Economy of North Dakota - State Symbols

State Symbols

State bird: Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta

State fish: Northern pike, Esox lucius

State horse: Nokota horse

State flower: Wild Prairie Rose, Rosa arkansana

State tree: American Elm, Ulmus americana

State fossil: Teredo Petrified wood

State grass: Western Wheatgrass, Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Löve

State nicknames: Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Peace Garden State, Sioux state.

State mottos:

(Great Seal of North Dakota) Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable

(Coat of Arms of North Dakota) Strength from the Soil

(Latin Motto of North Dakota, effective August 1, 2011 "Serit ut alteri saeclo prosit" (One sows for the benefit of another age.)

State slogan: Legendary

State song: North Dakota Hymn

State dance: Square Dance

State fruit: Chokecherry

State march: Flickertail March

State beverage: Milk

State art museum: North Dakota Museum of Art

State license plate: see the different types over time

"The Flickertail State" is one of North Dakota's nicknames and is derived from Richardson's Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii), a very common animal in the region. The ground squirrel constantly flicks its tail in a distinctive manner. In 1953, legislation to make the ground squirrel the state emblem was voted down in the state legislature.