North Dakota: #1 State To Raise A Family; South Dakota Ranked #1 In "Family Fun" -- January 28, 2017

I assume the poll / study was commissioned by the North Dakota State Tourism Board and the American Petroleum Institute, funded by Oasis, Continental Resources, Halcon, et al, looking for a gazillion workers that will be needed over the next few decades, but here it is:

North Dakota was ranked #1 overall.

But this is the best part, look at the categories and North Dakota's ranking:

• family fun: 13 -- truly beyond the pale. I cannot imagine the "family fun" in ND being this high -- #13; but then, SOUTH DAKOTA was ranked #1 for family 1 -- I assume buffalo riding and the STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY put the state #1;
• health and safety: 7 (if we keep the kids off the oil rigs, ND's ranking will improve)
• education and child care: 7 (about right, but most surprising, perennial #1 Iowa dropped to #13; #1 this year is New Jersey and #2 is Vermont)
• affordability:   6 (had it not been for the Bakken, ND would have ranked higher)
• socioeconomics: 2 ("everybody is the same")

That South Dakota rating for "family fun" is so off the chart, it deserves a stand-alone post.