Bismarck

Bismarck, Otto von, 1815-98, German statesman, known as the Iron Chancellor.

Early Life and Career

Born of an old Brandenburg Junker family, he studied at Göttingen and Berlin, and after holding minor judicial and administrative offices he was elected (1847) to the Prussian Landtag [parliament]. There he opposed the liberal movement, advocated unification of Germany under the aegis of Prussia, and defended the privileges of his elite social class, the Junkers. As Prussian minister to the German diet at Frankfurt (1851-59) and as ambassador to St. Petersburg (1859-62) and to Paris (1862), he gained the insight and the experience was to partially determine his subsequent policy.

Wars with Austria and France

Bismarck was appointed premier in 1862 by William I in order to secure adoption of the Prussian king's army program, which was then being strenuously opposed in parliament. Bismarck, in direct violation of the constitution, dissolved parliament and collected taxes for the army without parliamentary approval.

To expel Austria from the German Confederation now became Bismarck's chief aim. The disposition of Schleswig-Holstein, former Danish territory annexed by Austria and Prussia after their defeat of the Danes in 1864, provided the necessary pretext. By the Gastein Convention of 1865 the two countries agreed to rule jointly—Austria was to administer Holstein and Prussia was to administer Schleswig; but friction soon developed. Bismarck accused Austria of violating the Gastein treaty and thus precipitated the Austro-Prussian War (1866), which ended after seven weeks with the defeat of Austria. By the treaty signed at the end of the war, Germany was reorganized under Prussian leadership in the North German Confederation, from which Austria was excluded.

Fear of France, skillfully propagated by Bismarck, was to bring the remaining German states into the Prussian orbit when the candidature of a Hohenzollern prince to the throne of Spain caused friction with the French Emperor Napoleon III. To make sure that this friction would provoke war, Bismarck published the famous Ems dispatch. In the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) that ensued the states of S Germany rallied to the Prussian cause as Bismarck had anticipated, and in Jan., 1871, William I of Prussia was proclaimed German emperor.

Alignments and Alliances

Bismarck, the creator of the German empire, became its first chancellor. When added to his Prussian positions (premier, foreign minister, and minister of commerce) the imperial chancellorship gave him almost complete control of foreign and domestic affairs. To maintain the peace necessary for the consolidation of the empire, he proposed to advance a strong military program, to gain the friendship of Austria, to preserve British friendship by avoiding naval or colonial rivalry, and to isolate France in diplomacy so that revanche would be impossible. Therefore, in 1872, he formed the Three Emperors' League (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia) and also maintained friendly relations with Italy.

The Balkan rivalries of Austria and Russia and the subsequent triumph of Austria at the Congress of Berlin (see Berlin, Congress of), over which Bismarck presided, caused a rift in Russo-German relations. A defensive alliance with Austria was now concluded (1879), and this Dual Alliance became a Triple Alliance when Italy adhered in 1882 (see Triple Alliance and Triple Entente). Friendship with Russia was revived in the Reinsurance Treaty of 1887. Bismarck, with his system of alignments and alliances, became the virtual arbiter of Europe and was acknowledged as its leading statesman.

Domestic Policies

Bismarck's influence upon German domestic affairs was no less apparent than his international stature. The empire, soon after its establishment, was disturbed by the Kulturkampf, a fierce struggle between the state on the one hand and the Roman Catholic Church and Catholic Center party on the other. The conflict initiated a period of cooperation between Bismarck and the liberals, who were violently anticlerical. However, the struggle lost intensity after Bismarck failed to break the power of the Center party, which made large gains in the Reichstag in 1878. The detente with the liberals foundered in the late 1870s after Bismarck's refusal to appoint three liberals to his ministry and his adoption of protective tariffs in place of the liberals' free trade position.

Relations between Bismarck and the Center party continued to improve, and the chancellor turned his attention toward the socialists, who had increased their strength in the Reichstag, particularly after the fusion of the Lassalle and Marxian socialists (1875). Bismarck at first met the socialist opposition with extremely repressive measures. The antisocialist law passed in 1878 prohibited the circulation of socialist literature, empowered the police to break up socialist meetings, and put the trial and punishment of socialists under the jurisdiction of police courts.

