Why Is Bismarck the Capital of North Dakota?

How Bismarck Became North Dakota’s Capital

Contrary to a common misconception, Bismarck was not named after the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Instead, it honors Henry Bismarck, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The city was founded in 1872 as “Edwinton” after Northern Pacific Railway engineer Edwin Ferry Johnson, but was renamed the following year to attract German immigrants and investment. When the Dakota Territory was split in 1889, Bismarck was chosen as the capital of the new state of North Dakota due to its central location, railroad access, and growing population.