North Dakota Blue Book

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2025-2027 North Dakota Blue Book cover featuring a photo of the bronze North Dakota Great Seal that hangs in the State Capitol Memorial Hall.The North Dakota Blue Book is a unique resource that helps you learn about North Dakota and the people, places and industries that shape our state. It celebrates our state's rich history and culture, and brings together details about our social, economic and political environment. 

Most states produce a “blue book.” The name “blue book” comes from the British government in the 1800s printing Parliament’s committee and royal commission reports which had blue paper covers. The purpose was to provide the public with government information and to assist policymakers with decision-making

The first North Dakota Blue Books were published by the Dakota Territorial legislature from 1887-1889 and were intended to provide information to legislators to help them make decisions. The North Dakota Blue Book has been consistently published every two years since 1995 and was sporadically printed before 1995.

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2025-2027 Edition

Three versions of the North Dakota Blue Book. The Centennial edition is blue with a hard cover and an embossed gold North Dakota Great Seal. The 1911 edition of the Blue Book features the original embossed Great Seal. The 2025-2027 North Dakota Blue Book has a photograph of the bronze Great Seal that hangs in the State Capitol Memorial Hall.The newest 2025-2027 Blue Book is the 36th edition and the front cover design pays tribute to the official Great Seal of North Dakota. The Great Seal was first referenced in the 1887 Blue Book (2 years before ND became a state) and first appeared on the cover in 1911. The Great Seal has been featured on other covers in the past, including the Centennial edition of the Blue Book.

The North Dakota Blue Book includes a wide variety of information, including: 

  • State symbols
  • Statewide statistics
  • Roughrider Hall of Fame and other North Dakota awards and honors
  • Details about legislators and elected officials
  • Information about culture, history, economics, tourism, elections, political proceses, etc.

Feature Chapters

Chapter 1 highlights Theodore Roosevelt in honor of his Presidential Library opening in 2026. It contains history about his time in North Dakota and the influence it had on his presidency. It also includes details about the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library including the planning, architecture, and exhibits.

Chapter 13 focuses on North Dakota’s place in America History as it relates to the national America 250 celebration taking place in 2026. It tells the story of what North Dakota was like in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed. During those years, there were numerous Native American communities in what is now North Dakota, and explorers, trappers, trading companies started coming through in the late 1700s. The chapter also includes information about a dedicated exhibit that will be on display at the North Dakota Heritage Center and how the celebration coincides with the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

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View or Purchase the North Dakota Blue Book

The most recent printing of the North Dakota Blue is available for purchase at the Museum Store in the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum. You can also view an online version of the 2025-2027 North Dakota Blue Book on the Dakota Horizons website provided by North Dakota State Archives.

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