Hopefully government doesn't go too crazy on hiring and spending during the boom. When the oil boom ends those cities will lose much of their population just like towns during the gold rush era.

This is not the American Dream, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Goodluck to those working hard to make a buck, at least you are not in some line looking for a check. This country was made great by sweat and work ethic.

"When the oil boom ends those cities will lose much of their population just like towns during the gold rush era." They said that about Houston.

The things we do for money

Left out: The high rents and strained services are pushing elderly and disabled people east to Fargo... AND Minnesota. North Dakota prides itself on being a "low tax" state but now lacks the public resources to address the downside of a boom. Perhaps Minnesota should send ND a bill for serving vulnerable ND people who spill oer the border?

Typical extractive industry story. Boom and bust, destruction of environment, conservatives thrilled with "proof" of their low tax philosophy (propped up by resources pumped up from the ground), progressives thrilled with easy revenues for government programs.

Silver lining, meet cloud. This is the way it works, folks. There was no reason for the infrastructure to be there before the boom because there was very little reason to BE there before the boom. People follow the money, and the infrastructure follows the people. There are a lot of families where the breadwinner previously flipped burgers or pushed a broom who can afford a lot better life style now, and there are most likely a lot fewer welfare checks being handed out, because of this boom. And that's a good thing no matter how you cut it.

Well, looking at the bright side, we're hearing precious little meowing from the left about the need to raise the minimum wage in NoDak. Lesson 1: a healthy economy beats government medddling any day.

150 years ago these people would be called "pioneers" or "mountain men" and their lives would be glamorized on television shows today! I think it's great that there are still opportunities for even marginally-educated folks to make a ton of money in this day and age if they're willing to make the sacrafice and work like the dickens! If I were 25 and single, I'd probably be up there dogging it out with them -- who doesn't need a great adventure at that time of your life?!

No doubt the state of Illinois which is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy would like to have a few of North Dakota's problems. The Land of Lincoln raised tax rates and tax collections went down. They banned guns in Chicago and they have a "Sandy Hook" every month. Ya ought to go tah North Dakotah...