Although the socialists were initially weakened, they again began to increase their number in parliament. Now, partly to weaken the socialists and partly as a result of his policy of economic nationalism, Bismarck instituted a program of sweeping social reform. Between 1883 and 1887, despite violent opposition, laws were passed providing for sickness, accident, and old age insurance; limiting woman and child labor; and establishing maximum working hours. Bismarck's new economic policy also resulted in the rapid expansion of German commerce and industry and the acquisition of overseas colonies and spheres of influence (see Germany).

End of the Era

The Bismarckian era closed with the death of Emperor Frederick III. A struggle for supremacy between Bismarck and William II developed immediately upon that emperor's accession in 1888 and ended with Bismarck's dismissal in 1890. Bismarck, created prince (Fürst) after the Franco-Prussian War, was now made duke (Herzog) of Lauenburg. He retired and spent the remainder of his life in oral and written criticism of the emperor and his ministers and in defense of his own policies.

Bismarck, city (1990 pop. 49,256), state capital and seat of Burleigh co., S central N.Dak., on hills overlooking the Missouri River; inc. 1873. The trade center for a large spring-wheat, livestock, and dairying region, Bismarck is also a financial and telecommunications center, and development of the oil reserves in the nearby Williston Basin is important. Lewis and Clark camped nearby in 1804-5. With the beginning of river traffic in the 1830s, a steamboat port called the "Crossing on the Missouri" emerged here. In 1872, Camp Greeley (later Camp Hancock) was erected to protect workers building the Northern Pacific RR. When the railroad reached the fort the next year, a town was laid out, subsequently named Bismarck in the hope of attracting German investment in the railroad. Bismarck boomed as a river port and railroad center, a gateway for western expansion, and supply point for the Black Hills gold rush (1874). It became the territorial capital in 1883.

(born April 1, 1815, Schönhausen, Altmark, Prussia—died July 30, 1898, Friedrichsruh, near Hamburg) Prussian statesman who founded the German Empire in 1871 and served as its chancellor for 19 years. Born into the Prussian landowning elite, Bismarck studied law and was elected to the Prussian Diet in 1849. In 1851 he was appointed Prussian representative to the federal Diet in Frankfurt. After serving as ambassador to Russia (1859–62) and France (1862), he became prime minister and foreign minister of Prussia (1862–71). When he took office, Prussia was widely considered the weakest of the five European powers, but under his leadership Prussia won a war against Denmark in 1864 (see Schleswig-Holstein Question), the Seven Weeks' War (1866), and the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71). Through these wars he achieved his goal of political unification of a Prussian-dominated German Empire. Once the empire was established, he became its chancellor. The “Iron Chancellor” skillfully preserved the peace in Europe through alliances against France (see Three Emperors' League; Reinsurance Treaty; Triple Alliance). Domestically, he introduced administrative and economic reforms but sought to preserve the status quo, opposing the Social Democratic Party and the Catholic church (see Kulturkampf). When Bismarck left office in 1890, the map of Europe had been changed immeasurably. However, the German Empire, his greatest achievement, survived him by only 20 years because he had failed to create an internally unified people.

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Island group, western Pacific Ocean. Lying northwest of New Guinea, it forms part of Papua New Guinea. It has a total area of about 18,600 sq mi (48,200 sq km); its largest components include New Britain, New Ireland, the Admiralty Islands, and Lavongai (New Hanover). Annexed by Germany in 1884, it was named for Otto von Bismarck. Occupied by Australia in 1914, it was made a mandated territory of Australia in 1920. The group became part of the UN Trust Territory of New Guinea after World War II and part of Papua New Guinea when it attained independence in 1975.

Learn more about Bismarck Archipelago with a free trial on Britannica.com.

City (pop., 2000: 55,532), capital of North Dakota, U.S. It was settled as a Missouri River port in the 1830s. In 1872 a military post was established to protect railway workers, and in 1873 it was named for Otto von Bismarck in the hope of attracting German investment. With the discovery of gold in the nearby Black Hills, it became a prospecting centre. In 1883 it was made the capital of Dakota Territory; when the territory was divided into two states in 1889, Bismarck became the capital of the northern state. Today it is the region's business, cultural, and financial centre.

