North Dakota Public Health Association

06/23/2026

🇺🇸 America 250: Public Health in North Dakota 🇺🇸
1901–1926: Public Health Laws

The early 1900s marked a turning point as North Dakota began building the public health systems and laws that continue to protect communities today.

Building on earlier improvements in water sanitation, NDSU chemist Edwin Ladd helped strengthen food safety by testing food products for contamination. In 1905, North Dakota passed the Pure Food and Drug Law, becoming the first state in the nation to require labeling for food and medications. Just one year later, North Dakota was recognized as a national leader in protecting consumers from misbranded and adulterated food and drug products.

Public health infrastructure also continued to grow. In 1907, the state's first Public Health Laboratory was established at the University of North Dakota, making it possible to identify disease-causing pathogens. That same year, the Vital Statistics Act created a system for tracking births, deaths and the causes of disease—laying the foundation for the public health surveillance systems still used today.

During this period, public health services also expanded to reach more communities. Nurses like Carrie Pohl provided care through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, helping lay the groundwork for what would later become the Indian Health Service.

As communities grew, so did the need for stronger public health leadership. In 1915, Dr. Carol Fox of the United States Public Health Service evaluated North Dakota's public health system and recommended creating a unified state health department led by a single State Health Officer. Those recommendations helped shape the establishment of North Dakota's full-time State Health Department in 1923, bringing together many of the state's public health responsibilities under one coordinated system.

As we celebrate 250 years of America and reflect on 250 years of public health in North Dakota, this chapter shows how strong public health laws, surveillance and coordinated leadership became the foundation for protecting the health of generations to come.

Next up: Public Health in North Dakota Comes of Age (1926–1951)

06/20/2026

🇺🇸 America 250: Public Health in North Dakota 🇺🇸
1876–1901: Chemistry and Hygiene

The years between 1876 and 1901 brought significant change to North Dakota. Following the Battle of the Greasy Grass (Little Bighorn) in 1876 and the passage of the Dawes Act in 1887, many Native communities were forcibly removed from their traditional lands and confined to reservations. At the same time, new opportunities for European settlement fueled rapid population growth. Between 1880 and 1910, North Dakota's population grew by more than half a million people, and the state officially joined the Union in 1889.

As communities expanded, so did the need for public health. Growing towns faced challenges with safe drinking water, sanitation and the spread of infectious diseases. Typhoid fever, often caused by contaminated water sources, became one of the state's leading causes of death.

During this same period, scientific discoveries transformed public health around the world. The development of germ theory by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch helped explain how diseases spread, while advances in chemistry and environmental engineering improved water quality and sanitation. In North Dakota, early filtration systems and, later, water treatment practices dramatically reduced cases of typhoid fever, demonstrating that prevention could save lives.

As we celebrate 250 years of America and reflect on 250 years of public health in North Dakota, this chapter highlights how science, sanitation and prevention became powerful tools for protecting the health of communities across the state.

Next up: Public Health Laws (1901–1926)

06/18/2026

🇺🇸 America 250: Public Health in North Dakota 🇺🇸
1851–1876: Settlement and Change

The years between 1851 and 1876 brought significant change to what is now North Dakota. The passage of the Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged European settlement by granting land to those willing to cultivate it. Around the same time, the Dakota War of 1862 forced many Dakota people from Minnesota into Dakota Territory, where they faced difficult conditions and an uncertain future.

As settlement expanded, the region experienced rapid economic and social change. The decline of the fur trade, increased competition for land and resources, and growing interactions among Native communities, settlers and traders reshaped daily life across the Northern Plains.

In 1870, the region's non-Native population numbered just over 2,400 people, while Native communities continued to make up the majority of the population. The arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad in Fargo in 1871 changed that, as westward expansion accelerated, connecting communities and giving rise to new towns throughout the territory.

These changes also brought new public health challenges. Growing settlements required improved sanitation, safe drinking water and disease prevention. Many Native communities experienced worsening health as they were displaced from traditional lands, relocated to reservations and excluded from emerging economic opportunities.

As we celebrate 250 years of America and reflect on 250 years of public health in North Dakota, this chapter reminds us that population growth, migration and community development have long shaped the health of our state. It is also a reminder that equal opportunity for all has been, and remains, a goal worth striving for.

Next up: Chemistry and Hygiene (1876–1901)

06/12/2026

🇺🇸 America 250: Public Health in North Dakota 🇺🇸
1826-1851: The Gift of the Buffalo

For generations, the buffalo was the foundation of health and well-being for Indigenous communities across the Northern Plains. It provided a reliable source of nutritious food, warm clothing, shelter and tools, while supporting strong communities and a sustainable way of life. Nearly every part of the animal served a purpose, reflecting values of conservation, stewardship and respect for natural resources.

During this period, the buffalo remained central to the health, culture and economy of the Plains tribes. As westward expansion and trade increased among American and European settlers, however, pressures on buffalo herds and Native communities began to grow, foreshadowing significant public health challenges in the decades ahead.

Far from the Great Plains, formal public health was also beginning to take shape in the United States. In 1850, Massachusetts statistician Lemuel Shattuck published the Report of the Sanitary Commission of Massachusetts, a landmark document that called for government-led sanitation and laid the foundation for modern public health.

