If you were to make a list of the most economically prosperous states in the union, North Dakota probably wouldn’t be your first choice for inclusion. After all, it doesn’t make much sense for a state that consists primarily of empty fields and pasture to generate much revenue, right?

Well, the facts might surprise you. Since the beginning of the shale oil boom in 2006, North Dakota has come to posses one of the healthiest economies in the country. In fact, the state has a shockingly low unemployment rate of just 3.3%, a 1 billion dollar budget surplus, and a GDP that’s 29% above the national average.  What’s more, it’s still growing!

Get a closer look at how the Bakken oil boom is affecting the North Dakotan economy in the graphic below.

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