Bismarck History Facts and Timeline

(Bismarck, North Dakota - ND, USA)

Although the city of Bismarck was officially founded in 1872, when it was named Edwinton, its history actually stretches back much further.

The earliest inhabitants living in this part of North Dakota were the Mandan peoples, a Native American tribe who chose to base themselves on the banks of the Missouri River. Interestingly, one of the earliest of the Mandan's settlements is now preserved as a park in Bismarck, appearing on the National Register of Historic Places and known as both the Chief Looking's Village and the Ward Earth Lodge Village.

The Mandan lived here in Bismarck for several centuries and in the 18th century, had a population of more than 12,000 people. This sizeable settlement was supported by a thriving farming industry and all was going well until the arrival of European explorers.

The Demise of the Mandan Civilization and Rise of the Europeans

A smallpox epidemic brought here by visiting Europeans devastated the community and so began the demise of the Mandan peoples.

In the 1830s, a European steamboat sailing up the Missouri River also unintentionally infected the Bismarck natives with diseases that they had never been exposed to, which quickly caused the death of literally thousands - an accidental genocide. The population soon dropped to little more than 100 and the remaining survivors packed up and moved away, combining forces with the Hidatsa and Arikara tribes, ultimately creating the village of 'Like-a-Fishhook'.

The Founding of Edwinton and its Railroad

Edwinton was born a result of the continued construction of the North Pacific Railway, which eventually reached this side of the Missouri River. The Camp Hancock State Historic Site on Main Avenue is where the earliest buildings were constructed.

The following year, in 1873, Edwinton was renamed as Bismarck to honor the Prince of Bismarck, a famous German statesman who was heavily involved with European affairs. Burleigh County came into being in the same year and this city seemed like the logical choice for county seat.

At this time in Bismarck history, the city was classed as an 'outlaw town', where there were no laws in place. The town grew up around the point where the railway line crossed the Missouri River, following the completion of an ambitious railroad bridge costing in the region of US$1 million. Bismarck quickly started to flourish and trains began to use this route from 1882 onwards.

Capital Status Awarded

Yankton was functioning as the capital for the Dakota Territory until 1883, when it relinquished its title to the rapidly expanding city of Bismarck.

The territory was subsequently divided into two states, with Jamestown becoming the new capital of North Dakota. However, the locals in Bismarck were not happy about this decision and so stole many important state documents from Jamestown, campaigning for the return of Bismarck's capital status. History shows that they were eventually successful, following the rapid construction of the rather grandiose North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck, which was completed as soon as 1884.

The State Capital of the 19th and 20th Century

Economic hardship, spreading city fires and farming problems all had a devastating affect on the formerly prosperous city of Bismarck. However, the city quickly bounced back and much of its downtown district was rebuilt in the late 1890s. More fireproof buildings were constructed using bricks and with an upturn in visitor numbers, two large hotels were opened, later welcoming American presidents as guests.

Rapid growth followed in the first part of the 20th century and in the year 1922 the Liberty Memorial Bridge opened, allowing traffic to finally cross the Missouri River via Highway US-10. Significant dates over the following decades in the history of Bismarck include the destruction of the State Capitol Building by fire in 1930, the completion of a new Art Deco style skyscraper as the new Capitol in 1934, a serious flood in 1952, the opening of the Arrowhead Plaza shopping center in 1954, and the completion of Interstate I-94 in 1965.

The city then enjoyed something of a retail boom and in recent years, it saw some of its most severe storms and snowfall, followed by major spring flooding and an evacuation of almost 2,000 locals.

Today, visitors to Bismarck will be able to enjoy plenty of interest around this state capital. The Kirkwood Mall remains a major rainy day attraction, which opened in 1970 and was later expanded to accommodate close to 100 shops.