History of Bismarck, North Dakota real impetus for growth. In 1883, Bismarck became the capital of the Dakota Territory and, in 1889, of the state of North Dakota. The first well-documented inhabitants of what is now Bismarck were the Mandan Nation. The remains of Chief Looking's Village, one of the Mandan towns, is now a park within the city limits, while another six to eight town sites, including On-a-Slant Village, Large-and-Scattered Village, and Double Ditch Village, made up the homeland of the Mandan Nation from about the mid-1500s to the late 1700s and surround present-day Bismarck for a few miles to the north and south.
U.S. Route 281 in North Dakota U.S. Route 281 in North Dakota U.S. Route 281 (US 281) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from Hidalgo, Texas and Brownsville, Texas, to its northern terminus at the International Peace Garden, north of Dunseith, North Dakota. In the U.S. state of North Dakota, US 281 extends from the South Dakota state line south of Ellendale, North Dakota and ends at the Manitoba/ North Dakota border. In North Dakota, US 281 is a major north–south artery. It enters south of Ellendale and intersects Interstate 94 and US 52 at Jamestown. 281 and 52 remain paired together