| 1682 | La Salle, French explorer, by his Procès Verbal claims part of North Dakota drained by Missouri River for France. |
| 1738 | Pierre de la Verendrye, first white man to enter North Dakota, visits Mandan Indians on Missouri. |
| 1742 | Verendrye's sons return to North Dakota while searching for a western sea near high mountains. |
| 1762 | France transfers land claimed by La Salle to Spain. |
| 1763 | By Treaty of Paris England obtains title to part of State drained by Mouse and Red Rivers. |
| 1768 | Jonathan Carver explores Northwest through the Red River Valley for Provincial Government. |
| 1797 | David Thompson, English geographer, explores and maps Mouse and Missouri River basins. |
| Charles Chaboillez of the North West Company establishes first trading post in State at Pembina. |
| 1800 | Spain cedes American possessions back to France after adjustment of territorial holdings. |
| Alexander Henry, Jr., opens fur-trading post at Park River. |
| 1801 | Alexander Henry, Jr., moves post to Pembina. |
| 1802 | March 12, first non-Indian child in State, a girl, born to Pierre Bonza and wife, Negroes, at Henry's post at Pembina. |
| Charles le Raye explores western North Dakota while captive of Brulé Sioux. |
| 1803 | Louisiana Purchase makes southwestern North Dakota part of United States. |
| 1804-5 | Lewis and Clark, accompanied by Sakakawea, cross North Dakota on journey to Pacific. |
| 1807 | In May, Manuel Lisa sets out from St. Louis in search of suitable sites for trading posts along the Missouri River. |
| December 29, first white child in State born at Pembina. |
| 1811 | John Bradbury and Thomas Nuttall, English botanists, join Astoria Overland Expedition up Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers to Oregon. |
| 1812 | Selkirk colonists come to Pembina to make first attempt at permanent white settlement in State. |
| 1818 | Father Dumoulin and Father Provencher open first church in State, a Roman Catholic mission at Pembina. |
| First school, taught by William Edge, begun in connection with this mission. |
| United States acquires eastern North Dakota by treaty with England. |
| 1820 | Grasshopper plague destroys Red River Valley crops. |
| 1822 | Gen. W. H. Ashley and other explorers establish fur-trading posts in Missouri Valley. |
| 1823 | Gen. Stephen H. Long survey expedition designates official boundary between United States and Canada at point north of Pembina. |
| Selkirk colonists evacuate Pembina and move to Canadian soil. |
| 1825 | Gen. Henry Atkinson and Gen. Henry Leavenworth come up Missouri to make treaties with Arikara and other Indians. |
| 1828 | American Fur Company builds Fort Union at mouth of Yellowstone. |
| 1831 | Fort Clark built on Missouri by American Fur Company. |
| 1832 | Yellowstone, first steamboat to navigate Missouri in North Dakota, makes voyage to Fort Union. |
| George Catlin, artist and explorer, visits Mandan Indians. |
| 1833 | Maximilian, Prince of Wied, conducts scientific expedition up Missouri River. |
| 1837 | Smallpox epidemic nearly annihilates Mandan Indian tribe. |
| 1839 | John C. Fremont and Jean N. Nicollet lead first exploration through central North Dakota. |
| Father Pierre Jean De Smet begins missionary work among North Dakota Indians, and persuades Sioux, particularly Hunkpapas, to participate in peace councils. |
| 1842 | Joseph Rolette opens American Fur Company post at Pembina. |
| 1843 | Rival post built at Pembina by Norman Kittson. |
| John James Audubon, naturalist, studies animal life in present North Dakota. |
| 1845 | Bartholomew Berthold, representing American Fur Company, founds post named for himself on Missouri River. |
| 1848 | Father George Belcourt opens mission fields in Pembina, Walhalla, and Turtle Mountains. |
| Rev. Alonzo Barnard and James Tanner conduct first Protestant church service in State at Pembina. |
| First printing press brought into North Dakota by Barnard. |
| 1851 | First North Dakota post office established at Pembina with Norman Kittson postmaster. |
| Charles Cavileer brings settlers to Pembina from Minnesota to form first permanent white agricultural colony in State. |
