How Wide Is North Dakota? Total Distance from East to West

Bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south, and Montana to the west, North Dakota’s boundaries create a tidy silhouette on the U.S. map. North Dakota’s geometric simplicity is a contrast to the irregular shapes of many other states, contributing to its visual appeal as an almost perfect rectangle. North Dakota is 211 (340 km) miles tall, but how wide is North Dakota? Its total distance from east to west is a whopping 340 miles (547 km). Continue reading to discover more about the Flickertail State.

How Wide Is North Dakota? At-a-Glance

How Wide Is North Dakota?

North Dakota is widest toward the southern part of the state. To the west, the widest part of North Dakota is in the Little Missouri National Grasslands, a vast expanse of public land in southwestern North Dakota. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. This area covers over a million acres. The grasslands are characterized by rolling hills and the scenic Little Missouri River. The nearest and largest town in the area is Marmarth, with a population that hovers around 100.

In the east, the widest part of the state is marked by the city of Wahpeton. Wahpeton is in southeastern North Dakota, near the border with Minnesota. It is part of the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. The city’s history dates back to the mid-19th century. It was named for the Dakota Sioux word wahpe, meaning leaf, and ton, meaning dwelling place.

Wahpeton is located on the western bank of the Red River of the North, which forms the border between North Dakota and Minnesota. The Red River starts at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail Rivers near Wahpeton and flows northward into Manitoba, Canada.

How Wide Is North Dakota? Wildlife

The southern part of North Dakota is dominated by prairies and grasslands. These habitats support a variety of wildlife including bird species like meadowlarks and pheasants. Mule deer, in the west, and white-tailed deer are common. The region also supports a population of coyotes and foxes. Beavers and muskrats live along riverbanks. In North Dakota’s rivers, anglers cast their lines for walleye and northern pike. The Badlands region in the southwestern part of the state is home to pronghorn and bighorn sheep. It also supports one of the largest bison herds in North America.

Plantlife

The flora of southern North Dakota reflects the adaptability of plants to the region’s climate and soil conditions. Southern North Dakota principally consists of grasslands and prairies. Common grasses in the prairies include big bluestem, little bluestem, and switchgrass. Wildflowers such as purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and prairie rose add a pop of color to the landscape. Though prairie grass reigns supreme in the Badlands, hardy plants like sagebrush and juniper also grow there. Agriculture is also a significant part of the southern North Dakota landscape. Locals cultivate crops like wheat, barley, flax, soybeans, and sunflowers in the area’s fertile soil.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Mio Buono/Shutterstock.com