The late 1800s and the early 1900s brought tremendous changes to Mandan,
as well as all of North Dakota. The 1880s through the second decade of
the 20th century saw much of the new state's population growth, as
English, Irish, Scandinavian, German, and many other ethnic groups
joined the Native American tribes that had been in the Mandan area for
centuries. Later arrivals of Germans from Russia resulted in even more
diversity in the young city. First inhabited by the Mandan Indians, the
city of Mandan has become a vital center for Morton County government,
agricultural activities, and various industries. The city where the West
begins is accessible from many directions because of its location near
the Missouri River, along a main railway line, and near an interstate
highway.