| First flour mill in State constructed at Walhalla by Father Belcourt. |
| 1853 | Stevens survey sponsored by Federal Government to find most advantageous route for railway to Pacific. |
| 1857 | Fort Abercrombie, first military post in North Dakota, established on Red River. |
| 1859 | January 5, Anson Northrup, first steamboat on Red River, starts trip from Fort Abercrombie to Winnipeg. |
| 1860 | Regular steamboat transportation on upper Missouri begins. |
| 1861 | Dakota Territory is officially organized. |
| President Lincoln appoints William Jayne first Governor of Dakota Territory. |
| 1862 | First Territorial legislature meets in Yankton. |
| Refugees from Minnesota Massacre flee to Fort Abercrombie. Little Crow and followers seek refuge with Sioux near Devils Lake. |
| Capt. James L. Fisk guides parties across North Dakota to Montana gold fields. |
| 1863 | January 1, Dakota Territory opened for homesteading. |
| Gen. Henry H. Sibley and Gen. Alfred H. Sully, sent out to punish Sioux who participated in Minnesota Massacre, conduct extensive campaign through North Dakota. |
| 1864 | In July, first North Dakota newspaper, the Frontier Scout, issued at Fort Union. |
| General Sully supervises building of Fort Rice. |
| Immigrant party under Capt. James L. Fisk, besieged by Sioux, builds Fort Dilts. |
| 1866 | Fort Buford established opposite mouth of Yellowstone. |
| 1867 | Fort Ransom, second of chain of forts for protection of immigrants crossing the prairies, established on Sheyenne River by Gen. A. H. Terry. |
| Forts Stevenson and Totten, and Fort Totten Reservation established. |
| Treaty with Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux cedes United States rights to build roads and railroads across Indian lands. |
| 1868 | Sioux, influenced by Father De Smet, join peace council at Fort Rice. |
| Laramie treaty defines reservation boundaries for Sioux, including Standing Rock Reservation. |
| Joseph Rolette makes first North Dakota homestead entry, filing on land in northwest part of Red River Valley. |
| 1870 | Fort Berthold Indian Reservation boundaries defined. |
| Treaty between Chippewa, Sioux, and whites at Fort Abercrombie brings about permanent peace in eastern area. |
| 1871 | Northern Pacific Railway reaches Fargo. |
| First North Dakota telegraph line put in operation between Fort Abercrombie and Winnipeg. |
| Whistler expedition begins survey of railway lines westward through North Dakota. |
| 1872 | Fort Seward replaces Fort Ransom. |
| Fort McKeen, later named Fort Abraham Lincoln, built on Missouri. |
| 1873 | Fort Abraham Lincoln built. |
| Bismarck becomes western terminus of Northern Pacific. |
| July 11, Col. C. A. Lounsberry publishes first issue of Bismarck Tribune, State's oldest newspaper. |
| 1874 | United States Weather Bureau established as part of Camp Hancock at Bismarck. |
| First newspaper in Red River Valley, the Express, printed at Fargo. |
| Custer brings back report of gold in Black Hills. |
| 1875 | Era of bonanza farming is begun. |
| War Department permits white settlement on reservations in violation of Laramie treaty, precipitating uprisings among Sioux. |
| 1876 | May 17, Custer leaves Fort Abraham Lincoln for campaign of the Little Big Horn. |
| June 25, Custer's immediate command annihilated by Sioux at Battle of Little Big Horn. |
| 1878 | Fort Yates completed to succeed Fort Rice. |
| Ranching introduced in western North Dakota. |
| 1880 | James J. Hill begins building Great Northern Railway through State. |
| Lignite mining opened in western North Dakota. |
| Military reserves in eastern and central parts of State thrown open to homestead entry. |
| 1881 | Northern Pacific reaches Montana border. |
| 1882 | Great Northern completed through Red River Valley to Canada. |
| Turtle Mountain Reservation established for Chippewa. |
| 1883 | Territorial capital moved from Yankton to Bismarck. |
| Jamestown Presbyterian College established. |
| University of North Dakota opens at Grand Forks. |
| Marquis de Mores opens packing plant at Medora. |
| Theodore Roosevelt comes to North Dakota for his health and begins ranching near Medora. |
