North Dakota: The land of plenty

Ben Shaw, left, Ryan Letho and Austin Mitchell take a break in the temporary housing set up for the huge influx of workers. About 20,000 new jobs have been created in North Dakota over the last year.  (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Ben Shaw hangs from an oil derrick. The work in the state has contributed to a population boom.  (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Mini-cities of temporary housing, like this one in Watford City, N.D., are popping up around the state as an oil boom draws people from all over the country seeking work.  (Alana Semuels / Los Angeles Times)

Samuel Hicks found a job cleaning oil pipes shortly after he arrived in Williston from Iowa. He lives in a tent in this field because the influx of workers has caused a housing shortage.  (Alana Semuels / Los Angeles Times)

Jacob Austin plays his guitar in a field next to a temporary housing unit outside of Williston. In addition to his kitchen duties, he’s also the camp garbage man. It’s not glamorous, but it is lucrative. “I’m making more now than I would’ve if I would’ve gone to college,” Austin says.  (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Matthew Tjaden, right, and Doug Preskey relax in their temporary housing unit.  (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Workers line up for dinner at a temporary housing unit outside of Williston. North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation, at 3.5%.  (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Cook Sharron Tallent checks her cellphone as she takes a break in the cafeteria at the temporary housing unit. “You gotta be kind of tough about it. You gotta be strong-willed, strong-minded. It’s a mind-set to be here,” says the 47-year-old Montana native.  (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

In this Monday, July 25, 2011 photo, Jacob Austin plays his guitar in a field next to a temporary housing unit outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as “man camps,” now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape. In addition to his kitchen duties, he’s also the camp garbage man. It’s not glamorous, but it is lucrative. “I’m making more now than I would’ve if I would’ve gone to college,” Austin says. “I was going to go to school for alternative energy - and here I am in the oil field.  (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

A man walks back to his temporary housing unit in North Dakota, what seems to be the land of plenty these days.  (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)