7. North Dakota
GDP per Capita: $95,982
Admitted to the union in 1889 as the 39th state, North Dakota takes its name from the Native American Sioux and has a GDP per capita of $95,982 and a median income of $70,185.
Traditionally deriving the bulk of its income from fossil fuels and agriculture, North Dakota’s economy underwent an overhaul toward the end of the twentieth century, with services such as call centers, travel agencies, and financial corporations coming to dominate the state’s gross domestic product.
While agriculture has been drawn back in recent years, North Dakotan farms still produce a range of grains, such as canola, along with wheat, flaxseed, corn, and sugar beets, which are cultivated for export.
The state’s unemployment rate is among the lowest in America, and residents enjoy high levels of health care alongside low levels of crime.
High-tech industry can also be found in North Dakota, with both Microsoft and Amazon facilities in the city of Fargo employing thousands of workers, giving the state a diverse overall economic foundation.
While traditional fossil fuels have fallen out of favor in recent decades, North Dakota’s Great Plains region has been labeled by some as “the Saudi Arabia of wind energy,” with this renewable energy source receiving significant investment from green energy startups.