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Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota, the county seat of Burleigh County, and the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. Its population was estimated at 58,333 in July 2006. Its metropolitan population was 94,719 in 2000, but was estimated in 2006 to have grown to 103,242. Bismarck was founded in 1872. Bismarck has been North Dakota's capital since it gained statehood in 1889.

Bismarck sits on the Missouri Plateau directly across the Missouri River from Mandan. The two cities make up the core urban area of the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Statistical Area

The North Dakota State Capitol, the tallest building in the state, towers over the central part of Bismarck. The state government employs many people within the city. As a hub of manufacturing, retail trade, and health care, Bismarck is the economic center of a large portion of south-central North Dakota.

History

The city that would become present day Bismarck was founded in 1872 under the name "Edwinton." This original name was in honor of Edwin M. Johnson, a chief engineer for the Northern Pacific Railway company. In 1873, the city's name was changed to "Bismarck" in honor of the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck. The new name was introduced by the Northern Pacific Railway company in an effort to attract German immigrants to settle in the city. However, the discovery of gold in the nearby Black Hills in 1874 was the first real impetus for growth. In 1883, Bismarck became the capital of the Dakota Territory and, in 1889, of the state of North Dakota.

Geography

Bismarck is located at (46.813343, -100.779004).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 71.0 km² (27.4 mi²). 69.6 km² (26.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (1.90%) is water.

Cityscape

The North Dakota State Capitol complex is located just north of downtown Bismarck. The 19-story Art Deco Capitol building is the tallest building in the city at 241.75 feet (74 m). The Capitol building towers over the central part of the city and is easily seen from 20 miles (30 km) away on a clear day. Completed during the Great Depression in 1934, it replaced an earlier capitol building which burned to the ground in 1930. The Capitol grounds also house the North Dakota Heritage Center, the North Dakota State Library, the North Dakota Governor's Residence, the State Office Building, and the Liberty Memorial Building. The North Dakota State Penitentiary is located in eastern Bismarck. Bismarck is also the home of the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House, a 66-bed house for the homeless.

Downtown Bismarck is located near the center of the city. The downtown area is rather distinctive because the city's major shopping center, Kirkwood Mall, is located there instead of in a suburban setting. Several other major retail stores are located in the vicinity of Kirkwood Mall, as is the Bismarck Civic Center. Downtown is also home to both Medcenter One Health Systems and St. Alexius Medical Center. The streets of downtown Bismarck are lined with small stores and restaurants.

The Cathedral District is a historic neighborhood located near downtown Bismarck. The neighborhood gets its name from the art deco Cathedral of the Holy Spirit located within the district. Some homes in this neighborhood date back to the 1880s, although many were built in the first decades of the 20th century. For years, the city has put forth controversial proposals to widen the streets in the neighborhood, but any such project would require the removal of many of the towering American elms which line the streets.

Much of the recent commercial and residential growth in the city of Bismarck has taken place on the northern side of the city, due in large part to expanding retail shops. Shopping centers in this area include the Gateway Mall, Northbrook Mall, Arrowhead Plaza, and the new Pinehurst Square "power center" mall.

Climate

Located in the Great Plains between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Lakes, Bismarck possesses a climate similar to both locations. The climate is characterized by long, cold winters with average snowfall. Summers are warm, and frequently hot and humid. Thunderstorms occur in spring and summer, but in general, the Bismarck climate is quite dry.

The warmest month in Bismarck is July, where high and low temperatures average 75°F (29 °C) and 56 °F (14 °C) respectively. The coldest month is January, at 21 °F (-6 °C) and -1 °F (-18 °C). The wettest month is June, with 65.8 mm (2.59 in) of precipitation, and the driest month is December, averaging just 11 mm (0.44 in). The city receives an average of around of rain per year, and of snow per season.