| First labor union in State formed at Bismarck. |
| 1885 | State hospital for insane opens at Jamestown. |
| Territorial prison, later State penitentiary, opens at Bismarck. |
| 1886 | Bank of Hamilton founded: later becomes first State bank. |
| 1887 | Treaty with Sioux allows white settlement on Standing Rock Indian Agency. |
| 1889 | February 22, Congress passes enabling act. |
| July 4, State constitutional convention, held at Bismarck. |
| October 1, State constitution adopted. |
| November 2, President Harrison admits North Dakota to statehood. John Miller takes office as first Governor. |
| November 19, first legislature meets at Bismarck. |
| 1890 | State Normal School opens at Valley City. |
| State Agricultural College opens at Fargo. |
| State Normal School opens at Mayville. |
| Andrew Burke elected Governor. |
| School for the Deaf opens at Devils Lake. |
| 1891 | Severe drought throughout State. |
| 1892 | Eli Shortridge, Democrat, elected Governor on fusion ticket in reaction against railway interference in State politics. |
| 1893 | Industrial School at Ellendale (later State Normal and Industrial School) established. |
| 1894 | Roger Allin, Republican, elected Governor. |
| 1896 | Frank Briggs, Republican, elected Governor. |
| 1897 | First free public library in State opens at Grafton. |
| Red River Valley flood causes severe damage. |
| 1898 | Governor Briggs dies. Lt. Gov. Joseph M. Devine completes term. |
| Fred B. Fancher, Republican, elected to succeed Devine. |
| 1900 | Frank White, Republican, elected Governor. |
| 1902 | Governor White reelected. |
| 1903 | New Fort Lincoln built and garrisoned. |
| 1904 | State School of Science opens at Wahpeton. |
| School for the Feeble-minded (later Grafton State School) opens at Grafton. |
| E. Y. Sarles, Republican, elected Governor. |
| 1906 | John Burke, only Governor of State to serve three terms, elected on Democratic ticket. |
| 1907 | State School of Forestry opens at Bottineau. |
| 1909 | First State child labor law enacted. |
| State Library Commission created. |
| 1912 | L. B. Hanna, Republican, elected Governor. |
| 1913 | State Normal School opens at Minot. |
| 1915 | In February, Nonpartisan League organized. |
| 1916 | Lynn J. Frazier, first Nonpartisan Governor, elected. |
| 1918 | State Normal School opens at Dickinson. |
| Seven initiated amendments, basis of league platform, approved by electorate. |
| 1919 | Bank of North Dakota organized. |
| Industrial Commission created. |
| 1920 | Recall measure passed. |
| April 29, contract awarded for building State mill and elevator at Grand Forks. |
| 1921 | Governor Frazier recalled; succeeded by R. A. Nestos, I. V. A. Republican. |
| 1922 | Former Governor Frazier elected United States Senator. |
| WDAY, first North Dakota radio station, opens at Fargo. |
| 1924 | Arthur G. Sorlie, Nonpartisan, elected Governor. |
| Gerald P. Nye appointed to fill United States Senate vacancy caused by death of Sen. E. F. Ladd. |
| 1927 | Governor Sorlie dies in office; succeeded by Lt. Gov. Walter Maddock. |
| 1928 | George F. Shafer, I. V. A. Republican, elected Governor. |
| Air mail service between Twin Cities and Winnipeg through North Dakota inaugurated. |
| 1929 | Prolonged drought throughout Northwest begins. |
| 1930 | December 28, Capitol destroyed by fire. |
| 1932 | October 8, Vice President Charles M. Curtis dedicates cornerstone of new $2,000,000 capitol building. |
| William Langer, Nonpartisan, elected Governor. |
| Prohibition clause of State constitution repealed. |
| 1934 | July 18, North Dakota Supreme Court holds Governor Langer disqualified for office; Lt. Gov. Ole Olson becomes Acting Governor. |
| 1935 | January 7, Thomas H. Moodie, Democrat, inaugurated Governor. |
| February 2, State Supreme Court declares Governor Moodie ineligible; Walter Welford, Nonpartisan Lieutenant Governor, becomes Acting Governor. |
| State Welfare and Planning Boards created. |
| 1936 | Langer defeats Welford for governorship, first Governor of any State elected in the individual column of ballot. |
| Referendum legalizes sale of liquor in State. |
