Grand Forks, North Dakota : Ask Biography

Administration

Full name

City of Grand Forks

Official name

City of Grand Forks

Settlement type

City

Motto

A Place of Excellence

Country

United States

State

North Dakota

County

Grand Forks

Metro

Greater Grand Forks

Founded

June 15, 1870

Incorporated

February 22, 1881

Government

Mayor

Michael Brown

Geography

Total Area

19.2 sq mi (49.7 km2)

Land Area

19.2 sq mi (49.7 km2)

Water Area

0 sq mi (0.0 km2)

Elevation

843 ft (256.9 m)

Demography

Total Population

52838 (2010)

Density (pop.)

1029.7/km² (2667.5/sq mi)

Metro (pop.)

98461

Other information

Time zone

CST (UTC−6)

- Summer (DST)

CDT (UTC−5)

ZIP codes

58201-58203

Area code

701

FIPS code

38-32060

GNIS feature ID

1029197

Highways

I-29, US 2, US 2 Bus., US 81, US 81 Bus., ND 297

Home | Settlement G | Grand Forks, North Dakota

Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota (after Fargo and Bismarck) and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461. Grand Forks, along with its twin city of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, forms the center of the Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is often called Greater Grand Forks or The Grand Cities.

Located on the western banks of the Red River of the North in a flat region known as the Red River Valley, the city is prone to flooding and was struck by the devastating Red River Flood of 1997. Originally called Les Grandes Fourches by French fur traders, Grand Forks was founded in 1870 by steamboat captain Alexander Griggs and incorporated on February 22, 1881. Its location at the fork of the Red River and the Red Lake River gives the city its name.

Historically dependent on local agriculture, the city's economy now encompasses higher education, defense, health care, manufacturing, food processing, and scientific research. Grand Forks is served by Grand Forks International Airport and Grand Forks Air Force Base, while the city's University of North Dakota is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The Alerus Center and Ralph Engelstad Arena host athletic and other events, while the North Dakota Museum of Art and Chester Fritz Auditorium are the city's largest cultural venues.