North Dakota is One of Five States Not to Observe Juneteenth

June 19th is known as Juneteenth, which commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery. North Dakota currently does not observe this holiday.

It was on June 19, 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, TX to relay the news that the war (Civil War) had ended and slavery was over. This came over two years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. However, it was until January 1, 1980 when states began recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday.

Today, 45 states observe this as a state holiday. Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and North Dakota are the only states that have not adopted Juneteenth as a state holiday. Despite this, there are current efforts attempting to make Juneteenth a national holiday. For more info on how to support this cause, click here.

Many cities in states that observe Juneteenth hold festivals to celebrate. In fact, one the biggest celebrations of this historical event takes place in Minneapolis, MN.

Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. Even if it's not technically observed in North Dakota, it's important to recognize such a significant event in American history.