BISMARCK, the capital of North Dakota, U.S.A., and the county seat of Burleigh county, on the east bank of the Missouri river, in the south-central part of the State. It is on Federal Highway io and the main line of the Northern Pacific railway, and is served also by the Soo line. A tract of land has been set aside for an airport, and a revolving beacon has been installed on the roof of one of the hotels. The population was 7,122 in 1920, ( 15% foreign-born white) ; ii,o90 in 193o.
The city is 1,692ft. above sea-level. The annual precipitation is 18 or i9in. and the extremes of temperature range from —4o° to over ioo°. It lies in the heart of the spring wheat region, where diversified farming, dairying, fruit and truck-raising are growing industries, and is the supply centre for a wide agricultural territory. The lignite mines of the county employ several hun dred men. There are several Federal offices in Bismarck, as well as the State departments and the State penitentiary. On the capitol grounds is the log-house from Roosevelt's Dakota ranch; and across the river, in a State park, is Ft. Abraham Lincoln, from which Custer started on his last expedition. The city has a com mission form of government.
The first white man whose visit to this region is recorded was Verendrye (1738-42). Lewis and Clark wintered 5om. north of Bismarck in 18o4—o5. The city was founded in 1873 and incor porated in 1876. It was the western terminus of the Northern Pacific from 1873, when construction was suspended, on account of the financial panic, until 1878. From 1883 to 1889 it was the capital of Dakota Territory, and when the territory was divided it became the capital of the northern State.