10 Fun Facts About Grand Forks, ND

Grand Forks is a welcoming city rich in history. With ample green spaces and family-friendly festivals, there is much to see and do all year long. Even if you have lived in Grand Forks for many years, you may not know a lot about our fair city. Here are our top 10 fun facts about Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Grand Forks Was an Important Area for Native Americans

Located at the confluence of the Red Lake River and Red River, the area where Grand Forks now stands was an important trading and meeting point for Native Americans for thousands of years. The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks stands on the ancestral lands of the Red Lake and Pembina Bands of the Ojibwe and Dakota Oyate Tribes.

Grand Forks Was Colonized by the French

French explorers named the spot “The Grand Forks” or Les Grandes Fourches. Grand Forks was an important trading post for French fur trappers as early as 1740.

A Steamboat Captain Changed Grand Forks Into a Town

Alexander Griggs is known as the “Father of Grand Forks” due to his efforts toward transforming the trading post into a town. Griggs steamboat became frozen in the Red River in 1870, forcing him and his crew to camp in Grand Forks for the winter. In 1875, Griggs created the community that is now downtown Grand Forks. Grand Forks was officially incorporated into a city on February 22, 1881.

The Railroads Helped Grand Forks Grow

Two major railways were influential in helping Grand Forks grow. The population of Grand Forks quickly expanded after the arrival of the Great Northern Railway in 1880 and the Northern Pacific Railway in 1887. 

The Land Was Formed by Glaciers and Is Prone to Flooding

The Red River Valley lies on the bed of former Lake Agassiz. Glaciers carved out Lake Agassiz during the last Ice Age, leaving the land with minute elevation changes. Grand Forks is one of the flattest regions in the world due to glacial carving.

The flat terrain around the Red River has a long history of flooding and causing damage in Grand Forks. The Red River Flood of 1997 caused massive damage that led to a city-wide evacuation and a fire that destroyed multiple historic buildings. A flood memorial obelisk stands at the site of the former Security Building, the first structure lost to the fire in 1997. The memorial shows water levels from several historic Grand Forks flooding events. In 2007, Grand Forks put a levee system in place to protect it from future flooding. 

The most flood-prone areas near the river have been set apart as the Greater Grand Forks Greenway. The Greenway is a beautiful green space that provides lots of recreation opportunities for residents.

Grand Forks Has Several Sister Cities

Grand Forks is actively involved in a sister city program that encourages economic and cultural exchanges. Grand Forks sister cities are:

• Ishim: Grand Fork’s first sister city was Ishim, Tyumen Oblast, Russia. The relationship with Ishim began during the Cold War in 1984, but Russia ended the relationship in the late 1990s.
• Awano: When the relationship with Ishim ended, Grand Forks began a relationship with Awano, Japan. After exchanging students for several years, the two cities became formal sisters in 1998. The relationship between the two cities is memorialized in Sertoma Park’s Japanese rock garden in Grand Fork’s Sertoma Park and an American bison sculpture in an Awano public park. The relationship ended when the Japanese city of Kanuma annexed Awano.
• Dickinson: Grand Forks became a sister city with Dickinson, North Dakota, in 2002.
• Sarpsborg: Grand Forks became a sister city to Sarpsborg, Norway in 2005. This relationship was founded, in part, because many residents in Grand Forks are of Norwegian heritage.

There Are Lots of Public Recreation Spaces in the City

Grand Forks is home to 14 neighborhood parks, two swimming pools, 28 tennis courts, and three splash pads. There are also multiple playgrounds, picnic areas, and playing fields for baseball, softball, and soccer. In the winter months, locals can enjoy Grand Fork’s 11 outdoor skating rinks and arenas. Grand Forks is also home to several golf courses, including the historic Lincoln Golf course and the 18-hole King’s Walk Golf Course designed by Arnold Palmer.

The Greater Grand Forks Greenway is an extensive park that runs along the banks of the Red River in Grand Forks. The Greenway has lots of walking paths, ski trails, gardens, and festival grounds. The Andrew Hampsten Bikeway System runs through the Greenway and offers more than 43 miles of biking trails.

The City Is Home to Several Colleges and Universities

Grand Forks is home to several world-class institutions for those seeking higher education:

• The University of North Dakota.
• North Dakota State College of Science.
• North Dakota State University.
• Minnesota State University-Moorhead.

Grand Forks Holds Several Yearly Festivals

• Art on the Red (formerly Grand Cities Art Fest): Held yearly during the second weekend of June, this street fair is a popular event for locals and visitors alike. Art on the Red offers live entertainment, the chance to view and purchase works by local artists, and fun crafts for kids.
• Rhubarb Festival: This annual festival is usually held in May at the University Lutheran Church. Enjoy rhubarb treats and purchase hand-made items such as quilts, baked goods, candles, and lotions.
• Potato Bowl USA: This potato celebration started as a football game between two of the most prominent teams from potato-growing regions. Events include a parade, golf tournament, fireworks, and football.
• Greater Grand Forks Fair and Exhibition: This yearly fair is held in June and offers carnival rides, a large midway, old-fashioned fair food, 4-H shows, live entertainment, and a rodeo.

The Residents of Grand Forks Are Primarily of European Descent

People of Norwegian descent make up 35.7% of the population of Grand Forks. German descendants are a close second, at 34.3% of the city’s population. Other prominent ancestry groups in Grand Forks include Irish (9.5%), Polish (7.4%), and French (5.4%).

You just read Rydell Nissan’s 10 most interesting facts about Grand Forks, North Dakota. If you know of any fun facts that we missed, contact Rydell Nissan of Grand Forks, and we will be sure to add them to our list!

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