By Dave Thompson
Bismarck, ND – The author of a National Geographic article called "The Emptied Prairie" -- which focused on North Dakota -- says he truly loves this state.
Charles Bowdon received some criticism in North Dakota for what they considered to be a dismal portrayal of abandoned farms and towns. But Bowdon says he also received a lot of comment from older North Dakotans -- who got the point of the article.
"What happened in this state -- the threat the land posed, assumptions were made," said Bowdon. "And the assumption was simple: everyone could have 160 acres and live happily ever after. But there was a terrible price to be paid for that."
Bowdon says North Dakotans learned to adapt -- and he says this state is one of the few places in the US that lives in the future.
"Beacuse of the history of this state, which is basically of people who have come here and stayed, without much in-migration since settlement, you have developed the most adaptive people on earth," Bowdon said. "You have five or six generations of people that not only love the place, they actually know how to live with it."
And Bowdon says besides that -- he loves coming to North Dakota.
"This is the least visited state in the Union, and it's because, I'm afraid my fellow citizens are dumb," Bowdon said. "This is a beautiful state. It's a quiet state, a wonderful state to drive in, so I'm grateful the other 300 million aren't smart enough to know that. But I'm glad to be here."
Bowdon was in Bismarck to speak to the 2008 Alliance Summer Geography Institute, sponsored by Minot State University, and held at Bismarck State College.