However, the land drained by the Red and Mouse Rivers remained under British control.

The War of 1812 between the U.S. and Britain led to agreements that defined borders, bringing the northern region under U.S. control.

Native American tribes, particularly the Lakota Sioux, faced increasing pressure and were forced onto reservations following conflicts and treaties.

[14] Scandinavians played a significant role in shaping North Dakota's early population, with Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, Icelanders, and Finns settling in the state—roughly in that order of prevalence.

In their homelands, they had spent centuries competing for economic and political power, as close-knit nations often do.

Despite their rivalries, they shared common linguistic roots, a strong Lutheran tradition, and a high level of literacy due to compulsory education in their countries.

Most Scandinavian immigrants arriving in North Dakota were already literate, having received at least six years of schooling.

By 1910, North Dakota had a strong Scandinavian presence: Norwegians made up 21.3% of the population, Swedes 4.7%, Danes 2.2%, Icelanders 0.5%, and Finns 0.4%.

By 1914, Norwegians alone owned about 20% of the state's farmland, primarily in the eastern, northwestern, and north-central regions.

While some immigrants arrived directly from Scandinavia, most had first lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Iowa before moving west.

Many towns ended up with multiple Lutheran churches, each founded by immigrants with slightly different beliefs.

Unlike Germans from Russia, who tended to maintain their language and customs for longer, Scandinavians quickly embraced English, and within a generation, they had established schools and hospitals that reflected their traditions.

They also adapted swiftly to American political life, and by 1920, Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, and Icelanders held positions at every level of government, from townships to the state legislature.

[15] The first Norwegians arrived in the Dakotas as early as 1859, shortly after the treaty with the Yankton Sioux was signed July 10, 1859.

Mike Jacobs of the Grand Forks Herald observed that two Governors of North Dakota (Ragnvald Nestos and John Moses) "were born in Norway, almost as good politically as being a native North Dakotan".

[17] Telemark settlers found their way to most of the major settlements in North Dakota in the late 1870s and early 1880s.

Norheim grew more religious with age and helped build a Lutheran church in Villard.

South Dakota's 19th governor, Sigurd Anderson was born at Frolands Verk near Arendal, Norway in 1904.

He came to America several years later settling with his parents in Lincoln County, SD which has a large Norwegian population.

The immigrants from Norway (and the rest of Scandinavia) in the Dakotas have played an extremely important role in the development of the region.

Churches throughout the state commonly host annual fellowship dinners open to the community.

This five-day cultural event features Scandinavian dishes, but does accommodate those who are not fond of lutefisk by providing German entrees.

As of 2005, 1,743 speak Norwegian as their primary language in North Dakota, which is only 0.2% of the population, and 1,097 are older than 65 years old.

Many people of Norwegian descent, particularly the older ones, still continue some traditions that mark them as related to Norway.

[27] The 25 Dakotan communities with the highest percentage of residents claiming Norwegian ancestry are (Those in bold are the largest in the state):[28] The 25 Dakotan counties with the highest percentage of residents claiming Norwegian ancestry are (Those in bold are the largest in the state):[29]