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rec High °F (°C)	63 (17.2)	69 (20.5)	81 (27.2)	93 (33.8)	98 (36.6)	111 (43.8)	109 (42.7)	109 (42.7)	105 (40.5)	95 (35)	79 (26.1)	65 (18.3)
Norm High °F (°C)	21.1 (-6.1)	28.5 (-1.9)	40.2 (4.6)	55.9 (13.3)	69.1 (20.6)	77.8 (25.4)	84.5 (29.2)	83.3 (28.5)	71.6 (22.0)	58.2 (14.6)	38.2 (3.4)	25.7 (-3.5)
Norm Low °F (°C)	-0.6 (-18.1)	7.8 (-13.4)	19.1 (-7.2)	30.6 (-0.8)	42.8 (6.0)	51.6 (10.9)	56.4 (13.6)	54.7 (12.6)	43.7 (6.5)	32.1 (0.1)	17.8 (-7.9)	4.8 (-15.1)
Rec Low °F (°C)	-44 (-42.2)	-43 (-41.6)	-31 (-35)	-12 (-24.4)	15 (-9.4)	30 (-1.1)	35 (1.6)	33 (0.5)	11 (-11.6)	-10 (-23.3)	-30 (-34.4)	-43 (-41.6)
Precip in. (mm)	0.45 (11.4)	0.51 (12.9)	0.85 (21.6)	1.46 (37.1)	2.22 (56.4)	2.59 (65.8)	2.58 (65.5)	2.15 (54.6)	1.61 (40.9)	1.28 (32.5)	0.7 (17.8)	0.44 (11.2)
Source: USTravelWeather.com

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 55,532 people, 23,185 households, and 14,444 families residing in the city. The population density was 797.4/km² (2,065.2/mi²). There were 24,217 housing units at an average density of 347.7/km² (900.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.78% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 3.39% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The top six ancestries in the city are: German (57.9%), Norwegian (18.2%), Russian (7.7%), Irish (7.2%), English (5.0%), Swedish (4.3%).

There were 23,185 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income per household in the city was $39,422, and the median income per family was $51,477. Males had a median income of $33,804 versus $22,647 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,789. About 5.7% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Bismarck uses the city commission style of municipal government. Citizens elect five at-large city commissioners. The president of the city commission also fills the office of mayor of the city. The current mayor of Bismarck is John Warford. The city commission meets every second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

Economy

With over 4,300 employees, the state government of North Dakota is the largest employer in Bismarck. Bismarck's two major health care providers, Medcenter One Health Systems and St. Alexius Medical Center, together employ about 4,100 people. Other major employers in Bismarck include Bobcat/Ingersoll Rand, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Bismarck Public Schools, Midwest Motor Express, and the United States Federal Government.

Bismarck is also the home of MDU Resources Group. As of 2007, the company was ranked as number 519 on the Fortune 1000 list. It is believed that the company will enter the Fortune 500 list in the near future, which would make it the only such company based in North Dakota.

Education

K-12

The Bismarck Public Schools system has 15 elementary schools, three middle schools, two public high schools (Century High and Bismarck High), one alternative high school (South Central High School), and two private high schools (St. Mary's Central High School and Shiloh Christian). The system educates 10,400 students and employs 1,500 people.

Higher education

Bismarck is home to several colleges and a university. The University of Mary is the largest degree-granting institution in the city of Bismarck. It is a four-year university operated by the Sisters of St. Benedict. Bismarck State College, a two-year public college, is a member of the North Dakota University System. Bismarck is also home to United Tribes Technical College (a two-year tribal college) and a satellite campus of Rasmussen College (a two-year private college).

Culture

The Belle Mehus Auditorium, a historic building dating back to 1914 and located in downtown Bismarck, is a center for the arts in the metropolitan area. Northern Plains Dance and Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra hold their performances there. Theatre companies in Bismarck include Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre, the Shade Tree Players children's theater group, Dakota Stage Ltd, University of Mary, and Bismarck State College, along with the various high school groups. The Gannon and Elsa Forde Art Galleries are located at Bismarck State College. The Missouri Valley Chamber Orchestra, founded in 2000, is the community's newest orchestra and performs a variety of musical genres.

Recreation

Bismarck has a large park system and an extensive network of exercise trails. The Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, established in 1927, operates many parks, swimming pools, and several golf courses within the city. Sertoma Park is one of the best known parks in Bismarck, spanning more than three miles (5 km) along the banks of the Missouri River. Along with four miles (6 km) of biking trails, Sertoma Park is also home to the Dakota Zoo and Super Slide Amusement Park. In total, the Parks and Recreation District operates approximately 2,300 acres (9 km²) of public park land.

Bismarck is also home to five golf courses: four 18-hole courses (Apple Creek Country Club, Hawktree Golf Club, Riverwood Golf Course, and Tom O'Leary Golf Course) and one 9-hole course (Pebble Creek Golf Course).

