North Dakota is a U.S. state in the midwestern and northern regions of the United States. North Dakota's the nineteenth largest in area, the fourth smallest by population, and the fourth most sparsely populated of the 50 states. North Dakota was admitted as the 39th state to the Union on November 2, 1889. North Dakota's capital is Bismarck, and North Dakota's largest city is Fargo. In the 21st century, North Dakota's natural resources have played a major role in North Dakota's economic performance, particularly with the oil extraction from the Bakken formation, which lies beneath the northwestern part of the state.