North Dakota is found in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is ranked as the 19th largest state by area, but it is also the least populated, with only 646,844 (2009 est.).* The American Lung Association listed Fargo, the largest city in North Dakota, as having the cleanest outdoor air quality in the United States for their 2009 “State of the Air” report.** Additionally, it is ranked as the fourth safest state to live as of 2009.***
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, North Dakota had an estimated gross state product of $31 billion as of 2008.**** In terms of revenue generated for the state, agriculture is the primary industry in the state, followed closely by food processing and petroleum. The agricultural outputs are beef cattle, milk, hogs, turkey, honey, wheat, corn, barley, hay, sunflower seeds, soybeans, sugar beets, canola seeds, navy beans and pinto beans. Major food products include seed oils, frozen potato products, bread and pasta, cheddar cheese, and sausages and steaks. Other industrial products include farm machinery, construction machinery, computer and electronic products, petroleum products, aircraft and motor vehicle parts, and fabricated metal products.
Although touted as the least visited state in the US by some news reports, it does have a lot to offer for tourists. The North Dakota State Fair and the Scandinavian Festival “Norsk Høstfest” in Minot, as well as Theodore Roosevelt National Park draw in thousands of visitors annually.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported the unemployment rate for North Dakota to be at 3.7% as of August 2010.*****
| Unemployment Agency | Website | Phone Number | State |
| Job Service | North Dakota Website | North Dakota Unemployment Benefits |
Below is a list of the 50 largest employers in North Dakota:******
| Employer | City |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV FARGO | Fargo |
| ALTRU HEALTH SYSTEM | Grand Forks |
| ALTRY HEALTH SYSTEM | Grand Forks |
| CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MERITCARE | Fargo |
| MEDCENTER ONE HEARING CTR | Bismarck |
| TRINITY HOSPITAL-ST. JOSEPH’S | Minot |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA | Grand Forks |
| MEDCENTER ONE HEALTH SYSTEMS | Bismarck |
| MEDCENTER ONE | Bismarck |
| TRINITIY MEDICAL GROUP | Minot |
| ST. ALEXIUS MEDICAL CTR | Bismarck |
| US BANK | Fargo |
| BOBCAT CO | Bismarck |
| AIR NATIONAL GUARD | Fargo |
| ALTRU’S ALLERGY/IMMUNOLOGY | Grand Forks |
| BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD OF ND | Fargo |
| MERIT CARE HEALTH SYSTEM | Fargo |
| NORIDIAN MUTUAL INSURANCE CO | Fargo |
| L.M. GLASFIBER | Grand Forks |
| MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY | Minot |
| IR BOBCAT | Bismarck |
| V.A. MEDICAL CTR-FARGO | Fargo |
| DAKOTA GASIFICATION CO | Beulah |
| ING SVC CTR | Minot |
| NABORS DRILLING USA LP | Willington |
| IAM | Fargo |
| ALTRU’S UROLOGY | Grand Forks |
| INNOVIS HEALTH | Fargo |
| JOHN D ODEGARD SCHL-AEROSPACE | Grand Forks |
| PRICE GREGORY INTL INC | Dickinson |
| AETNA SVC CTR | Bismarck |
| HOTEL AT DAKOTA MAGIC | Hankinson |
| GOODRICK AIRCRAFT INTERIOR PRD | Jamestown |
| BOBCAT CO | Gwinner |
| CASE NEW HOLLAND LLC | Fargo |
| FARGO ASSEMBLY CO | Fargo |
| MARVIN WINDOWS & DOORS | Grafton |
| MERCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SVC | Williston |
| MERCY MEDICAL CTR | Williston |
| MID DAKOTA CLINIC-FOOT & ANKLE | Bismarck |
| SPIRIT LAKE CASINO | Saint Michael |
| SPIRIT LAKE HOTEL | Saint Michael |
| WALMART SUPERCENTER | Fargo |
| PRIME WOOD INC | Wahpeton |
| ST. JOSEPH’S HOSP & HEALTH CTR | Dickinson |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE GOVERNMENT | Bismarck |
| BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE | Bismarck |
| BASIN ELECTRIC POWER CO-OP | Bismarck |
| BETHANY TOWERS I & II | Fargo |
| MINN-DAK FARMERS CO-OP | Wahpeton |
Sources:
* http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/38000.html
** http://www.lungusa.org/assets/documents/publications/state-of-the-air/state-of-the-air-report-2009.pdf
** http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1679099/fargo_named_americas_cleanest_city_in_american_lung_associations_state/
*** http://os.cqpress.com/rankings/CrimeStateRankings_2009.pdf
**** http://www.bea.gov/regional/gsp/action.cfm
***** http://data.bls.gov:8080/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet;jsessionid=623070c4a241376a6b32
****** http://www.acinet.org/acinet/oview6.asp?soccode=&stfips=38&from=State&id=11&nodeid=12