State of North Yankton

North Yankton is a fictional state featured in Grand Theft Auto V. It is featured in the missions "Prologue" and "Bury the Hatchet". The state is located in the Midwest and may be based upon the state of North Dakota. Very little is known about the state, however, the small town of Ludendorff is located in the state, a city based on Fargo, North Dakota and North Dakota Bismarck, North Dakota. During the events of GTA V, Ludendorff is covered in snow.

Known Places

 * LudendorffL1.png

Bank robbery
In 2004, nine years before the main events of GTA V, Micheal De Santa, Trevor Philips and Brad Snider rob a bank in Ludendorff. The police swarm the scene and chase the three as they try to escape to their pickup helicopter. The getaway SUV is hit by a train and ruined, and the trio escape on foot to their destination. A sniper hiding around a corner shoots Brad and Michael, killing Brad and immobilizing Michael. Trevor is forced to fend off the approaching police himself, and runs away from some armed pursuing locals. A funeral for Michael is then shown at a snowy cemetery, while Michael watches on from a distance and flicks away his cigarette.

Sometime between 2004 and 2013, Michael and his family, and Trevor both move to Los Santos and Blaine County, respectively.

Cemetery shootout
North Yankton is visited again in 2013 during the mission Bury the Hatchet by Trevor, who was determided to figure out who was really buried in Michael's fake grave after the bank job, despite Michael's attempts to talk him out of it. Michael pursued him in an attempt to stop him. Trevor's suspicions are eventually confirmed when he discovers that the person who was buried in the grave was none other than he and Michael's old running buddy, Brad. After discovering Brad's corpse in the grave, the two are attacked by Triads in hunt for Trevor; Trevor escapes from the place, leaving Michael to fight the Triads alone. Michael fights his way through the Triads, but he is captured.

State Police
See North Yankton State Patrol.

The police seen in Ludendorff are State Police, evidenced by text on the cars. As of 2004, the state police drive white Police Roadcruisers with two stripes down the side and "STATE PATROL" next to the front door, and the police emblem emblazoned on the front doors. They also use Police Ranchers with the same livery. The cars are fitted with snow chains on the tires. State Troopers wear black coats over white shirts with black ties, and light brown pants.

Trivia
North Yankton
 * A postcard for North Yankton can be seen on the official GTA V website in the Los Santos and Blaine County travelogue.
 * North Yankton's license plates in 2004 have a red stripe on the top with "YANKTON" written in white text, based on 2001-2006 South Dakota license plates.
 * The Livery of the Vehicles and uniforms of the North Yankton State Police are based on that of the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
 * The North Yankton State police patch is based on that of the Medora Police Department in North Dakota.
 * Unlike Los Santos and Blaine County, North Yankton does not allow players to roam around the map, and attempting to do so will result in mission failure. This is because the rest of the map doesn't physically exist.