North Dakota Warms to More Romantic Name

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota’s reputation for blizzards, howling winds and subzero cold may partly be blamed on its name, according to a legislative resolution that seeks to change it to simply Dakota, which means friend in the Sioux language.

“I have come to see the word Dakota as having a much more poetic, romantic connotation than the term North Dakota,” said state Sen. Tim Mathern, who introduced two resolutions Wednesday in the Legislature calling for the change.

State tourism director Jim Fuglie called the idea “wonderful,” but South Dakota Gov. George S. Mickelson said it would forsake a century’s worth of history.

Why Not Tallahassee?

“If either of us wants to change our name now, we might as well call ourselves Michigan or Tallahassee, because any name change now would deny 100 years or more of our heritage,” Mickelson said.

North Dakota Gov. George Sinner said he had not thought about the issue, but “I certainly don’t have any built-in opposition.”

One resolution calls on Congress to amend federal enabling legislation to permit the name change. The 1889 act admitted North and South Dakota, Montana and Washington to the United States.

The second resolution calls for a statewide election to make the necessary amendment to the North Dakota constitution.

North Dakota “conveys an image of severe climactic conditions,” according to the first resolution, while Dakota “conveys an image reflective of the pioneering spirit of the inhabitants of the state.”