The city of Bismarck, North Dakota serves as the capital city for the state. It is located across from Mandan, on the eastern banks of the Missouri River. Bismarck serves as the county seat of Burleigh County. After the city of Fargo, Bismarck is the 2nd largest city by population within the state of North Dakota. Bismarck and Mandan form the core of the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Statistical Area. The metropolitan area population is just more than 100,000.
The original residents before settlement were the Mandan peoples. The township was founded during 1872 at a place on the river known as Missouri Crossing. The original name of the city was Edwinton, named after the former engineer-in-chief for the Northern Pacific Railway, Edwin Ferry Johnson. As part of an effort to attract German investment, the Railway changed the city's name to Bismarck in 1873. The name was intended to honor the German chancellor, Otto von Bismarck. But it was the discovery of gold which caused the city to boom. Gold was discovered in the nearby Black Hills during the year 1874, and Bismarck became a freight-shipping hub at the station of the "Custer Route". Known as the capital of the Dakota Territory during the year 1883 and state capital of North Dakota during 1889, Bismarck became a center of government. Bismarck also played a prominent part within the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The North Dakota State Capitol building is a 19-story tower within Downtown Bismarck. It is also the tallest building within the state. Providing more than 4,000 jobs, the government of the state is the biggest employer within the city of Bismarck. Bismarck is also a center for retail and health care, forming the economic hub for much of south-central North Dakota and north-central South Dakota. Medcenter One Health Systems and St. Alexius Medical Center are Bismarck's biggest health care providers, employing more than 4,000 people. Other significant companies in Bismarck are Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Coventry Health Care, Bismarck Public Schools and Midwest Motor Express. The US Federal Government also employs a lot within the city. Bismarck is the home of Fortune 500 company MDU Resources Group.