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Trade Patterns and the Economy of the Northern Great Plains - Full Report
2007-11-04
Notice: August 18, 2004 - Updated Import & Export Tables (PDF 337 KB)
These tables supplement the "Trade Patterns and the Economy of the Northern Great Plains"publication of 2001 and include 58 tables of trade flow between the Northern Great Plains states and Canadian provinces and other import-export data. The tables update or supplement the B.6 - B.58 tables in the full report.
Located in the geographic center of North America, the NGP region includes the U.S. states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Region can tap abundant natural resources within and proximate to its borders and access continental and global markets through its extensive transportation infrastructure. The vast natural infrastructure—the Regional river systems and Great Lakes—have long benefited the Region in trade within and outside its geographic boundaries.
The predominant land use and historical economy of the NGP region is agricultural. Thousands of farms were homesteaded in the 1800’s and early shaping the future challenges and opportunities of the Region. In addition to agricultural development, timber, fur trading, mining, hunting, and fishing have shaped the region’s identity, history, and culture. With a central location in North America and extensive transportation infrastructure, the NGP region is well positioned to continue the success of the 1990's.
Today, the NGP regional economy is diversified with significant activity in each of the following sectors: Manufacturing (including food processing); Wholesale and Retail Trade; Tourism, Entertainment & Food Services; Finance & Insurance; Information Technology/Telecommunications; Mining; Utilities, Transportation & Warehousing; Construction, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Real Estate & Rental & Leasing; and Healthcare & Social Assistance.
