1. On December 5, 1881, the Northern Pacific Railway officially opened for traffic in North Dakota, connecting the state to railroad networks across the United States.

2. In 1916, North Dakota Governor L. J. Frazier declared a state of emergency on December 5th, as the state was hit by an extreme cold weather event, resulting in significant damage to crops and livestock.

3. December 5, 1933, marked the end of prohibition in North Dakota, as the state ratified the 21st Amendment to the US Constitution, repealing the nationwide ban on alcohol.

4. The first indoor football game in North Dakota history was played on December 5, 1969, between Central Washington University and Dickinson State University, with Central Washington winning 28-0.

5. On December 5, 2003, the University of North Dakota's women's volleyball team made school history by winning its first-ever NCAA tournament match, defeating Loyola Marymount University in five sets.