapa, a Native American clan that is a branch of the Sioux nation.^[8]

A sub-region of the Frontier Strip, the Dakotas are also within the Midwestern United States, with the western portion in the High Plains. According to the Public Broadcasting Service, important areas within the Dakotas include the Black Hills, the town of Deadwood, Fort Buford, Standing Rock Reservation and Wounded Knee.^[9] The Upper Missouri River and the Upper Missouri River Valley are important geological features in the area, as well.

The area is mostly inhabited by people of Northern European origin. 44.9% of the population are of German ancestry, 21.8% of Norwegian, and 9.6% are of Irish heritage.^{[citation needed]}

Bibliography

• McMacken, R. (2006) Off the Beaten Path: The Dakotas. Globe Pequot.

See also

• The Carolinas
• The Virginias

References

1. ^ "Serengeti in the Dakotas", Scientific American. May 2007. Retrieved 4/20/08.
2. ^ "Prairie Basin Wetlands of the Dakotas: A Community Profile. USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Retrieved 4/20/08.
3. ^ "Wild Horses in Montana and the Dakotas", Retrieved 4/20/08.
4. ^ "Time Passages, Genealogy of the Dakotas". Retrieved 4/20/08.
5. ^ "Dakotas rank high on congressional pork list", ArgusLeader.com. April 2, 2008. Retrieved 4/20/08.
6. ^ "Black Gold in the Dakotas", Dakota Voice. April 6, 2008. Retrieved 4/20/08.
7. ^ Wieland, K. (2007) The Dakota Diet: Health Secrets from the Great Plains. Basic Health Publications.
8. ^ Olden, S.E. (1918) The People of Tipi Sapa (the Dakotas): Tipi Sapa Mitaoyate Kin. Morehouse Publishing Company.
9. ^ "New perspectives on the West: The Dakotas", PBS. Retrieved 4/20/08.

External links

• Historic map of the Dakotas

Coordinates: 46°N 100°W / 46°N 100°W / 46; -100