Hunting and fishing are also common activities in the area. Hunting seasons for deer, pheasant, and waterfowl are popular. Meanwhile, fishing is a year-round sport with the Missouri River running through the Bismarck-Mandan community. There are public docks on the Missouri. The north location is at the "Port of Bismarck," which is also home to the Lewis and Clark Riverboat. The next location is the Fox Island landing, which is located about half a mile southwest of Riverwood Golf Course. Further south is the Bismarck Parks and Recreation-operated General Sibley Park, which includes a boat ramp and picnic area. With the recent popularity of poker, the Bis-Man Poker Club has become another popular pastime.

The Bismarck area is also home to several dammed lakes, including McDowell Dam Lake, located six miles (10 km) east of the city, two dammed lakes located west of Mandan on I-94, and the man-made Lake Sakakawea, located 70 miles (110 km) north of Bismarck, which was formed by the Garrison Dam project.

• In February 2007, Bismarck broke the U.S. world record for most snow angels made in one place. A total of 8,962 participants showed up to the capitol grounds for the event.

Health care

Bismarck is a regional center for health care. The city has two hospitals: Medcenter One Health Systems (238-bed) and St. Alexius Medical Center (285-bed). Opened in 1885, St. Alexius was the first hospital in Dakota Territory and is the oldest health care provider in the state of North Dakota. Both St. Alexius and Medcenter One have joined forces to form the Bismarck Cancer Center.

Media

Print

The only daily newspaper in Bismarck is the Bismarck Tribune. The paper was established in 1873 and is the oldest continuing business in the area. The Tribune is the official newspaper of the city of Bismarck, Burleigh County, and the state of North Dakota. The daily newspapers of other major cities in North Dakota are also available at area newsstands.

Television

There are six television stations based in Bismarck, and all of them have rebroadcasters in Minot, Williston, and Dickinson. The stations include:

• KBME channel 3/ATSC channel 22 (PBS)
• KFYR channel 5/ATSC ch. 31 (NBC)
• KXMB channel 12/ATSC ch. 23 (CBS)
• KBMY channel 17/ATSC ch. 16 (ABC)
• KNDX channel 26 (Fox)
• K46DY channel 46 (TBN)

Bismarck also carries KWMK, an affiliate of The CW, on cable channel 14, as well as a public access channel, Community Access Television, on cable channel 12.

Radio

Bismarck is home to a number of radio stations. All of the commercial stations are owned by either Clear Channel Communications or Cumulus Media. Many of the lower frequency stations are broadcasters of national Christian radio networks. The local stations include:

FM Radio

• KBMK 88.3 FM (Contemporary Christian music) K-Love network affiliate
• K204FG 88.7 FM (Christian) BBN translator
• KGCD 89.1 FM (Contemporary Christian music) K-Love affiliate for nearby Lincoln
• KNRI 89.7 FM (Christian rock) Air 1 affiliate
• K211EG 90.1 FM (Christian) Rejoice Radio translator
• KCND 90.5 FM (Public Radio) Prairie Public
• K216FK 91.1 FM (Spanish language Christian) La Nueva Radio Cristiana Translator
• KBFR 91.7 FM (Christian) American Family Radio affiliate
• KYYY 92.9 FM (Adult Contemporary) "Y93"
• KBEP-LP 93.7 FM (Christian) 3ABN affiliate
• KQDY 94.5 FM (Country) "KQ 94.5"
• KBYZ 96.5 FM (Classic rock) "The Fox"
• KKCT 97.5 FM (Top 40) "Hot 97-5"
• KACL 98.7 FM (Oldies) "Cool 98.7"
• K259AF 99.7 FM (Country) KQDY translator "KQ 94.5"
• KLBE-LP 100.7 FM (Christian rock) "Club Radio"
• KSSS 101.5 FM (Classic rock) "Rock 101"
• KUSB 103.3 FM (Country) "US 103.3"
• KNDR 104.7 FM (Contemporary Christian music)
• KJIT-LP 106.7 FM (Contemporary Christian music) Radio 74 affiliate

AM Radio

• KFYR 550 AM (News/Talk/Sports) "K-Fire"
• KXMR 710 AM (Sports) "ESPN 710"
• KBMR 1130 AM (Classic country)
• KLXX 1270 AM (Talk)
• KDKT 1410 AM (Sports) "Fox Sports Radio 1410"
• WQDL503 1610 AM (Traveler's Information Station), North Dakota Department of Transportation

Transportation

Because of its central location within North Dakota, Bismarck has become a major transportation hub for the central part of the state.

