East Grand Forks, Minnesota

Infobox Settlement
official_name = East Grand Forks, Minnesota
settlement_type = City
nickname = The Grand Cities
motto =


imagesize =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of East Grand Forks in Polk County, Minnesota


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Minnesota
subdivision_name2 = Polk
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Lynn Stauss
established_title = Founded
established_date = 1887
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 5.0
area_total_km2 = 12.9
area_land_sq_mi = 5.0
area_land_km2 = 12.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 7740
population_metro = 97691
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 579.2
population_density_sq_mi = 1501.5
population_blank1_title =
population_blank1 =
population_note =
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 47 |latm = 55 |lats = 48 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 1 |longs = 27 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 254
elevation_ft = 833
website = [http://www.ci.east-grand-forks.mn.us/ www.ci.east-grand-forks.mn.us]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 56721
area_code = 218
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-17612GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0643079GR|3
footnotes =

East Grand Forks is a city in Polk County, Minnesota in the United States. Its population was estimated at 7,740 in July 2007, which makes East Grand Forks the largest community in Polk County.cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2007-4.html |title=Population Estimates for All Places: 2000 to 2007 |accessdate=2008-07-20 |format= |work=U.S. Census Bureau ] The Greater Grand Forks metropolitan area, of which it is a part, of had an estimated metropolitan population of 97,691 in July 2007.cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2007/CBSA-EST2007-01.csv
title=Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 |accessdate=2008-07-20 |format= |work=U.S. Census Bureau ]

It is located in the Red River Valley region on the western banks of the Red River of the North, directly across from the larger city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. East Grand Forks, along with its twin city of Grand Forks, North Dakota, forms the center of the "Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area", which is often called "Greater Grand Forks" or "The Grand Cities".

History

The famous Whitey's Cafe and Wonderbar [http://www.whiteyscafe.com/default.asp] is a local institution. Located in the downtown area, Whitey's has been operating continuously since the 1930s and was once the center of East Grand Forks' reputation as a wild town akin to Chicago during the days of Prohibition. Ripley's Believe It or Not once labeled a portion of the downtown area as the highest concentration of neon signage in the world. Whitey's Cafe was severely damaged in the Flood of 1997 and its compelling story led it to be featured on the Today Show and in Life Magazine. After months of restoration of its famous stainless steel horseshoe bar and other historic architecture, it reopened in 1998.

Flood of 1997

East Grand Forks, along with Grand Forks, was heavily damaged by a major flood in 1997. The entire city was under a mandatory evacuation and almost no homes were spared damage. After the flood, several neighborhoods had to be demolished. The city has rebuilt itself and the once inundated downtown area now contains a number of new businesses including a Cabela's sporting goods store. A new system of dikes is currently being constructed to protect the city from future flooding. The land bordering the Red and Red Lake rivers has been cleared of developments and is now a large park known as the Greater Grand Forks Greenway.

Geography

East Grand Forks is located in the fertile Red River Valley. The area around East Grand Forks is prime for agricultural uses. The Red River Valley used to be a part of glacial Lake Agassiz. This made the land fertile and very flat.

The Red Lake River divides East Grand Forks into two main sections. The main part of town, located north of the river, is the home of the downtown area as well as several residential neighborhoods. The area south of the river is known as "The Point." This is because the land forms a narrow point shape (almost peninsular) where the Red and Red Lake rivers meet. "The Point" contains more residential development.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), all of it land.

Four-lane U.S. Highway 2; U.S. Highway 2 Business Route; and Minnesota Highway 220 are three of the main routes in the city. Other nearby routes in the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks area include Interstate Highway 29 and U.S. Highway 81.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,501 people, 2,929 households, and 1,933 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,501.5 people per square mile (579.2/km²). There were 3,108 housing units at an average density of 622.1/sq mi (240.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.97% White, 0.52% African American, 1.68% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.47% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.53% of the population.

There were 2,929 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,866, and the median income for a family was $47,846. Males had a median income of $33,134 versus $22,094 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,599. About 8.2% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

K-12

The East Grand Forks School District enrolls over 1,000 students and operates two elementary schools (South Point Elementary and New Heights Elementary), Central Middle School, and East Grand Forks Senior High School. There are also two private Christian schools. Sacred Heart School is a Roman Catholic elementary, middle, and high school. Riverside Christian School is a nondeominational Christian elementary and middle school.

Higher education

The only higher educational institution in East Grand Forks is Northland Community & Technical College or "NCTC" for short, which also has a campus 50 miles northeast in Thief River Falls. It began in 1993 as Northwest Technical College, which has campus in other Minnesota towns, but eventually was bought by NCTC. The 2-year school has seen steady growth in enrollment in the past 5 years. Across the Red River in Grand Forks is the University of North Dakota.

Tourism

Most of the tourist activities can be found in neighboring Grand Forks, though EGF has a downtown shopping district that includes a small shopping center, a 12-screen movie theater, and a Cabela's sporting goods store. After the Flood of 1997, where FEMA placed the area in the floodplain, is now a state campground. Because of Minnesota's state budget, it plans to give the campground to the city. The campground is a part of the Greater Grand Forks Greenway. On the northern part of town is a private golf course, Valley Country Club.

Local events

East Grand Forks has several annual local community events such as the Catfish Days and the Frosty Bobber fishing tournaments, Heritage Days, and arts and crafts shows. EGF also has other events shared with Grand Forks which the Potato Bowl parade and the First Night, a New Years celebration that's alcohol free. Catfish Days, a cat-fishing tournament in the summer, attracts people all over the United States and Canada, and is one of the largest fishing tournaments in the region.

Each June, the Grand Cities Art Fest takes place in downtown Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.

Media

East Grand Forks has a local weekly newspaper, "The Exponent". The regional daily newspaper is the "Grand Forks Herald", printed in Grand Forks. The TV stations are either from Grand Forks or Fargo, while most of the radio stations are from Grand Forks or Thief River Falls. WDAZ is the only TV station in the area that produces local newcasts. Though KXJB, KVLY-TV, and KBRR broadcast out of Fargo, North Dakota, they have some local-based content in their local newscasts. KBRR is based in Grand Forks and Thief River Falls, but rebroadcasts KVRR of Fargo. KXJB and KVLY are also based in Fargo, but have studios in Grand Forks. KCPM is also based in Grand Forks, but does not carry local newscasts. KGFE is part of the Prairie Public Television and PBS networks and also doesn't carry newscasts. The local Cable TV carrier is Midcontinent Communications.

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.east-grand-forks.mn.us/ City of East Grand Forks, MN -- Official site]
* [http://www.northlandcollege.edu Northland Community and Technical College website]
* [http://www.grandforksherald.com Grand Forks Herald] - regional daily newspaper printed in Grand Forks, ND