"Dakota" is a Native American (Sioux) word for "friend." President James Buchanan signed the bill creating the Dakota Territory in 1861. All State Name Origins
The Dakota Territory originally included the area covered today by North and South Dakota as well as Montana and Wyoming. On November 2, 1889, both North and South Dakota were admitted to the Union, becoming the 39th and 40th states.
North Dakota designated the convergent lady beetle (commonly called ladybug) as the official state insect in 2011. Second-grade students from Kenmare Elementary School (with assistance from their teacher Tamara McNeiley) were instrumental in passing the legislation adopting these ladybugs as symbols of North Dakota. All State Insects
Adopted in 1911, the state flag of North Dakota features a bald eagle holding an olive branch and a bundle of arrows in its talons. The eagle carries a ribbon in its beak saying "E Pluribus Unum" (Latin for "out of many, one") symbolizing one nation made up of many states. A shield with thirteen stripes on the eagle's breast represents the original thirteen states.
The great seal of North Dakota features a tree in an open field with three bundles of wheat surrounding its trunk. To the right of the tree stands a plow, anvil, and sledge: on the left a bow crossed by three arrows and a native American on horseback pursuing a buffalo toward the setting sun (the name of the state originates from the native American Sioux language). The U.S. Mint's commemorative quarter for North Dakota also features bison.
Illinois designated English as the official state language in 1969 (one of the first states to make English the official language). All State Languages
Illinois designated the violet (Viola sp.) as the official state flower in 1908. Violets are found growing on the prairie and on lawns, and also in the woods and wetlands of Illinois. All State Flowers
The Tully monster (Tullimonstrum gregarium) was designated the official state fossil of Illinois in 1989. All State Fossils
The Tully monster was a soft-bodied prehistoric marine animal which lived 280 to 340 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian geological period. So far Tully monster fossils are unique to Illinois - more than 100 Tully monster fossils have been found in the state (amateur collector Francis Tully found the first in 1958).
Illinois designated white-tailed deer as the official state animal in 1980 after winning the vote of the schoolchildren of Illinois. Eleven other states recognize the graceful white-tailed deer as a state symbol (Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin). All State Mammals
Illinois designated the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) as the official state reptile in 2005 (also the reptile symbol of Michigan). All State Reptiles
Illinois designated popcorn as the official state snack food in 2003 (corn is also the official state vegetable). All State Foods
There are 333 farms in Illinois that grow popcorn on 47,000 acres. Corn is native to the Americas, probably first cultivated in Mexico about 5,000 years ago; native Americans started growing corn in Illinois about 100 A.D.