# North Dakota's Statehood **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021 "2011-07-14T16:05:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/21 "2011-07-14T19:31:23Z")
As I understand it (no cite), North Dakota is thinking of changing it’s name to just “Dakota” so that it doesn’t sound so… cold. Really? Is that all they need to do to attract tourists is charge their state’s name? I don’t think so… ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/22 "2011-07-14T19:33:04Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Why not go the full 180? ND becomes South, and SD becomes North. Ya know, just to change it up. Wouldn’t that put West Virginia _east_ of Virginia? Are they going to have to change their name to East Virginia? Or will Virginia have to become West West Virginia? > [@dolphinboy](#): > > As I understand it (no cite), North Dakota is thinking of changing it’s name to just “Dakota” so that it doesn’t sound so… cold. Really? Is that all they need to do to attract tourists is charge their state’s name? I don’t think so… I think I saw that on “How the States Got Their Shapes.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/23 "2011-07-14T19:40:55Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > Furthermore, the final clause not merely fails to prescribe, but _actively forbids_ any other oath for the executive branch. If the ND legislature has in fact prescribed an oath for its governor, it is in violation of its own Constitution. The state constitution doesn’t forbid other oaths or affirmations. It just says they’re not required. However, I agree that section of the North Dakota Constitution is wrong. The United States Constitution (which has precedence over a state constitution) does require the governor and other state executive officers to take an oath or affirmation. It’s apparently always been a moot point. North Dakota executives have apparently never chosen to invoke the part of the state constitution that gives them the option of not taking an oath and therefore have never come into conflict with the federal constitutional requirement that they take such an oath. And there’s currently a bill in North Dakota to amend the state constitution to close this loophole. Interesting we currently have three separate debates going on about the three sections of Article VI. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/24 "2011-07-14T20:33:24Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > The original territorial borders had an east-west split. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think it’s an opportunity for a fresh start. Let’s rotate the border ninety degrees and have an East Dakota and West Dakota. As mentioned, that was a serious proposal for a time, before the states were formed. But I believe the plan was rejected because it would have put all the good agricultural land in the East, leaving the West with bupkis for growing. In the days when a lot of food was made locally, that was an important consideration. > [@dolphinboy](#): > > As I understand it (no cite), North Dakota is thinking of changing it’s name to just “Dakota” so that it doesn’t sound so… cold. Really? Is that all they need to do to attract tourists is charge their state’s name? I don’t think so… I’ve heard that too, but if that’s their goal, I recommend changing it to “North Florida”. No sense in being timid about this. It’s not as if the rest of us think of _South_ Dakota as balmy. They’re hung up on the wrong half of their name. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/25 "2011-07-14T20:47:56Z")
In 2001, changing the state name was [reported to be a position](http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/27/us/national-briefing-plains-north-dakota-group-backs-state-name-change.html)of the ND Chamber of Commerce, but it is not currently listed among that organization’s [policy positions and legislative agenda](http://www.ndchamber.com/legislative/policies.asp). ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/26 "2011-07-14T20:53:23Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Of course, then we’d only have 49 states, instead of 50. All our flags would have to be changed, at a big expense. I believe (without doing the research to prove it) that old flags can be used indefinitely. > [@Duckster](#): > > Assuming the article to have some level of accuracy and legitimacy, what should be done: > [ul] > [li]Rectify the error and grandfather the mistake?[/li][li]North Dakota becomes its own sovereign nation?[/li][li]Canada absorbs it makes it a new province?[/li][/ul] You forgot:[ul][\*]Secede and join Mexico.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/27 "2011-07-14T21:18:41Z")
Darn, I guess this means I can’t get out of paying my income tax. ---
**Author:** ![Lil\_Ol\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Lil\_Ol\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lil_Ol_Lady)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/28 "2011-07-15T01:06:49Z")
Oh I thought this was going to be about how the guy, whoever it was, shuffled the papers when they were to be signed so we don’t know which Dakota was the 39th state and which one was the 40th. This was a popular story told to us when I was in grade school. ND unemployment rate is 3.2% see what being illegal does ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/29 "2011-07-15T01:32:39Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > As I understand it (no cite), North Dakota is thinking of changing it’s name to just “Dakota” so that it doesn’t sound so… cold. Really? Is that all they need to do to attract tourists is charge their state’s name? I don’t think so… If they want tourists, how about changing the name to North Takoma? And then change the name of Minot to Springfield. All the Simpsons’ fans will then flock to there (Not!). ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/30 "2011-07-15T02:20:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think it’s an opportunity for a fresh start. Let’s rotate the border ninety degrees and have an East Dakota and West Dakota. Actually, many South Dakotans routinely refer to East River and West River; the river in question being the Missouri River. Although the river doesn’t cut the state in half, there is a distinct difference in terrain and land use. Obviously the distinction isn’t black and white as the change in terrain is gradual and not abrupt. Still, the distinction works well if one knows the geography of South Dakota. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/31 "2011-07-15T03:09:55Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I believe (without doing the research to prove it) that old flags can be used indefinitely. Yes, they can. You & I know that, but it seems that a bunch of the conspiracy theorists don’t. Or don’t believe it. Somehow the flag, or gold fringe on it, or something like that renders null & void any court decisions in a courtroom with such a flag, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/32 "2011-07-15T03:14:59Z")
> [@Lil\_Ol\_Lady](#): > > ND unemployment rate is 3.2% see what being illegal does Well, that and having oil there. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/33 "2011-07-15T04:17:11Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Of course, then we’d only have 49 states, instead of 50. All our flags would have to be changed, at a big expense. And wouldn’t that make all the oaths taken in front of these wrongly-counted-stars flags invalid? And all court actions where one of these flags was displayed? (Especially if they had gold fringe on them!) Let’s not get this started. We can recycle all of the flags used 4 July 1959 to 4 July 1960. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/34 "2011-07-15T04:40:16Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Wouldn’t that put West Virginia _east_ of Virginia? Are they going to have to change their name to East Virginia? Or will Virginia have to become West West Virginia? Not sure I understood your post exactly (re: degree of humor vs. seriousness), but I just dropped in to relate this fun little fact: The State (Commonwealth) of Virginia is actually further west than West Virginia. ETA: Now that I think about it a little, it seems calling them “North Virginia” and “South Virginia” might have made more sense. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021/35 "2011-07-15T07:31:12Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Assuming the article to have some level of accuracy and legitimacy, what should be done: > [ul] > [li]Rectify the error and grandfather the mistake?[/li][li]North Dakota becomes its own sovereign nation?[/li][li]Canada absorbs it makes it a new province?[/li][/ul] Well, we definitely don’t want North Dakota to become [a sovereign state](http://www.theonion.com/articles/north-dakota-found-to-be-harboring-nuclear-missile,31/). Probably don’t want to let the Canadians have it either, for much the same reason. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-dakotas-statehood/589021.md?page=1)