Dakota Beacon

The 2010 census data for ND highlights changes since the 2000 census.  Keep in mind that was a decade in which the state’s population started at 642,200, dipped, then rebounded to 672,600 by 2010, a gain of 30,400 -- nearly 5 percent.  Population gains in Fargo (15,000), West Fargo (10,900) and Bismarck (5,700) together exceeded the gain for the entire state.  Only 11 counties gained population, while 42 declined.  Significant population increases in the oil patch were just beginning in 2010 when the census was taken.  The Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area reached 174,000.  

The most surprising changes were demographic -- the state’s white population (excluding Hispanics) increased only 1.5 percent, while American Indians increased 17 percent and Hispanics 73 percent.  Blacks are still only 1.2 percent of the ND population, but their numbers doubled in the last decade -- this is due in part to African immigrants arriving in Fargo and Grand Forks.

 Joel Kotkin is an urbanologist who teaches and writes in Southern California -- despite his title and location he likes to write about North Dakota.  He is the author of a March Wall Street Journal article headed “Why North Dakota Is Booming.”  The article is a familiar litany to Nodaks:

“They’re drilling for oil, attracting high tech, and keeping the tax burden moderate.  Result: 3.85% unemployment.”  He says oil is the principal reason why ND “enjoys arguably the best fiscal situation in all the states,” but also attributes the state’s success to “sensible thinking.”

Because of ag and energy strength, compensation in some rural ND counties is nearing or exceeding that in ND urban counties.  At $75,000, average compensation in Oliver County (coal) is the highest in the state and 30th among over 3,100 counties in the U.S.   McLean, Billings, Mountrail and Mercer are energy counties where average compensation is on the rise.

Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway owns the BNSF Railway -- ND’s principal railroad.  In 2010, BNSF had outstanding earnings, much of it attributable to hauling coal.  BNSF also profits from oil production in ND.  About two dozen rail cars of material are required for each new well site.  Around 20 percent of the state’s oil production is shipped by rail; millions of dollars in rail infrastructure improvements are either underway or planned in the state.

A Bismarck Tribune column by Clay Jenkinson dwells on some of the ill effects of ND’s oil boom, including an increase in violent deaths.  In mid-March, a Texan murdered a Texan in Minot -- both were employees of Halliburton, an oil field service company.  The stabbing murder took place in a Minot conference room where both were working. 

There is a belief at the Fargo Forum, that an editorial point must be stated in the extreme -- otherwise, it may go unnoticed.  Here’s an example: “Fargo-Moorhead has one of the best -- if not the best -- small-city symphony orchestra in the United States.  Anyone who does not concur either doesn’t know music . . .”  How does anyone know where the symphony ranks, much less, the editorial staff at the Forum?  The F-M Symphony may be excellent and deserve strong community support, but surely that can be accomplished without unproven, parochial claims.

Jamestown Sun editors may have been exhausted after they issued the longest ever Saturday list of bravos (9) and buffalo chips (3).  They were especially annoyed by a proposed bill to allow minors in small ND towns to eat in bars.  Dripping with disdain, the Sun dismissed the whole matter: “Minors shouldn’t be in bars.”

The Bismarck Tribune was equally annoyed by a Legislative proposal to abolish the Board of Higher Education and the superintendent of public instruction.  The proposal would also eliminate references in the constitution to the 11 state colleges and universities and their locations.  The Tribune thought this was too much at one gulp, although they allowed getting the schools out of the constitution was worth discussing.

Opponents of the UND Fighting Sioux nickname believe the name dishonors Native Americans and the Sioux in particular.  Opponents are puzzled that the Spirit Lake Sioux voted to support the name by a 2:1 ratio, seemingly a paradox.  Supporters are not puzzled -- they have always believed the opposition is the product of a loud, politically correct minority that does not reflect the thinking of the majority of Sioux Indians.  Following is a quote from a letter to the Bismarck Tribune from a nickname opponent: “Most of North Dakota’s Native Americans suffer from a lack of self-esteem (some not even realizing it) as a result of derision cast upon them by others who deem themselves more perfect.”  The comment in parentheses is that of the writer saying to the Sioux that, in effect, “we know what is best for you.”

You will hear more about this:  A GF Herald article said planes owned by the UND Aerospace Foundation were used to fly UND President Robert Kelley, members of his administration and selected students to Bismarck to lobby against Fighting Sioux nickname legislation.  The angle: supporters of the nickname had no such opportunity to use taxpayer resources.  The matter is a hot topic on many blogs -- one blogger accuses Kelley of having “an agenda all along” to eliminate the nickname.  Administration officials say they are merely carrying out the edict of the Board of Higher Education

The Schemionek family lives in Dry Lake Township near Churchs Ferry.  The township is not dry and much of it is about to disappear in the waters of Devils Lake.  The Schemioneks used to farm 2,200 acres, they’ve lost over 1,700 and are about to lose the rest.  They and their neighbors are organizing a bus trip to Bismarck to make a plea to the Legislature for help.

DAKTOIDS: For those quaking in fear of earthquakes, ND is located in the seismically quietist portion of the North American continent . . . While you weren’t looking, West Fargo became the fifth-largest city in ND, doubling in size in the last decade.