North Dakota State Nickname: The Peace Garden State
Fact-checked • Updated December 14, 2025
"The Peace Garden State"
Also Known As:
About the Nickname The Peace Garden State
North Dakota's official state nickname is The Peace Garden State, adopted by the legislature in 1957. The name comes from the International Peace Garden, a park located on the border between North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada. State officials first placed this nickname on license plates in 1956, and its popularity with residents led lawmakers to make it official the following year.
Meaning of 'The Peace Garden State'
The International Peace Garden opened on July 14, 1932, as a symbol of friendship between the United States and Canada. More than 50,000 people attended the dedication ceremony. Planners intentionally chose a site that straddles the international boundary so the garden would belong equally to both nations. Visitors can move between the two countries within the park without passing through customs checkpoints.
Each year, workers plant more than 150,000 flowers throughout the garden. The site covers approximately 2,339 acres and includes walking trails, a floral clock, and several monuments dedicated to peace. For decades, a Peace Tower with twin 120-foot concrete pillars stood on the grounds until severe weather damage led to its demolition in 2017. Plans remain in place to construct a replacement structure.
In 1956, North Dakota’s Motor Vehicle Department added Peace Garden State to license plates without formal legislative approval. The phrase quickly gained public support. In 1957, the legislature passed a law officially adopting the name as the state nickname. Today, the International Peace Garden continues to attract more than 150,000 visitors annually.
Other Nicknames
Flickertail State
This nickname comes from Richardson ground squirrels, commonly called flickertails because their tails twitch rapidly as they run or before they enter their burrows. These animals inhabit much of North Dakota’s grassland regions and live in large colonies. The species was identified by Scottish naturalist Sir John Richardson, which later influenced the nickname. In 1953, lawmakers considered adopting the flickertail as an official state emblem, but the proposal failed. North Dakota does have an official march titled the Flickertail March, composed in 1975. The nickname remains widely recognized but unofficial.
Roughrider State
Tourism officials promoted this nickname during the 1960s and 1970s. It honors Theodore Roosevelt’s First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, known as the Rough Riders, which fought during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Several cowboys from North Dakota joined the regiment and fought on foot in Cuba when horses could not be transported. Legislators introduced bills in 1971 and 1973 to replace Peace Garden State with Roughrider Country on license plates and as the official nickname, but both efforts failed. Roosevelt’s time ranching in the North Dakota Badlands later inspired the creation of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Sioux State
The word Dakota comes from the Sioux language and translates to friend or ally. Dakota and Lakota tribes lived in the region for thousands of years before European settlement. When Congress organized the Dakota Territory in 1861, the name acknowledged the Indigenous peoples of the area. The territory later divided, and North Dakota and South Dakota entered the Union on November 2, 1889. Although used less often, this nickname reflects the Native American origins of the state’s name.
Interesting Facts
Fact 1 of 7
More than 50,000 people attended the International Peace Garden dedication on July 14, 1932.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Educational resource maintained by the State Historical Society of North Dakota explaining the origins and meanings of the state’s nicknames.
Official North Dakota government source providing historical facts, symbols, and information about the Peace Garden State nickname.