growth of economy and increase of wealth
North Dakota's economy has always had a higher stability than neighboring states, but took a rather large leap when hit with the oil boom beginning in 2006. In the past 11 years the economy has doubled from 24.7 billion per year in 2002 to 49.8 billion in 2013. The state government's revenue hit $139 million in February which is 82% more than February 2010, In 2002 North Dakota had the country 2nd smallest economy, just ahead of Vermont, but now the economy is slowly climbing its way up. North Dakota has the second highest GDP per capita a year with about 69,000. Oil has transformed not only the state but the people as well. Capita per personal income has risen with the growing amount of high paying oil jobs. In 2013 North Dakota's personal income was higher than the U.S average at 55, 759 as compared to 52, 250. The median family income in 2013 was 73,844, almost 10,000 higher than the national average.