Bismarck Municipal Airport is located south of the city and has the largest passenger volume in western North Dakota and the second highest within the state. The airport's main airline is Northwest, although it is also served by United Express and Allegiant Air. A new $15 million dollar terminal opened in May 2005. The previous terminal had been in use for over 40 years.

The BNSF Railway runs east-west through the city. There has not been Amtrak service in Bismarck since North Coast Hiawatha service ended in 1979. The closest Amtrak station is in Minot, north of Bismarck, where the Empire Builder line runs.

Two federal highways pass through Bismarck. Interstate 94 runs east and west through the metropolitan area and connects Bismarck and Mandan. U.S. Route 83 runs north and south through the northern half of Bismarck until merging with Interstate 94. U.S. Route 83 doesn't split away from Interstate 94 again until roughly 25 miles (40 km) east of the Bismarck.

In May 2004, "Capital Area Transit" System (or "CAT") was launched. This public bus system is operated by the Bis-Man Transit Board and includes eleven routes throughout the Bismarck-Mandan metropolitan area. Bis-Man Transit also offers a taxi service for senior citizens and people with disabilities.

Sports

Like in many other cities, athletics (both non-professional and professional) are popular activities in the Bismarck community.

Non-professional

High school and college sports dominate the local athletics landscape. The athletic teams at the two public Bismarck high schools, Bismarck High School and Century High School, are known as "The Demons" and "The Patriots" respectively. The athletic teams at St. Mary's Central High School, a local Catholic high school, are known as "The Saints." The teams at Bismarck State College are called "The Mystics" and compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association. The teams at the University of Mary are called "The Marauders" and compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Bismarck has an American Legion baseball team called the Governors.

The fall season is dominated by football, both high school and college. Several high schools in the area have a football rivalry with each other. The University of Mary added the sport in 1988. Most games are played in the Community Bowl. Popular sports during the winter months include ice hockey, wrestling and basketball. During the spring season, baseball is one of the top non-professional sports in the city with all high schools, BSC, and U-Mary providing teams. U-Mary also has a softball team. Another popular high school and college sport during the spring months is track and field. The summer months see no high school or college athletics, but the city is home to American Legion baseball and auto racing. The July 4th holiday is the also the height of rodeo time with rodeos held in both Mandan and Bismarck during the period. Summer months also see another popular sport in Bismarck, slow-pitch softball. Bismarck is the home of the world's largest charity softball tournament, the Sam McQuade Charity Softball tournament that hosts 400+ teams from all over the United States and Canada.

Professional

Professional teams in Bismarck include the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League and the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League. Pro sports are a recent development in the area. Both the semi-pro Bobcats and pro Wizards took root in the mid to late 1990s. The Wizards won titles during their IBA and CBA days and are the current champions of the NBA Development League. Bismarck has also been the home of two indoor pro football teams, but both teams quickly left the city after start-up. Bismarck also had a pro baseball team, the Dakota Rattlers that relocated after several seasons in Bismarck.

The Bobcats are actually Junior players (20 and under, sometimes 21 if waivered). If they were professional or semi-pro they would not be able to go on to play college.

Notable residents

• Neal Behrend - reproductive science expert at the University of Pennsylvania
• Neil Churchill - car dealer, former Bismarck mayor, and early supporter of integrated baseball
• Kent Conrad - current United States Senator from North Dakota
• John Hoeven - current Governor of North Dakota
• Thomas S. Kleppe - former Bismarck mayor, Secretary of the Interior
• Bill Mitzel - North Dakota Hall of Fame Angler; Publisher, Dakota Country Magazine
• Art Link - former Governor of North Dakota
• Ed Schafer - former Governor of North Dakota, current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
• John Warford - current mayor of Bismarck

Notes

External links

• Wikitravel has a Bismarck
• City of Bismarck official website
• Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau website
• Bismarck Municipal Airport website