Do You Know What Are The 8 Oldest Cities In North Dakota?

North Dakota has officially been a state since November 2nd, 1889

I learned this back in grade school and I have somehow hung on to it all these years.  We actually joined the union at the same time as South Dakota but our forefathers decided to file the states in alphabetical order, so we're officially ahead of our neighbors to the south.

North Dakota is officially considered the 39th state.

Speaking of North Dakota, did you know the word "Dakota" is a Sioux Indian word for "friend"?

Despite joining the United States back on November 2nd, 1889 some of our cities in North Dakota are actually older.

Many of the cities in North Dakota were established as they built the railroads west.  Others were established as fur traders used the Red River of the North.

According to ND.Gov, the Red River of the North was used as a highway for early fur traders and companies in what is now Pembina.  They would ship furs upstream to Fort Garry in Canada.

What are the "oldest" cities in North Dakota?

There is certainly plenty of debate when it comes to the oldest cities in North Dakota.  Certain publications don't always line up with each other, so there could be some margin of error with the list I'm about to share with you.  Historical records certainly are conflicting with some of these cities.

So, without further ado, these are the 8 Oldest Cities/Towns in North Dakota.

8.  Wahpeton, North Dakota-Established in 1882, according to the city of Wahpeton's website.  This town was originally known as Chahinkapa which is a Lakota Sioux word meaning "the end of the woods."

7.  Valley City, North Dakota-Established in 1874, according to Wikipedia.  Known as "the city of bridges" was originally called Worthington.

5.  Jamestown, North Dakota-Established in 1872, according to Wikipedia.  The city was named after Jamestown, Virginia.

5.  Bismarck, North Dakota-Established in 1872, according to the city of Bismarck's website.  It was not named the capital of North Dakota until 1889.

4.  Fargo, North Dakota-Established in 1871, according to the city of Fargo's website.  The city was named after William G. Fargo, a director of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and co-founder of Wells Fargo Express Company.  The early slogan for this city was "The Gateway to the West" because of the railroad.

3.  Grand Forks, North Dakota-Established in 1870, according to Wikipedia.  Grand Forks was originally a fur trading meeting spot.

2.  Walhalla, North Dakota-Established in 1845, according to Pembina County's website.  The town was first established as a fur trading post and was originally called St. Joseph's.

1.  Pembina, North Dakota-Established in 1843, according to Wikipedia.  Pembina was named after the Chippewa word for high bush cranberries, which grew in the area. Pembina was the first settlement in the Dakota Territories.