Grand Forks, North Dakota

This article is about the American city. For other uses, see Grand Forks (disambiguation).

Grand Forks, North Dakota
City
Aerial View of Downtown Grand Forks (2006)
Ralph Engelstad Arena
Chester Fritz Library
St. Michael's Church
North Dakota Mill and Elevator
Official logo of Grand Forks, North Dakota
Nickname(s): 
"The Grand Cities", "The Forks"
Motto: 
"A Place of Excellence"
Location in the U.S. state of North Dakota
Location in the U.S. state of North Dakota
Grand Forks is located in North Dakota
Grand Forks
Grand Forks
Grand Forks is located in the United States
Grand Forks
Grand Forks
Coordinates: 47°55′16.55″N 97°05′18.02″W / 47.9212639°N 97.0883389°W / 47.9212639; -97.0883389
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Dakota
MetroGreater Grand Forks
CountyGrand Forks
FoundedJune 15, 1870
IncorporatedFebruary 22, 1881
Government
 • MayorBrandon Bochenski[1][2]
Area
[3]
 • City29.318 sq mi (75.933 km2)
 • Land29.120 sq mi (75.422 km2)
 • Water0.198 sq mi (0.514 km2)
Elevation
[5]
837 ft (255 m)
Population
 (2020)[6]
 • City59,166
 • Estimate 
(2023)[7]
58,921
 • RankUS: 667th
ND: 3rd
 • Density2,028.22/sq mi (783.11/km2)
 • Urban
68,160 (US: 411st)[4]
 • Urban density2,573.67/sq mi (993.69/km2)
 • Metro
103,120 (US: 357th)
 • Metro density30.3/sq mi (11.69/km2)
Time zoneUTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
58201, 58202, 58203, 58204, 58205, 58206, 58207, 58208
Area code701
FIPS code38-32060
GNIS feature ID1036064[5]
HighwaysI-29, US 2, US 81, ND 297
Sales tax7.25%[8]
Websitegrandforksgov.com

Grand Forks is a city in and the county seat of Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States. The city's population was 59,166 as of the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in the state, after Fargo and Bismarck.[6] Grand Forks, along with its twin city of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, forms the center of the Grand Forks metropolitan statistical area, which is often called Greater Grand Forks or the Grand Cities.

Located on the western banks of the north-flowing Red River of the North, in a flat region known as the Red River Valley,[9] the city is prone to flooding. The Red River Flood of 1997 devastated the city.[10] Originally called Les Grandes Fourches by French fur traders from Canada, who had long worked and lived in the region, steamboat captain Alexander Griggs platted a community after being forced to winter there. The post office was established in 1870, and the town was incorporated on February 22, 1881.[11] The city was named for its location at the fork of the Red River and the Red Lake River.[11]

Initially dependent on local agriculture, the city's economy has since broadened to include a wide variety of industries, including higher education, defense, health care, manufacturing, food processing, and scientific research.[12][13] Grand Forks is served by Grand Forks International Airport and Grand Forks Air Force Base. The city's University of North Dakota is the oldest institution of higher education in the state.[14] The Alerus Center[15] and Ralph Engelstad Arena[16] host athletic and other events, while the Empire Arts Center and Chester Fritz Auditorium are the city's largest cultural venues.[17]

  1. ^ "Mayor Bochenski". Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  2. ^ Weber Menke, Lori (June 23, 2020). "Watch: Grand Forks City Council meeting and Mayor Brandon Bochenski's swearing-in ceremony". Grand Forks Herald. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  5. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Grand Forks, North Dakota
  6. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusEst2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Grand Forks (ND) sales tax rate". Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "Red River of the North – State Canoe Routes". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 27, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
  10. ^ "The Grand Forks Flood". Draves.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
  11. ^ a b "Grand Forks History". City of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Archived from the original on June 6, 2007. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
  12. ^ "Community of Grand Forks". University of North Dakota. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2007.
  13. ^ "Grand Forks' 50 Largest Employers" (PDF). State of North Dakota. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2006. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
  14. ^ "About UND". University of North Dakota. Archived from the original on October 22, 2006. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
  15. ^ "History of Alerus Center". Alerus Center. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
  16. ^ "History of Ralph Engelstad Arena". Ralph Engelstad Arena. Archived from the original on May 1, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2007.
  17. ^ "Chester Fritz Auditorium". Chester Fritz Auditorium. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2007.