While these early public health advances marked important progress, they provided little benefit to Native communities, highlighting the unequal access to public health protections that would continue for generations.

As we celebrate 250 years of America and reflect on 250 years of public health in North Dakota, this chapter reminds us that public health has always been shaped by the relationship between people, the environment and access to essential resources. It is also a reminder to persist in pursuing the public health goal of health equity.

Next up: Settlement and Change (1851–1876)

06/12/2026

Thank you to Western Plains Public Health for helping promote smoke-free environments and to***co cessation resources in North Dakota.

Creating healthier communities takes all of us. Learn more by checking out their post below.

🚭 Fresh air matters!

To keep our shared spaces comfortable and healthy, remember:
Smoking and va**ng are not allowed indoors or within 20 feet of entrances in North Dakota.

We appreciate everyone doing their part! 🙌

💪 Thinking about quitting? We’re here for you.
Western Plains Public Health offers programs tailored to your needs to support you every step of the way.

👉 Learn more and choose your path:
www.westernplainsph.org/to***co-prevention-control

06/11/2026

This kind of packaging for to***co products is now common around the world. To***co Free North Dakota

📍 Paris, France
📸 Submitted by Dr. Mark Strand

As part of our Summer Through a Public Health Lens series, Dr. Strand shared this observation from Paris, where cigarette packaging includes warning labels such as “Smoking kills” and “Smoking can cause a slow and painful death,” or an image of a person suffering from cancer.

Public health messaging and to***co prevention efforts can look very different around the world, offering insight into how countries approach awareness and health communication in everyday life.

During North Dakota Quit Week, this serves as one example of how public health policies and messaging are woven into daily experiences across communities and countries.

06/11/2026

Be sure to check out this Summer Safety Webinar on Monday, June 15! ☀️

See the post below for additional details and the registration link.

Thank you to Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota for hosting this Webinar and helping North Dakotans stay healthy and safe this summer! ☀️

Sign up today for our next educational webinar! We'll be joined on Tuesday, June 15th by Alyssa Preszler of Safe Kids Bismarck-Mandan for a conversation about all things summer safety. Get the peace of mind you need to let your family enjoy the sun and fun responsibly! Register: bit.ly/49rLpqI

06/10/2026

🇺🇸 America 250: Public Health in North Dakota 🇺🇸
1801–1826: Sports, Trade and Disease

Long before organized public health systems existed, Indigenous communities across present-day North Dakota understood the importance of physical activity, social connection and community well-being. Running races, horse racing, lacrosse and other traditional games provided recreation while promoting physical health, teamwork and cultural connection.

During this period, however, increasing contact with European traders and military expeditions brought new public health challenges. Diseases such as whooping cough and measles spread through Native communities, causing illness among populations with little prior exposure to these diseases.

New environmental threats also emerged. Rats, introduced through increased trade and military activity, damaged food supplies and created additional health concerns. In response, Indigenous communities developed innovative solutions, including specialized underground storage pits designed to protect valuable food resources.

The story of public health in North Dakota is also a story of resilience, adaptation and community-driven solutions in the face of changing challenges.

Next up: The Gift of the Buffalo to Public Health (1801-1826)

06/09/2026

Fascinating reminder about the public health of Native persons in the late 1700’s. This should be recognized and honored.
Pembina County Public Health Fargo Cass Public Health First District Health Unit Southwestern District Health Unit City-County Health District NDSU Public Health Association NDSU CAP Center - Collaboration and Advancement in Pharmacy Public Health at North Dakota State University Central Valley Health District Center for Rural Health Grand Forks Public Health Department Traill District Health Unit American Heart Association - North Dakota American Public Health Association North Dakota Department of Environmental Recovery Reinvented North Dakota Foster County Public Health Towner County Public Health Minnesota Public Health Association Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health UND Public Health Program To***co Free North Dakota NDSU Indigenous Student Community American Indian Public Health Resource Center

06/08/2026

🇺🇸 America 250: Public Health in North Dakota 🇺🇸
1776–1801: Public Health Among the First Residents

When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, the land we now call North Dakota was home to thriving Indigenous nations, including the Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and Anishinaabe (Chippewa) peoples. For generations, these communities developed practices that supported health, wellness and community well-being. Food security was achieved through gardening practices and hunting; creating a balanced diet of corn, beans, squash, wild rice, meat, and other products.

Traditional healing emphasized the whole person and the health of the community. Indigenous peoples used medicinal plants and herbs, sweat lodges, nutritious food systems, spiritual practices and strong social connections to prevent illness and promote health. Their knowledge of medicine and healing was so respected that European traders and explorers, including Lewis and Clark, often relied on Native healers for care.

This period also marked increasing contact with Europeans, bringing devastating diseases such as smallpox. In 1781, a smallpox epidemic caused significant loss of life among the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara peoples, forever changing communities across the region.

As we look back on North Dakota's public health history, we recognize the enduring knowledge, resilience and contributions of Indigenous communities.

Next up: Sports, Trade and Disease (1801–1826)