- History of Grand Forks, North Dakota
The recorded History of Grand Forks in the
U.S. state ofNorth Dakota , began with the trade between Native Americans and Frenchfur trapper s during the1800s .Early history
Grand Forks is the oldest major city in
The Dakotas . Prior to settlement by Europeans, the area where the city now sits (at the forks of the Red River andRed Lake River ) had been an important meeting and trading point for Native Americans. Early French explorers, fur trappers, and traders called the area "Les Grandes Fourches" (meaning "The Grand Forks"). By the 1740s, "Les Grandes Fourches" was an important rendezvous point for French fur trappers. This French fur trade continued until theFrench and Indian War gaveCanada to the British. In 1800, British fur trader Alexander Henry the Younger, an agent for theNorth West Company ofMontreal , located a temporary camp at "Les Grandes Fourches" and, in 1808, established a permanent post. By the 1820s, theHudson's Bay Company andJohn Jacob Astor 'sAmerican Fur Company also had operations at the site.During the mid-1800s, "Les Grandes Fourches" was a stopping off point for the
Red River ox cart s which carried goods on theRed River Trails betweenSt. Paul, Minnesota andFort Garry (nowWinnipeg, Manitoba ). OnJune 15 ,1870 , the first post office was opened and "Les Grandes Fourches" was anglicanized to "Grand Forks". Unlike most cities inNorth Dakota , the city of Grand Forks does not owe its existence to the arrival of therailroad . Instead, Grand Forks was first an important steamboat port on the Red River of the North. In late 1870, asteamboat captained byAlexander Griggs froze in the Red River at Grand Forks and Griggs and his men were forced to remain there for the rest of the winter. They built a temporary shed to live in for the winter and Griggs seemed to have decided that the area would be a good spot for a town. In the spring, he claimed a nine acre (36,000 m²) piece of property that would become the townsite and, ultimately,downtown Grand Forks .ettlement
A small community quickly developed. In 1875, "The Plaindealer", the town's first newspaper, was started by
George H. Walsh . In 1879, George Winship started "The Herald". Thetwin cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks were first physically connected when, in 1879, Alexander Griggs built a pontoon toll bridge at the present day site of the Sorlie Bridge at DeMers Avenue. The city of Grand Forks was officially incorporated onFebruary 22 ,1881 . [ [http://www.grandforksgov.com/gfgov/home.nsf/Pages/History City of Grand Forks website about the early history of the city] ]Grand Forks grew rapidly in its early years. Growth was spurred by waves of
immigrants and Americans from the eastern portion of the country, the steamboat traffic on the river, and the coming of the railroad. TheSt. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railway (Great Northern Railway) reached Grand Forks in 1880 and theNorthern Pacific Railway came in 1887. The first settlers of Grand Forks were farmers and working men, but merchants and professional people from Minneapolis and other cities soon populated the city. After the arrival of the railroad, old wood-frame buildings were quickly replaced with brick buildings. The Hotel Dacotah, the St. John's Block, and the Security Building - all five stories - dominated the community's skyline and were a sign of a growing city.In 1883, the
University of North Dakota was founded by George H. Walsh before North Dakota was formally recognized as an independent state (born from theDakota Territory ). In 1893, The Diamond Milling Company of Grand Forks started making a new breakfast cereal they calledCream of Wheat , invented by mill employee Thomas Amidon. [ [http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/newsrelease/2003/013003/04plains.htm Information about Cream of Wheat's ties to Grand Forks] ] By the dawn of the 20th century, the city had become the commercial, transportation, educational, health care, entertainment, and cultural center of the region and boasted many amenities usually found in larger cities.20th century
The first half of the 1900s saw steady growth and the development of new neighborhoods farther south and west of downtown. The 1920s saw the construction of the state-owned
North Dakota Mill and Elevator on the north side of the city. In 1954, Grand Forks was chosen as the site for an Air Force base. [ [http://public.grandforks.amc.af.mil/documents/History2003.pdf History of the Grand Forks Air Force Base] (PDF file)]Grand Forks Air Force Base brought thousands of new jobs and residents to the community. The military base and the University of North Dakota would become the two most integral pieces of the city's economy.The later half of the century saw an increased shift away from downtown and towards the outskirts of the community. The coming of the
Interstate Highway System revolutionized the way people traveled throughout the region. Severalurban renewal projects tore down sections of the downtown area to make way for public buildings and transportation improvements. New public schools, a new hospital, and many commercial centers were built during this period. The opening of the Columbia Mall on the south side of town in 1978 forever changed the retail scene in the community.Flood of 1997
The city was struck by a severe flood in 1997, causing extensive damage. [ [http://www.draves.com/gf/ Website with extensive details about the 1997 flood] ] With Fargo upstream from the bulk of the waters, and
Winnipeg with its flood control structures, Grand Forks became the hardest hit city in theRed River Valley . During the height of the flooding, a major fire also destroyed eleven buildings in the city's downtown area. One of the buildings destroyed by fire was the office of the "Grand Forks Herald ", the city's daily newspaper. National media attention and a large donation fromMcDonald's restaurant heiressJoan Kroc helped speed the city's recovery. Several neighborhoods had to be completely demolished to make way for a massive new dike system which. Completed in 2006, the flood wall protects the community from future flooding. This land bordering the Red River is known as theGreater Grand Forks Greenway , a system of parks.Recent history
Since the flood, growth and new development has taken place throughout the city. Major projects have included the
Alerus Center (concert venue and home of the UND Fighting Sioux football team), the $100+ millionRalph Engelstad Arena (home of the UND Fighting Sioux hockey team) on the UND campus, and a number of new commercial projects on the outskirts of town. The city is currently experiencing steady population growth. A large number of homes, townhouses, and apartment buildings have been constructed recently. Most commercial development has taken place along the 32nd Avenue South commercial corridor and around the Ralph Engelstad Arena — an area known as University Village.Recent issues the city is facing include the Spring 2007 opening of a $50 million
Canad Inns hotel and water park complex located adjacent to the Alerus Center, the impact of a realignment atGrand Forks Air Force Base , and economic growth coupled with a low unemployment rate.Notes
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