Is New England, North Dakota friendly? If you are from east of the Mississippi River, or the South, the people in New England, North Dakota are not friendly in comparison to what you may be accustomed to. But the people in North Dakota do not know that they aren’t friendly, they think that they are, and there is an expression they use “North Dakota Nice” which is how they perceive themselves.

To explain this better, in the South, this is what “friendly” means: Greeting people warmly, with a smile, friendly words, and an extended hand. Exchanging pleasant banter in a cordial manner. Being quick to offer help, assistance, food, drink, an invitation to a social gathering, or activity.

In North Dakota, this is what “friendly” means: Not outwardly or immediately harming someone.

There are many reasons why the people in New England, North Dakota are not friendly in the same manner as people east of the Mississippi River or the South. The people who settled North Dakota in the 1880s, and their descendants, struggled very hard to survive, even up until the most recent North Dakota Oil Boom that began in 2007. Historically, people in North Dakota generally did not have the resources to offer hospitality, help, assistance, food, drink, or any invitations for activities.

Another reason why people in New England, North Dakota are not quick to be friendly with strangers or newcomers, is because they are unsure of what these people are like. People in New England want to know what kind of person is this, where is this person coming from, what is their background, why are they here, what are they going to do?

This wariness of strangers partly comes from the town of New England being so small, where everyone has known everyone else for many years, probably since childhood. Once a few down-on-their-luck, naer-do-well people started relocating to New England in the 1990s to take advantage of the low-cost of housing, crack-cocaine and methamphetamine were introduced by out-of-state people, and the North Dakota Oil Boom attracted people from everywhere, the people in New England are not trusting or welcoming to strangers.

Many of the people who live in New England, and especially newcomers, live as “islands-unto-themselves”, meaning they live on their own independently, not seeking or relying on interaction with neighbors. In my observation, some people who relocate here from crowded urban areas, prefer no interaction with their neighbors.